Insect Images and Videos

Wondering where you can go to find images of insects that you know are correctly identified? There are a lot of insect photos on the internet but not all are correctly identified.

The 4-H Entomology website is a wonderful resource for not only 4-H participants, but the general public. While the site is targeted for 4-H Entomology students, there is a link to a list of common insects you can find in your own backyard well as while you travel throughout the state.

The guide to insect and non-insect orders is really cool because you can learn how to pronounce all those scientific names (it's an interactive pdf file- waaay cool!) and find out information on biology and characteristics.

Another great feature is a link to insect collecting videos. No, this isn't people collecting insects, but videos that show you how to do things like how to use an aspirator, choosing the correct net, pinning insects, etc. It's a great how-to section for those of you who want to start insect collecting as a hobby or start a reference collection to utilize as a teaching tool.

I need to thank Wizzie Brown's blog for this information.

Have you developed your IPM plan for 2010?

In a blog posting I will not be able to tell you how to implement an integrated pest management (IPM) plan from scratch.  I will however I can go over some of the basics.

Before developing an IPM plan, it is important to understand why you are developing an IPM plan. Integrated pest management is a strategy to limit damage caused by insects, mites, diseases, weeds, etc. It strives to use a combination of pest-control tactics to minimize risks to human health, the environment and nontarget organisms. IPM focuses on tactics that will prevent or avoid anticipated pest problems rather than trying to remediate problems after they occur.

IPM is the combined use of mechanical, physical, cultural, biological and chemical control methods. To properly implement an IPM program, you need to evaluate all control methods available.

In developing an IPM plan it is important to familiarize yourself with the growing conditions favorable to your crops and the pests to which they are susceptible. A team of individuals should develop the IPM plan. Having key growers, pest managers and key spray personnel involved in the process will help to ensure that all areas of production are addressed. By developing your management plan before you start your crop it will be possible to discuss the plan with your employees and ensure you have the supplies you will need.

You can divide your IPM plan into three key parts. The first part of your IPM plan should address sanitary measures before and during production. Ensuring no pests are present when you start your crop can save a lot of time and effort. The second part of your plan should cover your pest-monitoring program. A proper monitoring program is invaluable in any IPM program. Finally, determine how you will manage pests when they appear at levels that trigger a required treatment.

By determining in advance how you plan to manage common pest problems, you can be assured you have chemicals or biological-control agents available when needed. It is important to update you chemical management program every year due to new products entering the market. Many new pesticides are compatible with IPM programs in that they have a very narrow spectrum of pest susceptibility and are compatible with biological control agents.

As you implement your IPM program it will be important to keep in constant communication with your employees. At the end of the season, a meeting should be held to discuss the effectiveness of the IPM plan and make any needed changes for next year’s crops.

Field Day in Overton

I hope everybody is having a great 2010 so far.   I know the cold weather was a challenge for many growers.  I had problems with pipes bursting and heaters not working so I know what many of you went through last week.  This cold weather hopefully killed off some insect pests that were lurking about.

Now lets think about warmer weather.  The AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton will be hosting its first field day  dedicated to nursery and greenhouse production on June 24th.  We are still working out the details, but the program will start in the afternoon and wrap up with a free dinner.  We should be able to offer TNLA and TDA CEUs.

The field day will have something for everyone.   We will start off in the air conditioned auditorium with an overview of the research and extension programs at the Center.  The program will then move outdoors with field tours of Dr. Pemberton's plant evaluation trials and Dr. Steddom's and my pest management trials.  The NTNGA Memorial Greenhouse is now operational and will be a major feature of the program.   We will finish off inside with a great meal catered by Catfish Express (they catered lunch at the East Texas Nursery and Greenhouse Conference in 2009).

2010 Pest & Production Management Conference

Orlando is the Destination for the 2010 Pest & Production Management Conference
The 26th Annual Pest & Production Management Conference will take place February 25-27, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport in Orlando, Florida. Attendees will learn the latest techniques in pest/disease and production management for greenhouse and nursery plants and receive expert answers on top crop health concerns. They'll see the latest tools and products and be able to network with leading growers, researchers and educators. Click Here for more information.

Online Registration Now Open: Take Advantage of Registration Discounts
Greenhouse growers can register for the 2010 Pest & Production Management Conference by going to the official website for the conference. Be sure and take advantage of the discounted registration rates before January 29, 2010. Discounts are also available for multiple participants from the same company.

Earn While You Learn: Recertification Credits Available At Conference
Attendees can earn credits toward pesticide applicator recertification at the Pest & Production Management Conference. More than 20 states certify this program for credit. Bring your state issued applicator or certificate number for documentation for CEU credits on site. For more information, contact SAF's Laura Weaver, CMP at 800.336.4743.

Event Organizers
The organizers of the 26th Annual Pest & Production Management Conference are the Society of American Florists and Greenhouse Grower magazine.

Water Management That Makes Cents

The Ellison Chair in International Floriculture announces the THIRD of a 3-part webinar series that focuses on water quality, conservation, and management on October 20 at 11:00 a.m. CDT.

Dr. Don Wilkerson of Texas AgriLife Extension Service will be our next featured speaker and he will address the topic: Water Management That Makes Cents!

CLICK HERE -- or go to http://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/webinar.htm to register for the SECOND webinar of the series.

In case you missed them, CLICK HERE -- or go to http://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/webinar.htm to view the RECORDING of the first two webinars of the series, which are now available online. Dr. Paul Fisher of the University of Florida was the first speaker and he covered: What's in Your Water? Water Quality and Treatment for Pathogens and Algae. Dr. Peter Ling of Ohio State University was our second featured speaker and he addressed the topic: Knowing Exactly When to Apply Irrigation Water.

Whiteflies for Christmas?

Based on early reports, 2009 may be another challenging year for whitefly management. In other states, Q-biotype whiteflies have been detected in some rooted cuttings shipments. I have not heard of any problems in East Texas so far this year. That does not mean East Texas producers don’t need to be on the lookout for problems or have a good management program in place.

A good whitefly management program must have two goals. First, is to produce a high quality, salable crop for the consumer. Second, but of equal importance, is preserving the chemical tools available to manage whiteflies. If we do not maintain the viability of effective chemical tools, it will be difficult for many growers to produce a salable crop. Consequently, the wise use of chemicals, through a scientifically based IPM program, is essential in this 21^st Century. Europe has seen, and is suffering from, the results of over spraying whiteflies. Insecticide misuse in the United States may result in whitefly populations that cannot be controlled. It is important to remember that the Q-biotype whitefly is already resistant to a number of products commonly used. Chemical overspray could easily lead silverleaf whitefly resistance.

The Q-biotype Task Force asks you to collaborate with us in this effort. It’s not just about the challenges posed by the Q-biotype. It’s about avoiding resistance development in any whitefly population.

We have developed the “Management Program for Whiteflies on Propagated Ornamentals”. It’s available at http://www.mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/LSO/bemisia/bemisia.htm. This program is based on the best scientific data developed to date by the Whitefly Task Force scientists. Do not rely on just one or two effective products, but instead integrate products with different modes of action to decrease the potential for developing resistance.

With support from Color Spot Nurseries, the Society of American Florists and the Agriculture Research Service, I am evaluating rotation programs from the Management Program. The results from my trials and other entomologist around the country will be used to update the plan in 2010.

If you have whitefly control problems contact me so we can get your whiteflies biotyped. Q-biotype whiteflies have never been document in Texas.

REMEMBER: Q-BIOTYPE WHITEFLIES ARE A DOCUMENTED THREAT, BUT THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE THAT B-BIOTYPE ARE DEVELOPING RESISTANCE AS WELL. Only by working cooperatively, wisely, and together can agriculture solve this problem.

East Texas Nursery and Greenhouse Conference

I would like to invite the ornamental producers in Texas to attend the 2009 East Texas Nursery and Greenhouse Conference. This year’s conference will be held on October 28^th at the Harvey Convention Center in Tyler. The conference is a partnership between Texas AgriLife Extension Service, the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, and Northeast Texas Nursery Growers Association. There will also be an IPM Workshop for Hispanic Workers. Registration prior to the meeting is $30 a person and $40 at the door. Five TDA CEU’s will be available. For more information visit http://agrilifevents.tamu.edu/ or call Scott Ludwig at 903-834-6191.

This year we are fortunate to have Dr. Glenn Fain (Auburn University) and Mr. Trent Teegerstrom (University of Arizona) as speakers at the conference.

Dr Fain will present “Alternative Substrates for the Nursery and Greenhouse Industry”. The purchase and shipping of Canadian Peat and perlite are costly products for the greenhouse and nursery business while the future availability of pinebark is of concern. Dr. Fain will show you the results of continued research using WholeTree and forest residuals as substrates in greenhouse and nursery production. Research has shown these components are viable and sustainable alternatives to current substrate components. His presentation will cover harvesting, processing and use of WholeTree and forest residuals as substrate components in greenhouse and nursery production.

Mr. Teegerstrom will present “An Introduction to the Nursery Cost and Profit Estimator”. The Nursery Cost and Profit Estimator (NCPE) is a spreadsheet tool developed jointly by the University of Arizona and the University of Hawaii to assist nursery producers in determining the cost of producing individual plants or groups of similar products. Knowing the individual cost of each product is critical information to make sound management decisions. In an industry where a typical business produces often over 100 different plant products, knowing which ones contribute to profit or loss can be challenging. The NCPE is set up to evaluate products from in-house propagation as well as purchased propagation material, and for final size plants ranging from small containers to trees in large boxes. The NCPE allows determining the true cost of a product but in addition the opportunity to simulate the impact of different cultural practices, regulatory demands, and the use of new products or different inputs. Information needed to start using the NCPE includes the land and bench area in operation, including production and non-production areas, federal tax schedule F or C, and production records for specific products or groups of products grown in the operation. The NCPE offers producers the opportunity to weigh the risks associated with different cultural practices, pricing, and regulatory compliance.

Additional topics to be addressed will include:

• IPM Update – Dr. Scott Ludwig (AgriLife Extension)
• Insect Pest Identification - Dr. Scott Ludwig (AgriLife Extension
• Plant Disease Identification and Management - Dr. Karl Steddom (AgriLife Extension)
• Improving Postharvest Performance of Bedding Plants with PGRs – Dr. Brent Pemberton (AgriLife Research)
• Training your Hispanic Workforce - Dr. Carlos Bográn (AgriLife Extension)

Don’t forget to bring your Hispanic works so they can attend Dr. Brográn’s day long “IPM Workshop of Hispanic Workers”.

Register now for water webinar series

Given the success of its inaugural Shine in 09 webinar series (recordings are online at http://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/webinar.htm), the Ellison Chair in International Floriculture announces a new 3-part webinar series that focuses on water quality, conservation, and management.

Why water?
Access to an adequate supply of high quality water is also a growing concern for the nursery/floral industry due to drought, urbanization, and competing demands have decreased available irrigation water. Additionally, regulations on consumption and runoff have greatly impacted greenhouse and nursery management and profitability!
The first of these water-related webinars will be presented on August 17 at 2:00 p.m. CDT by Dr. Paul Fisher, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at the University of Florida. His topic will be: "What's living in your water? Water quality and treatment for pathogens and algae."

Paul also serves as the lead collaborator for the Water Education Alliance for Horticulture. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce runoff and water-related disease issues in the greenhouse and nursery industry by increasing grower knowledge of water technologies and water conservation practices. Current projects are focusing on the development of accessible educational materials for growers. They are also researching practical methods to assess how well treatment technologies work to treat pathogens. Click here to review some of the activities, programs, and educational materials of the WEAH.

Register now for water webinar series

August 17, 2009 - 2:00 p.m. CDT
Webinar 1 Topic:
What's in Your Water? Water Quality and Treatment for Pathogens and Algae
Dr. Paul Fisher, University of Florida

September 15, 2009 - 11:00 a.m. CDT
Webinar 2 Topic:
Knowing Exactly When to Apply Irrigation Water
Dr. Peter Ling, Ohio State University

October 20, 2009 - 11:00 a.m. CDT
Webinar 3 Topic:
Water Management that Makes Cents!
Dr. Don Wilkerson, Texas A&M University

Chrysanthemum White Rust Webinar

The Society of American Florists is offering free chrysanthemum white rust webinar hosted by Dr. Jane Trolinger, of Syngenta Flowers. The breeding and propagation companies have worked hard to develop good information about how growers can protect their crops from chrysanthemum white rust this season. For more information on the webinar, chrysanthemum white rust, and other invasive insects and diseases visit the SAF Website at: http://www.safnow.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=333&Itemid=149.

Chilli Thrips Invade East Texas

Earlier this month I received plants from an East Texas wholesale nursery with damage that the grower thought was possibly herbicide damage. As soon as I put the sample under the microscope my worst fears came true. The damage was not the results of a preemergent herbicide. Rather, the damage was from chilli thrips. I went out to the nursery and walked the entire facility with the grower to determine what plants were impacted. We estimated that approximately 20% of the nursery was infested with chilli thrips. The good news is that we have the tools to develop a management program that should be able to clean up the nursery. Unfortunately, we were unable to determine where the thrips came from. I would suggest that all ornamental crop producers and landscapers in the state be on the lookout for unusual plant damage.

Description. Chilli thrips are extremely small and difficult to distinguish from other thrips species without the aid of a good hand lens or compound microscope. Adults are pale with dark wings and less than 1 mm in length. Immature chilli thrips are also pale in color and resemble the immature stages of many other thrips species.

Feeding Damage. Chilli thrips infestations are usually first detected by their distinctive feeding damage. Unlike flower thrips, which feed primarily on pollen, chilli thrips feed on various plant tissues. Feeding causes bronzing (tissues turning bronze in color) of leaves, buds, and fruit. Damaged leaves may curl upward and appear distorted. Infested plants become stunted or dwarfed and leaves may detach from the stem at the petioles in some plant species. Feeding may also cause buds to become brittle and drop. Young leaves, buds and fruits are preferred, although all above-ground parts of host plants may be attacked. Damage can be easily confused with herbicide damage, broad mites, or even a foliar pathogen.

Chilli thrips damage on pomegranate

Chilli thrips damage on Japanese maple

Host range. Chilli thrips have a very broad host range and may feed on many of the common plants. All broadleafed plants should be considered potential hosts for this thrips. Some of the more common plants attacked are roses (all types), Indian hawthorn, cleyera, begonias, plumbago, blueberry, schefllera, duranta, sweet viburnum, verbena, oaks, live oak, red maple, Japanese maple, grape, Japanese maple, English ivy, viburnum, and ornamental peppers.

Chilli thrips damage on shrub roses

Chilli thrips damage on Indian hawthorn

Plant Monitoring and Identification. Plants with the symptoms described above should be examined closely for the presence of thrips. Thrips collected from the leaves or buds of plants with suspected damage should be collected and properly identified. If you wish to participate in efforts to monitor the distribution of this pest in Texas, place samples of thrips or suspected thrips-infested plant parts into a Ziploc bag, add a dry piece of paper towel or napkin to avoid excessive moisture, and seal the bag. Label the bag with collection information including locality (city or town and county), date, species of host plant, and your name and contact information. Send samples via express mail (next-day delivery) to assure good sample quality. Please send samples to: Chilli Thrips Lab, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, P.O. Box 38, Overton, TX 75684