By Clint Thompson Pepper weevils continue to be a nuisance for Florida vegetable growers. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) experts are providing guidance for producers on how to manage the pest. Jawwad Qureshi, associate professor of entomology at UF/IFAS, discussed the situation during the recent Citrus and Specialty Crop Expo. He emphasized that any management …
Yellow-Legged Hornet Causes Threat to Agriculture
By Clint Thompson The presence of the yellow-legged hornet in Georgia has specialty crop producers in the Southeast on high alert. Their presence is a threat to the region’s honey bee population and subsequent crops that rely on honey bees for pollination, explains Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension specialist. “Similar to what people were calling the murder hornet …
Yellow-Legged Hornet a Threat to Agriculture
By Clint Thompson The presence of the yellow-legged hornet in Georgia has specialty crop producers in the Southeast on high alert. Their presence is a threat to the region’s honey bee population and subsequent crops that rely on honey bees for pollination, explains Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University assistant professor and Extension specialist. “Similar to what people were calling the murder …
Be on the Lookout for New Thrips PestÂ
By Clint Thompson Anna Meszaros, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension commercial horticulture agent in West Palm Beach, Florida, implores vegetable farmers to scout diligently for Thrips (T.) parvispinus. The pest was most recently observed on cucumber, squash and zucchini for the first time last spring. Meszaros discussed the issue during Wednesday’s seminar session at the Citrus …
New Research on Chilli Thrips ManagementÂ
By Clint Thompson University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research has yielded confirmation on why chilli thrips are an annual problem for strawberry growers, especially early in the season. Sriyanka Lahiri, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, talked …
UF/IFAS Research: Lahiri Studies Chilli Thrips on Borders of Fields
By Clint Thompson University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research has yielded confirmation on why chilli thrips are an annual problem for strawberry growers, especially early in the season. Sriyanka Lahiri, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, talked …
Whitefly Populations Remain Low
By Clint Thompson Whitefly populations remain low across the Southeast. Fall vegetable growers have the Christmas freeze event last December to thank for that, believes Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension vegetable entomologist. “I think that’s a lot of it. We’ve had some wet weather, too, but I think that’s a lot of it. It knocked them way back. …
From Start to Finish: Chilli Thrips Remain a Season-Long Concern for Florida Strawberry Growers
By Clint Thompson Strawberry planting season is just around the corner for South Florida producers. One part of production that growers will have to be ready for is managing chilli thrips. Sriyanka Lahiri, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of entomology and nematology at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, discussed chilli thrips …
UGA Entomologist: Insect Pressure is Light
By Clint Thompson Insect pests are currently not a problem for specialty crop producers. That’s good news for growers trying to navigate vegetable production in South Georgia, North Florida and South Alabama. And that was before last week’s heavy rain events that flooded parts of the Southeast region. Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension vegetable entomologist, discussed what producers …
Caterpillar Pressure Varies in South Florida
Caterpillar pressure varies across southern Florida, according to the latest release of the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline. Scouts report low to moderate infestation levels of beet armyworms and loopers in the Southwest Florida region. Scouts have also indicated a high level of corn earworm egg hatch outs in some fields. An increase of beet armyworm pressure was reported on …