Tips on Managing Insects & Mites

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1 Tips on Managing Insects & Mites Leanne Pundt UConn Extension An Equal Opportunity Employer and Program Provider.

2 Outline Fungus Gnats Thrips Spider Mites Broad Mites Aphids Mealybugs What s New

3 Fungus Gnats Broad host range Life cycle (egg to adult) days Problem in propagation areas, especially succulent cuttings Spread diseases (Thielaviopsis, Fusarium, Verticillium)

4 Fungus Gnats Sanitation, Sanitation, Sanitation Sample of media, keep moist for three weeks Avoid overwatering, clean & dry greenhouse Steinernema feltiae (Nemashield, Nemasys) Stratiolaelaps scimitus (H. miles) apply once Dalotia coriaria, apply once Gnatrol (repeated applications needed) Insect Growth Regulators: Distance, Citation, azadirachtin (many)

5 Beneficial Nematodes Nematodes provide 6 to 8 weeks control Repeated applications needed Optimum media temperatures F (range F) Above 88 F nematodes die Watch soil and water temperatures during summer Oxygen needed, so agitate water

6 Thrips Wide host range, cryptic habit, rapid generation times, widespread resistance

7 Thrips Rotation Programs Widespread resistance to Conserve, few new options Long rotations better than shorter rotations Two to three applications with same MOA before switching Conserve> Pylon> Overture > Avid (i.e. standard rotation) If add Botanigard WP, Met 52EC, Grandevo to standard rotations there was no difference Reduces selection pressure, costs Kivett, J Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Organisms, Beauveria bassiana, Isaria fumosoroseus, Metarhizium anisopliae and Chromobacterium subtsugae against the Western Flower Thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, under both laboratory and greenhouse conditions. MS Thesis, Kansas State University

8 Insect Killing Fungi and Thrips WFT adults generally more susceptible to infection than nymphs Nymphs shed cuticle more frequently and have thicker cuticles than adults Apply early before have overlapping generations Optimum conditions ( > 90% RH; F) Mycotrol WPO and ESO are new organic formulations of Beauveria

9 L. Pundt, UConn Greenhouse whitefly pupae infected by the beneficial fungus Beauveria bassiana on underside of tomato leaf. Note brown discoloration. Place leaves in plastic bag to see sporulation of Beauvaria.

10 Thrips What s Working? Excellent Mainspring Good to Excellent Aria, Avid, Overture, Pylon New Products Grandevo - variable (no to good control) Captiva (soybean oil, garlic oil, capsicum extract) Raymond Cloyd will be evaluating this spring Thrips Efficacy Summary, 2015, The IR4 Project

11 Thrips predatory mites N. cucumeris Breeder piles 4 to 6 weeks control Food storage mite

12 Thrips Mini Sachets Place in shade Avoid direct sunlight High temperatures speed up mite development Low RH, reduces egg laying Use when crops are spaced For hanging baskets, do not place on side of pot where they may fall off Consider 3 to 4 mini sachets per shuttle tray

13 Thrips- What s New Mini sachets for propagation Purchase liners from rooting station using mini-sachets to avoid long lasting harmful pesticide residues N. cucumeris or A. swirskii predatory mites Swirskii works better at the end of the crop when temperatures are warmer

14 How do they work? Consumption Life cycle (egg to adult) 18 to 24 days

15 How do they work? Harassment Attack second instar thrips, up to 40x hour Spend less time feeding (-25%) Survival reduced (- 50%) Life span (- 40%) Reduced plant damage (- 40%) Non-consumptive predator effects on a primary greenhouse pest: Predatory mite harassment reduces Western flower thrips abundance and plant damage. Jandricic, Schmidt, Bryant and Frank Biological Control (95) New Insights into Biological Control by S. Jandricic. Greenhouse Canada. August 13, 2015

16 Thrips Mass Trapping From Russell IPM

17 Wide host range (300 plant species) High reproductive potential Short life cycle F, 30-50% RH optimum Widespread resistance to miticides Spider Mites

18 Look on underside of lower leaves, along the mid-vein.

19 Spider Mites Avoid over-fertilizing plants, especially N2 based fertilizers Remove pet plants Keep plants well irrigated; water stressed plants have higher concentrations of amino acids Overhead watering; increases RH, washes some mites off leaves Remove weeds

20 Spider Mites Avid & generics - T Floramite - RR, O, BCA Shuttle O - RR, O, BCA Akari- RR, O Sanmite - O Pylon - T, (G) (plant safety) BCA = compatible with biological controls T = Translaminar RR= reduced risk O = Ovicidal (against mite eggs) G = greenhouse use only TetraSan T, O Ovation O, BCA Hexygon O Judo T, O, BCA (plant safety) Sultan BCA New Group 25 Organics Suff Oil X, Triact 70, M-Pede D. Gilrein Cornell

21 Spider Mites What s Working? Contact miticides: Floramite, Sanmite, Translaminar miticides: Pylon, Avid From Mite Efficacy: A literature review (2012) atasummary2012.pdf

22 Spider Mites Phytoseiulus persimilis Release over lower leaves, late in day, best on smooth leaved plants P. persimilis eats all stages of spider mites Lay 15% to 32% fewer eggs (TSSM) if the spider mites smell scents of P. persimilis and the dead spider mites that they have eaten Predatory mites Pear shaped, fast moving Eggs are oblong

23 Amblyseius andersonii Available in bulk and minisachets Tolerates wider temperature range ( F) Feeds on spider mites, broad mites, cyclamen mites, fungal spores, pollen.

24 Broad Mites

25 Broad mites Eggs have a row of diamonds About the same size as the adults (0.25 mm) Females lay up to 40 eggs Egg to Adult 7 to 10 days (50 to 65 F )

26 Broad Mites Increasing problem Clean and disinfect greenhouses before plants come in Discard infected plants? Translaminar Miticides (Avid, Pylon, Judo) Release more N. cucumeris or A. swirskii when doing predatory mite releases for thrips and spider mites

27 Aphids In greenhouse, all aphids are females Give birth to 100 live female nymphs D. Gilrein

28 Aphids Avoid over-fertilizing plants, especially with high N fertilizers Remove all weeds Inspect incoming plants

29 Aphids - What s working? Excellent Tristar Mainspring (preventive drench) Aria (not pansies) Good to Excellent Rycar good bloom safety Endeavor Aphid Efficacy, Literature Review and Summary, pdf

30 Aphid Banker Plants Aphid Banker Plants in a Greenhouse IPM Program, Step by Step Aphid Banker Plants NE Greenhouse Update

31 Hover Flies or Syrphid Flies Lobularia seems better than alyssum, according to growers Bidens also very attractive Thrips attracted to Lobularia Lavender, Top Purple Brownbridge, 2016

32 Larvae Feed on aphids and other soft bodied insects

33 Got Aphids on Callies? May be Foxglove Aphids, Green peach Aphids, or Tobacco Aphids

34 Foxglove Aphid D. Gilrein, Cornell Shiny light yellowish green aphid with dark green patches at the base of the cornicles, and black markings on legs & antennae.

35 Green Peach Aphid L. Pundt, UConn Look for a pronounced indentation between the base of the antennae, with protrusions that aim toward each other.

36 Tobacco Aphid Tobacco aphid Myzus nicotianae Photo s by D. Gilrein

37 Mealybugs See in leaf junctures, underside of leaves and stems Females lay up to 600 eggs Life cycle ~ 60 days

38 Mealybugs Avoid high N2 fertility Remove heavily infested plants Contact insecticides against young nymphs or crawlers Thorough coverage, repeated applications Insecticidal soap, wait a day, Suff Oil X Aria and Tristar, Aria and Talus? Systemic insecticides do not provide complete control because MB feed on stems where active ingredients are less available High pressure sprays (2x a week)

39 Mealybugs Cryptolaemus (Mealybug Destroyer) Warm temperatures needed, above 70 F Release larvae (hot spots), use distribution boxes Release adults (prefer eggs ) Repeated releases needed Jandricic, S. Floriculture IPM for Mealybug. onfloriculture, July 31, 2015

40 Diamondback Moth Pale green larvae feed on underside of leaves. New England Vegetable Management Guide Section on Vegetable Bedding Plants and Transplants Grayish brown moth with line of white or pale yellow diamonds down the middle of its back.

41 Cabbage Whitefly Highly attractive to kale, and Brussel sprouts, kalettes Originally from Europe Serious pest on pansy in one LI greenhouse Encarsia formosa parasitized cabbage whitefly (not Eretmocerus)

42 Red headed flea beetles Adults late June, early July Woody ornamentals: hydrangea, Ilex, Itea, Vaccinum Herbaceous Ornamentals: Asters, Chrysanthemum, Coreopsis, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Sedum, Veronica, Zinnia

43 Greenhouse Scout from Cornell University (itunes) Summarizes information on biocontrol of common greenhouse pests and an interactive interface for collecting, organizing of scouting date and product application for insect management.

44 Biobest Pesticide Side Effects App (free, itunes, Android)

45 What is this?

46 Aphidius colemanii, a parasitic wasp used against aphids. For more photos of insects on sticky cards, see Identifying Some Pest and Beneficial Insects on Your Sticky Cards On the UConn IPM website

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48 Broad mite damage on salvia For more photos see: Tips on Scouting Spring Ornamental Crops on the UConn IPM website

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50 Fungus gnat larvae are nibbling on the leaf For more photos see: Tips on Scouting Spring Ornamental Crops on the UConn IPM website

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52 Thrips feeding damage on Tarragon For more photos see: Tips on Scouting Herb Bedding Plants

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54 Diamondback Moth Larvae For more see: Tips on Scouting Vegetable Bedding Plants on the UConn IPM website

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56 Root Aphids For more see: Tips on Scouting Herbaceous Perennials: Insect and Mite ID on the UConn IPM website

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58 Foliar spray injury Only specific cultivars of verbena ( pink or red) Associated with plant stress Tristar and Capsil used Plants did grow out of it

59 What s New on UConn IPM website Tips on Scouting Herb Bedding Plants Tips on Scouting Herbaceous Perennials: Insect and Mite ID Tips on Scouting Spring Ornamental Crops Tips on Scouting Vegetable Bedding Plants Tips on Scouting Herbaceous Perennials: Diseases

60 Upcoming Meetings Northeast Greenhouse Conference Boxborough, MA November 9 & 10, Biological Control Meeting UConn Storrs, CT, June 21 Plant Nutrition Workshop, CAES, New Haven, CT, Sept 27

61 Updates New England Greenhouse Update CT Greenhouse Message See under Greenhouse section of website

62 Questions?