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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Pests”
By Alison DeLoach Brett Blaauw, assistant professor and Extension specialist at the University of Georgia and Clemson University, gave his peach pest forecast for the year during his presentation at the recent Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Regarding San Jose scale, Blaauw expects a tough year for growers. He said this winter has been relatively warm, creating a good …
By Alison DeLoach Gall midge has been wreaking havoc in blueberry crops across the Southeast. However, introducing more insects into your production system could help solve the problem. Renee Allen, area blueberry agent with University of Georgia Extension, recently spoke about the advantages of using beneficial insects that are natural enemies of blueberry gall midge. Blueberry gall midge destroys the …
Generally, organic producers try to stay away from using insecticides. If pest pressure is bad enough, however, it is important to avoid resistance. According to Ayanava Majumdar, Extension entomologist with Auburn University, incorporating tank mixes into a grower’s spray program can help deter resistance. Majumdar says he understands most organic producers use individual organic products. “But, through years of research, …
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that more than 168,000 Giant African Land Snails (GALS) have been eliminated in Florida since the invasive snail was discovered in Miami-Dade County in 2011. In addition, due to the success of the program, the department has decommissioned two additional core areas, two of the largest is the …
Root-knot nematode infestation is one of the biggest soilborne problems for Florida vegetable growers. According to Johan Desaeger, assistant professor of nematology at the University of Florida’s Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, root-knot nematodes are very widespread in Florida and can cause some major issues. Once these nematodes enter the plant’s root system, they cause root-knot galls, which can …
By Breanna Kendrick What’s small, black, has six legs and causes a lot of damage to sweet potato crops? The sweet potato weevil. Once this pest is present and fields become highly infested, it’s very difficult to control. The weevil causes unsightly effects to the outside and inside of the sweet potato, making it hard to move the product through …
By Breanna Kendrick Black aphids are small black insects that feed on the leaves of pecan trees. The area where black aphids are feeding will turn yellow and become necrotic, killing the tissues surrounding the feeding area. Black aphids are most common later in the pecan season. Black aphids do have some populations early in the season, but are less of …
By Breanna Kendrick Varroa mites have been in the United States since 1987, but there’s still not a good solution for controlling them. These mites impact honeybee colonies by feeding on the bees and vectoring viruses. The mites pass viruses around the colonies and make the bees very sick. Varroa control is tricky because the goal is to kill an …
By Breanna Kendrick A big issue growers in the Southeast are facing is a weevil called cowpea curculio. This New World insect is very harsh on Old World peas, such as cowpeas. Insects are typically controlled with an insecticide, but this particular weevil has become resistant to many insecticides and can devastate a crop. Cowpea curculio is so hard on …
Alabama vegetable growers have been dealing with pests that cannot be controlled by insecticides: slugs and snails. According to Ayanava Majumdar, Extension entomologist with Auburn University, increased rainfall over the past year has created this unusual problem of snail and slug infestation. These pests favor wet conditions. Moist soil is the perfect environment for snails and slugs. They also prefer …
