Got Aphids? Call in the Reinforcements With Banker Plants
To manage pest infestations in greenhouses, banker plants draw in different insect species that don’t feed on the main crop but do serve as hosts for predator insects that will also attack the pest on the main crop—a useful (and green) tool for integrated pest management.
Bait-Stricken Termites Still Heed Call to Molt in Their Central Nest
A recent study at the University of Florida found that termites baited with an insecticide known as a chitin synthesis inhibitor will still follow their natural compulsion to return to their central nest to molt, an important factor in the efficacy of such baits.
Invasive Fly Targets North American Onions, Leeks, Related Crops
The allium leafminer damages crops such as onions, garlic, shallots, and leeks through larval feeding and adult egg-laying in plant tissue. Native to Europe, the invasive species was first discovered in North America in December 2015 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Emerald Ash Borer: How Cities and Towns to Prepare for Invasion
In Pennsylvania, where emerald ash borer has been present since 2007, municipalities have found successful ash-management plans under guidance of the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and they offer a model for other regions to follow.
Another Natural Enemy of Invasive Kudzu Bug Arrives in North America
A wasp species native to Asia was discovered in North America for the first time and shows promise as a potential biological control for kudzu bug.
A New Tool for Picking the Right Pesticide for an IPM Program
A new "IPM Criteria Guidance Document" provides integrated pest management professionals, extension entomologists, and growers a common set of criteria to compare pesticides and make a selection based on compatibility within a given IPM plan.
Brown Recluse: Pest Management Tips for the Spider That’s Not as Common as You Think
Sightings of the brown recluse are rare outside its known range, but if its presence is confirmed, here's what to do about it.
When Educating About Insects, Instructional Video Can Help
Extension entomologists at Texas A&M have used short instructional videos to supplement face-to-face education sessions for growers on integrated pest management, and analysis of their use shows the videos are improving learning outcomes.
Maintaining Susceptibility to Insecticidal Traits in Populations of Corn Pests
Should growers that use Bt crops plant a separate nearby refuge field of non-insecticidal crops, or use a blended mixture of seeds that produce both in the same field?
What Lies Beneath: Grape Root Borer in Eastern Vineyards
Grape root borers are slow killers of grape vines, but also are hard to detect.
In Search of Soybeans Resistant to the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
The Invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is a major pest; USDA researchers hope to breed a resistant soybean.
Some “Green” Oils Can Stop a Bed Bug—But Many Can’t
Most Essential oils don't work to control bed bugs, although there are a few exceptions
The Role of School Nurses in Integrated Pest Management for Public Health
School nurses deal directly with the effects of lice, ticks, and mosquitoes on students and can be an important addition to the IPM team.
Short Bait Exposure Controls Asian Subterranean Termite Colonies
A new study in the Journal of Economic Entomology shows exposure to an insecticide bait known as a chitin synthesis inhibitor for as little as one day may be sufficient to eliminate a colony of Asian subterranean termites
Managing Pests in Organic Greenhouses
While a greenhouse structure affords growers pest control options that are not available for field crops, such as physical exclusion, it can also create challenges.
For Termites, Home is Where the Molt Is
Formosan subterranean termites have a strong urge to return to their central nest when it's time to molt.