Pest Control

Adult thrips in strawberry tackled with Orius-System

Over recent years, Biobest advisor Arno Hellemons has seen good results using a combination of cucumeris and Orius to control thrips in strawberry crops. "With this strategy strawberry growers are getting this challenging pest under... more »

Guidelines for managing western flower thrips in California lettuce

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is one of the major pests of lettuce in California. It has a wide host range including several vegetable, ornamental, and other cultivated or wild plants.... more »

‘Big bats binge bad bugs’ that harm farm crops, UF study confirms

“Big bats binge bad bugs.” It’s a catchy, alliterative title, and it’s apropos for the latest research work by University of Florida scientist Holly Ober. All bats in the Southeast eat insects and feed at... more »

UF researchers identify crop-destroying nematodes with AI

Parasitic nematodes cause $125 billion in agricultural damage around the world each year, but University of Florida scientists hope to alleviate some of that destruction. To do so, UF researchers will use artificial intelligence (AI) to... more »

USDA plan to hike awareness of invasive species threat joined by Michigan

The USDA declared April 2021 as “Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month,” a campaign aimed at raising public awareness about damaging invasive pests threatening our nation’s crops, forests, and natural resources. According to the... more »

Destructive, invasive Japanese beetle subject of Washington state plea for help

The Washington State Department of Agriculture is asking the public to report any sightings of Japanese beetle, an invasive and highly destructive pest, and will be hosting an educational webinar about the beetles in April.... more »

New surfactant added to Wilbur-Ellis organic line

A new surfactant has been added to the Wilbur-Ellis Agribusiness organic product line. This expanding portfolio of OMRI-listed products offers growers a cutting-edge approach to organic integration and crop production. “INFOLIUM-EAä is a nonionic surfactant,... more »

Warmer soils in Illinois could indicate healthy insect populations for spring

Despite the cold weather this February, winter soil temperatures averaged 1 to 2 degrees higher than the long-term averages in Illinois, indicating a greater chance of insects surviving the winter, according to Jennie Atkins, Water... more »