greenhouse insect biology and management
DESCRIPTION
Greenhouse Insect Biology and Management. Jen White & Ric Bessin Dept. Entomology University of Kentucky. Pest management in greenhouses. Why are pests attracted to greenhouses?. Lots of food Great climate No enemies. Outline. Introduction to Integrated Pest Management - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Greenhouse Insect Biology and Management
Jen White & Ric BessinDept. Entomology
University of Kentucky
Pest management in greenhouses
Why are pests attracted to
greenhouses?Lots of foodGreat climateNo enemies
Outline
• Introduction to Integrated Pest Management• Biology of common greenhouse pests• Chemical controlsNext time:• Biological and Alternative controls
Integrated Pest Management
• Integration of tactics– Biological– Chemical– Cultural– Physical/mechanical
• More reliable control
Goal: Mitigate pest damage while protecting human health, the environment and economic viability
Components of an IPM Program
• Pest prevention• Pest identification• Monitoring and population assessment• Control action guidelines• Integration of tactics– Biological– Chemical– Cultural– Physical/mechanical
Prevention
Keep them out!• Inspect incoming stock– Isolation
• Mechanical exclusion• Weed removal– Inside and outside GH– No extra flowering ornamentals
• Prevent year-to-year carryover– Remove residues– Sanitize
Pest Identification
• Why is it important?– Misidentification can contribute to failure– Incorrect biological or chemical controls
Common Greenhouse Pests
• Mites• Thrips• Whiteflies• Aphids• Fungus gnats• Shore flies• Mealybugs• Others…
Characteristics–Small–Hidden–Short life cycle–Numbers build fast
Fungus gnat
Mealybug
Whitefly
Aphid
Mite
Shore fly
Thrips
Relative Sizes
Common Greenhouse Pests• Mites• Thrips• Aphids• Whiteflies• Mealybugs• Fungus gnats• Shore flies• Others…
• Tiny• Webbing
Mite identification
• Tiny• Webbing• Eight legs, no wings– NOT insects
• Two spots –• Two spotted spider mite
• Other species– Lewis, Broad, Cyclamen
Mite identification
Spider Mites
• Attack 300 + species of plants
• Life cycle in 8+ days
• Females lay 100+ eggs
• Sap feeders
• Under leaves, around buds
• Prefer tender leaves Two-spotted spider mite
Mites: Monitoring
• Scouting
– look for stippling, mottled leaves
– webbing
– premature leaf drop
• Examine under leaves
Mites: Management
• Cultural
–Reduce plant stress
– Spritz with water
Common Greenhouse Pests• Mites• Thrips• Aphids• Whiteflies• Mealybugs• Fungus gnats• Shore flies• Others…
Thrips Identification• Tiny• Yellow-ish• Linear• Most common:• Western flower thrips
Thrips Damage• Deformed leaves• Decaying flowers• Silvery, flecked scars• Black fecal spots
Thrips Biology
Pierce plant cells
Young growth and flowers
Tightly furled
Mainly females 150 to 300 eggs
Life cycle: 12+ days
Vector tospoviruses Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV)
Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV)
Western flower thrips
In soil
In plant
Thrips: Monitoring Early detection
Blue or yellow cards Minimum of 3
Placed near doors/vents
thrips sensitive plants
1 per 2000 ft2 minimum
Placed just above canopy
Can do a subset of grids
New cards periodically
Tap method
Same person, regular basis (weekly)
Thrips: Management
Cultural Control Remove weeds (that may
harbor viruses)
Crop alternation
Petunia as virus indicator plant Sensitive to virus
Not systemic
Use vegetative plants
Blue plastic plate to attract
Western flower thrips
“Summer madness”“Cascade blue”
Common Greenhouse Pests• Mites• Thrips• Aphids• Whiteflies• Mealybugs• Fungus gnats• Shore flies• Others…
Melon or cotton aphid
Aphid identification Pear shaped body
Cornicles = “tailpipes”
Most common species
Melon or cotton aphid
Potato aphid
Joseph Berger
Green peach aphid
Whitney Cranshaw
>135 plant families
>90 plant families
>125 plant families
Aphid Biology High reproductive rate
– 100 live young/female
– Asexual
– Live birth
– Life cycle 7-10 days
Remove sap
Produce honeydew
Aphid Damage
• Stunt plants
• Curling, cupping of
leaves
• Sticky honeydew
– Sooty mold
• Transmit viruses
Aphids: Monitoring
Scouting
Insects on stems,
fresh growth, under
leaves
Sticky honeydew on
leaf surface
Yellow cards: caution!
Most aphids don’t have wings!
Aphid Management
• Avoid excess Nitrogen
Whitney Cranshaw
Common Greenhouse Pests• Mites• Thrips• Aphids• Whiteflies• Mealybugs• Fungus gnats• Shore flies• Others…
Whitefly IdentificationGreenhouse
Trialeurodes vaporariorumSweet potato or Silver leaf
Bemisia tabaci
Photo credit: Gaucho
Ronald SmithUGA857007
Banded wingedTrialeurodes abutiloneus
Whitefly IdentificationGreenhouse
Trialeurodes vaporariorumSweet potato or Silver leaf
Bemisia tabaci
Whitefly Biology
All stages under leaf
Sedentary immatures
Life cycle in 1 month
Highly visible
MANY host plants
Greenhouse whitefly
Whitefly Damage
Yellowing and discoloration
Stunt plants
Honeydew and mold
Virus transmission
Whiteflies: Monitoring
– yellow cards
–plant inspection
• Undersides of leaves
• Honeydew
• Sooty mold
• Shake plant for adults
Sweet Potato Whitefly
Whiteflies: Management Cultural control
Plant-free periods
Time depends on
temperature
->cooler temps,
keep plant-free
longer
Common Greenhouse Pests• Mites• Thrips• Aphids• Whiteflies• Mealybugs• Fungus gnats• Shore flies• Others…
Mealybugs
“Big”: ¼ inch
Waxy, cottony, fringed
Sucking insects
– produce honeydew
– stunt plants
Attack all parts of plant
Life cycle: 1 month
Reduce marketability
Mealybugs: Monitoring
Scouting White flecks on
midribs, leaf axils, leaf
underside
Honeydew and sooty
mold
Common Greenhouse Pests• Mites• Thrips• Aphids• Whiteflies• Mealybugs• Fungus gnats• Shore flies• Others…
Fungus Gnats
Small, delicate flies
Feed on root, stems,
decaying debris
Need damp media
Life cycle 1 month
May promote diseases
– Pythium, Verticillium, Botrytis
Watch pet (wet) plants !
Fungus Gnats: Monitoring
Yellow cards Horizontal orientation
Potato disks
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/06-079.htm
Fungus Gnats: Management
Cultural control Less water!
Remove standing water
Sterilize/contain compost
Common Greenhouse Pests• Mites• Thrips• Aphids• Whiteflies• Mealybugs• Fungus gnats• Shore flies• Others…
Shore Flies
• Small, robust flies
• Feed on algae
• Must have damp media
• Leave frass on plants
• May move Pythium
spores
Shore Flies: Management
• Cultural Control
– Eliminate algae
Build an IPM Monitoring Program• Start simple• Careful inspection• Scout at least once per week• Designate pest management units (PMU)• Have some prior knowledge of problems• Keep good written records (database)
Thresholds
• Why use them?– Help maintain pesticide efficacy– Reduce disruption of cultural practices– Minimize phytotoxicity– Increase profit
• How to establish thresholds– From research– Systematic monitoring, historic records– Experiment
Greenhouse Insecticides/Miticides
• Food crops vs. ornamentals• Read labels carefully• Must have crop on label and no greenhouse
restrictions• Crop safety (new plant types/chemicals)
• Prefer selective materials– More compatible with biocontrol
Active Ingredients• pyriproyfen: Distance/Distance• spiromesofen: Judo/Oberon• spirotetramat: Kontos/Movento• pyridaben: Sanmite/Nexter• acetamiprid: Tristar/Assail• thiamthoxam: Flagship/Platinum• abbamectin: Avid/AgriMek• pymethozine: Endeavour/Fulfill• dinotefuran: Safari/Venom• imidacloprid: Marathon II/Admire
Ornamental formulation/ Vegetable formulation
Ornamental Products with Vegetable Uses
• Tristar (acetamiprid): Some transplants• Kontos (spirotetramat): Some transplants• Distance (pyriproxyfen): Tomatoes• Talus (buprofezin): Tomatoes• Pylon (chlofenapyr): Fruiting vegetables• Floramite (bifenazate): Tomatoes• Tetrasan (etoxazole): Tomatoes
Vegetable insecticides/miticides
Without GH restriction• Sevin• Malathion• Orthene• Mustang max• Pounce• Baythroid• Asana XL• Proaxis• Danitol• Warrior
Without GH restriction• Admire• Belay• Venom• Distance/Knack• Fulfill• Dipel• Courier• Agri-Mek• Acramite
These can be used in the greenhouse so long as the crop is on the label
Prohibited Vegetable InsecticidesWith GH prohibition• Diazinon• Endosulfan• Assail• Platinum/Actara• Radiant• Proclaim• Beleaf• Rimon• Intrepid
With GH prohibition• Avaunt• Oberon• Movento• Coragen• Portal• Belt/Synapse
Systemics for Ornamentals
Product Systemic Target pests IRAC Class
Marathon II Yes (↑) Aphids, WF, soft scale, fungus gnats, leafminers 4A
Flagship 25WG Yes (↑) Aphids, WF, fungus gnats, leafminers 4A
Safari 20 SG Yes (↑) WF, mealybugs, aphids, soft scale, fungus gnats, leafminers, armored scale
4A
Kontos Yes(↑↓) WF, mealybugs, aphids, soft scale, leafhoppers, scale crawlers(vegetable transplants: Fruiting and leafy)
23
Tristar 30 SG No WF, mealybugs, aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, leafminers, scale(Vegetable transplants: Fruiting, leafy, cucurbit, cole, and bulb)
4A
IGR Foliar Sprays for Ornamentals
Product Type Target pests IRAC Class
Distance 0.86EC IGR WF, scale, fungus gnats, shoreflies(Greenhouse tomatoes (>1”), bell pepper, eggplant)
7D
Talus 40 SC IGR WF, mealybug, leafhoppers, scale crawlers(Greenhouse tomatoes)
16
Pedestal 0.83EC IGR WF, thrips, caterpillars, leafminers 15
Ornazin 3% EC IGR WF supression, many other pest groups(brassica crops, cucurbits, eggplants, herbs and spices, legumes, peppers, tomatoes, and other miscellaneous crops grown in greenhouses)
UN
Foliar Sprays for Ornamentals
Product AI Pests targeted IRAC class
Aria 50SG flonicamid Aphids, WF, leafhoppers, mealybugs, scale stink bugs
9C
Conserve 1SC spinosad Caterpillars, thrips, leafminers 5
Decathlon 20 WP cyfluthrin Thrips, beetles, caterpillars * 3A*
TalstarOne 0.67 EC bifenthrin Thrips, beetles, caterpillars, plant bug, broad mites *
3A*
Tame 2.4EC fenpropathrin Thrips, beetles, caterpillars, plant bugs* 3A*
Hachi-Hachi tolfenpyrad Thrips, aphids, scale, leafhoppers, whitefly, caterpillars
21A
Pylon chlofenapyr Spider mites, broad mite, rust mites, cyclamen mite, beet armyworm, loopers, thrips, caterpillars(greenhouse fruiting vegetables 0-PHI)
13
Endeavor 50 WDG pymetrozine WF, aphids 9B
Mavrik Aquaflow Tau-fluvalinate Aphids, WF, mites, thrips, caterpillars 3A*
Mesurol 75W methiocarb Thrips, slugs, snails 1A
Miticides for OrnamentalsProduct AI Mites/Pests targeted IRAC Class
Akari 5SC fenpyroximate Spider mites, broad mites, cyclamen mites, rust mites, WF, mealybugs
21A
Judo 4SC spiromesifen Spider mites, broad mites, cyclamen mites, rust mites, WF
23
Avid 0.15EC abamectin Spider mites, broad mites, cyclamen mites, rust mites, WF, aphids, thrips, leafminers
6
Floramite 2 SC bifenazate Spider mites(greenhouse tomatoes)
UN
Shuttle O Acequinocyl Spider mites 20B
Tetrasan 5 WDG Etoxazole Spider mites(greenhouse tomatoes)
10B
Ultiflor Milbamectin Spider mites 6
Pylon chlofenapyr Spider mites, broad mites, cyclamen mites, rust mites
13
Ovation Clofentezine Spider mites 10A
Sanmite pyridaben Spider mites, broad mite, WF 21A
Hexygon Hexythiazox Spider mites 10A
Ornamental Insects - Chemigation
• Products that allow for some chemigation uses– Marathon II– Flagship– Safari– Kontos– Conserve– Ornazin
-- Sevin-- malathion-- Mustang Max-- Pounce-- Baythroid-- Asana XL-- Proaxis
-- Warrior-- Admire-- Venom-- Dipel
Resistance Management
• Only treat if needed• Rotate to a different IRAC class with each pest
generation• Do not tank mix products in the same
chemical class• Utilize biological control