Trap cropping is an insect management strategy that saves farmers time and money and protects the ecosystem, specifically beneficial insects, from overuse of pesticides. For example, using sorghum in a field alongside tomatoes protects the tomato crop from leaf-footed bugs. It’s a unique tactic of sacrificing one crop for the safety and protection of the money-making crop, says Ayanava Majumdar, …
Mighty Mites: UGA Extension Encourages Scouting for Strawberry pests
It won’t be long before strawberries will be ready for harvest in South Georgia. University of Georgia Extension encourages producers to scout for spider mites, especially as strawberries begin to ripen and bloom across the state. The two-spotted spider mites are typically light yellow in appearance with a spot on either side of their abdomen. Their piercing-sucking mouthparts can cause …
Insect Report: Pests Currently Light for Georgia Vegetable Producers
It is planting season for Georgia vegetable producers. They can take solace in knowing that insect pressure appears to be light right now, minus some pepper weevils. This is according to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist Stormy Sparks. “There’s concerns about pepper weevil as we’re getting peppers in the ground. We’re running traps in various counties, got county …
Record-Setting Populations: Asian Bean Thrips Spiking in Some Florida Fields
It was a record-setting week on some South Florida farms with respect to Asian bean thrips (ABT) populations. According to UF/IFAS, across most farms in southeastern Hendry County, ABT populations averaged 0.2 ABT per bud and ranged from 0.3 to 1.5 per bloom (at full bloom). But in an isolated located, reports were as high as 10.0 ABT per bloom …
South Florida Thrips Update
Various thrips species are causing problems for South Florida vegetable producers. According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, strawberry farmers have dealt with chili thrips all season in the Manatee Ruskin area. They are also showing up in pepper. In the Miami-Dade County area, melon thrips are increasing in populations in various crops. Along the east coast, western …
Whitefly Infestations: Pest Numbers Increasing in South Florida
Whitefly infestations continue to increase in vegetable fields in Southwest Florida. According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, tomato fields have been greatly impacted. Adult whiteflies are swarming young cucurbit plants, especially those transplants that have just been planted in the ground and those direct seeded crops. Growers and scouts report that whitefly pressure is increasing in some …
Record Levels: Asian Bean Thrips Major Problem for Some South Florida Producers
South Florida farms had record levels of Asian bean thrips (ABT) populations last week. Others experienced a reduction in thrips counts, however. According to the University of Florida/IFAS, farms in southeastern Hendry County reported infestations as low as 0.2 ABT per bud and between 0.1 and 0.2 ABT per bloom (at full bloom) but were as high as 1.9 ABT …
Nematodes: Hidden Enemies of Asian Vegetable Growers in Florida
By Mengyi Gu, Hung Xuan Bui and Johan Desaeger If you happen to travel around Wimauma, Florida, you will see many plastic tunnels and may wonder what they are. Asian farmers (mostly Vietnamese) are using those plastic tunnels to grow a wide variety of specialty Asian vegetable crops. There is a high demand for these vegetables from northern cities such …
Increasing Infestations: Asian Bean Thrips Remain a Problem for Florida Farmers
Asian bean thrips (ABT) continue to be problematic for vegetable producers in South Florida. According to the University of Florida/IFAS, populations are increasing consistently across the region. Reports from the Homestead region indicate Asian bean thrips are the predominate species, though have decreased from 100% ABT to 70% ABT and 30% F. palmi. Other thrips species are increasing north of …
The Challenges of Controlling Silk Flies in Florida Sweet Corn
By Julien Beuzelin Corn silk flies are the most damaging insects of sweet corn in southern Florida. Adults of three species(Euxesta stigmatias, Euxesta eluta and Chaetopsis massyla) are commonly observed in commercial fields where they lay eggs on sweet corn silks. Maggots feed on silks and kernels before leaving the ear and falling onto the soil surface, under which they …