By Ashfaq Sial Since its first detection in 2008, spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) has emerged as a devastating pest of berry and cherry crops throughout the United States. IDENTIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT Male SWD have dark spots on the outer margins of their wings. Female SWD have saw-like ovipositors used to cut the skin of ripe or ripening fruit and deposit eggs …
New UF Researcher Brings Latest Research Techniques for Integrated Pest Management
By: Robin Koestoyo, Koestoyo@ufl.edu  FORT PIERCE, Fla. — The first time Tolulope Morawo heard about the ability of beneficial insects to protect food crops from pest insects, he knew he had found his lifelong career. In 2009, Morawo learned from a lecture that phorid flies kill fire ants by laying their eggs inside the ants. When the next generation …
Florida Pesticide License Testing Resumes May 18
By: Tory Moore, torymoore@ufl.edu Due to COVID-19, all pesticide license testing in Florida was suspended for more than six weeks. Now that the state has started to reactivate services, testing will resume at select UF/IFAS Extension offices on Monday, May 18. Not all testing locations will open on May 18. Due to the number of COVID-19 cases in certain regions, …
Cover Crops for Summer Nematode Management
By Abolfazl Hajihassani and Josiah Marquez Multiple cover crops are excellent candidates for vegetable growing systems in the southern United States due to their ability to fix nitrogen, build and maintain soil organic matter, and suppress soilborne pathogens, nematodes and weeds. In addition, cover crops can be a valuable strategy for improving microbial diversity and soil health when properly implemented. …
Pepper Weevils Out of Control in Florida Vegetable Fields
By Clint Thompson Florida produce growers need to be wary of the pepper weevil, which is running rampant in the state’s vegetable fields. According to the South Florida Vegetable Pest and Disease Hotline, pepper weevils are out of control on the East Coast in Florida vegetable fields. Growers are also seeing damage increasing in eggplant. Damage is so extreme in …
Sanitation Key Following Harvest for Pest, Disease Control
By Clint Thompson Vegetable farmers are reminded they need to practice proper sanitation once harvest season ends. Doing so will protect against future pests and diseases. According to the South Florida Vegetable Pest and Disease Hotline, one of the best tactics that growers can do for themselves and their neighbors is to clean up crop residues promptly after harvest. Sanitation …
High Whitefly Pressure Reported in Florida Vegetables
By Clint Thompson Florida vegetable farmers are struggling to manage high whitefly pressure amid trying to produce this year’s crop. According to the South Florida Vegetable Pest and Disease Hotline, tomato growers in central Florida are really struggling with heavy whitefly pressure. It noted, “Some growers have already experienced whitefly and virus issues in spring crops and have pulled up …
Whiteflies Already a Concern for Georgia Farmers
By Clint Thompson University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist Stormy Sparks said whiteflies are present in Georgia vegetables. This is not good since cotton farmers have begun planting their crop, and whiteflies like to feed on cotton plants as well. “There’s some. I don’t know if it’s worse or better or whatever compared to other years. Apurba’s been running …
Using Pesticides Wisely Program Offered Online This Year
By Clint Thompson The Using Pesticides Wisely (UPW) program will be offered in an online format this year, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The program has helped Georgia reduce pesticide drift complaints to the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. It will be held this week April 21-23 at various locations. “Our Using Pesticides Wisely programs started in 2015. …
UGA, Georgia Department of Agriculture Offer Critical Training for Pest Control Application Online
By Maria M. Lameiras for UGA CAES News The University of Georgia and Georgia Department of Agriculture dicamba training program, Using Pesticides Wisely 2020, will move to online delivery for the remaining sessions. Using Pesticides Wisely (UPW) is a state program aimed at teaching farmers and other pesticide applicators how to properly apply pesticides to limit pesticide drift in Georgia. …