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GREENHOUSE PESTS, BIOLOGICAL CONTROLS/NATURAL ENEMIES
& PLANT-MEDIATED IPM SYSTEMS


INDEX

Got A Problem?
Common Greenhouse Pests
Natural Enemies/Biological Controls
Free Biological Control!
Plant-Mediated IPM Systems
Pesticide Compatibility
Additional Information
aphids & mummies

SO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A PEST PROBLEM?
The proper identification of insect pests, their life cycles and how their mouthparts damage plants are critical for successful management using both biocontrols and chemical insecticides. Many biocontrols are host specific, meaning that they attack only certain insect pests. Many biocontrols are only sucessful by managing certain stages of  the insect's life cycle at certain stages of their own life cycle. The same is true for insecticides where on the label it will tell you what life cycle stage the chemical is the most effective at managing that particular pest. Identifying what insect damage looks like on plants is essential for knowing that a pest infestation is on the rise. Knowing which crops your growing that are susceptible to certain pests (and diseases) is also a key component for sucessful pest management so they can be routinely scouted for infestations. Below you will find a variety of common greenhouse pests and their biological control agents with information on their life cycles.

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COMMON GREENHOUSE PESTS
AphidFungus GnatShorefly

Aphid Life Cycle & Id
   Aphid Section - IPM Guide
 


Fungus Gnat Life Cycle & Id
Fungus Gnat Section - IPM Guide


Shorefly Life Cycle & Id
Shorefly Section - IPM Guide

Spider MItes
Thrips
Whitefly
Spider Mite Life Cycle & Id
Spider Mite Section - IPM Guide

Thrips Life Cycle & Id
Thrips Section - IPM Guide

Whitefly Life Cycle & Id
Whitefly Section - IPM Guide


Mealybug

Mealybug Life Cycle & Id
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NATURAL ENEMIES
Aphidius

Aphidius
Aphidoletes

Aphidoletes
Delphastus

Delphastus
Encarsia

Encarsia

Eretmocerus

Eretmocerus

LadyBeetle

Lady Beetle
Orius Card
Orius



Predatory Mites
Predatory Mites
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FREE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL !!!

Not all insects that venture onto your crops are the bad guys. There are many naturally occurring biological control agents that work just as well if not better than commercial brands. Click here to learn more about free biological controls!

Convergent Lady Beetle
Convergent Lady Beetle

Syrphid Adult
Syrphid Flies
Lacewing Eggs
Green Lacewing Eggs
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PLANT-MEDIATED IPM SYSTEMS

Plant-mediated IPM systems use plants in combination with other suppression tactics to manage arthropod pests. They offer a cost-effective, innovative approach to sustainably managing pests in protected environments. These systems are developed to:

1) Improve early pest detection (indicator or sentinel plants);

2) Attract pests off the crop where they’re targeted for management with bio- control, chemical insecticides or by removing and destroying them (trap crop), or

3) Provide habitat, food and shelter for biological control agents (habitat, insectary/banker or guardian plants).

alyssum pepper habitat pot
Alyssum & Ornamental Pepper Habitat Pot
Aphid banker System
Aphid Banker Plant System
Coming Soon! Plant-Mediated IPM System Webpage with examples & use guidelines
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PESTICIDE COMPATIBILITY 

If pesticides must be applied due to unanticipated disease or pest problems it is important to choose the ones that are the most compatible with your biological controls. Pesticides are the most harmful to biological control through direct contact, but the residuals also make it difficult for them to find prey by interfering with their behavior. The Koppert Side Effects List , Biobest Side Effects Manual and Syngenta Compatibility Chart provide the most up to date compatibilities of pesticides with biological controls. There also smartphone apps available for Apple, Android & Blackberry. All you need to know is the name of the biological control and the pesticide active ingredient. Always remember your best source of up to date information is directly from your biological control supplier!!


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Applied Bio-nomics IPM & Biological Pest Control  Technical Manual: http://www.appliedbio-nomics.com/technical-manual.html
Arthropod Man. in Grnhse & Interiorscapes, OSU: http://osufacts.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-6094/E-1011.pdf
Biological Control: Guide to Natural Enemies in North America, Cornell University: http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/
Get To Know Your Biocontrols: http://greenmethods.com/site/biocontrols/
Natural Enemies Found in the Landscape (UC IPM Online): http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/index.html
UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.floriculture.html

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Last Updated March 2019

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