2024 ARTICLES
Planting for Biocontrol
- May 2024 Link How conservation biocontrol can help you keep pests at bay through thoughtful planting.
2023 ARTICLES
Using Banker Plants & Associated Beneficials
- Nov 2023 Link. Metrolina Greenhouses has made a commitment to reduce their pesticide footprint on both their workers and the environment through the use of biological control. Their journey began with the introduction of commercially produced beneficial insects and mites, and later incorporating banker plant systems.
Three Questions Suzanne Wainwright-Evans
- Jan 2023 Link The owner of Buglady Consulting discusses broad mites, how to best deal with them and not skipping steps in the process. What parvispinus damage looks like.
2020-21 Articles
Quick Guide To 10 of the Worst Greenhouse Pests
- March 2021 Link The next time you’re faced with a pest problem in the greenhouse, use this tool to identify the pest correctly and find help when you have questions.
Best Practices for Biocontrols, Part 5
- June 2021 Link Previous articles in this series have described how to prepare for, receive and store a shipment of biocontrol agents (BCAs), how to release predatory mites, how to release parasitoid wasps, and how to use insect-killing nematodes. This article describes how to release some other commonly used BCAs, including the minute pirate bug Orius insidiosus, the aphid predatory midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza, and green lacewing larvae Chrysopa spp.
Best Practices for Biocontrols, Part 4
- May 2021 Link Growers who are interested in using biological controls are encouraged to begin by using beneficial nematodes to manage fungus gnat larvae and Western flower thrips pupae. Beneficial nematodes are relatively easy to use and are applied similarly to conventional pesticides with some special precautions listed in this article.
Best Practices for Biocontrols, Part 3
- April 2021 Link Tiny parasitic wasps can provide effective biocontrol of some of your worst greenhouse pests. These wasps, which will not sting or harm people in any way, will fly or crawl through your plants to search for aphids or whiteflies. Typically, the female wasp will penetrate these pests with her egg-laying ovipositor and lay an egg beneath or inside (depending on the species). The egg will hatch into a wasp larva, eating the aphid or whitefly nymph from the inside out, killing the nymph. They’ll pupate inside the host insect and emerge as a wasp that will then search for more hosts.
Best Practices for Biocontrols, Part 2. Release the Beasts
- March 2021 Link. Learn about the commercially available predatory mites species. Neoseiulus cucumeris, N. californicus, Amblyseius swirskii, A. andersoni and Phytoseiulus persimilis
Best Practices for Biocontrols, Part 1
- Feb 2021 Link. Learn the first steps on how to start purchasing biological control agents.
Key Insects to Monitor in Greenhouse Hemp
Cannabis sativa as a Host of Rice Root Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in North America
Rice Root Aphid: An Insect Surprise on Indoor-Grown Cannabis
- Aug 2020 Entomology Today Link
Early Intervention Key to Cannabis Pest Control
- May 2020 Greenhouse Canada. Vigilance needed for control options to be effective Link
The Top Pests to Watch for in Your Cannabis Crop
- Feb 2020 Greenhouse Growers Link
BioControl in the Greenhouse: 4 Questions with Suzanne Wainwright Evans
- Feb 2020 Greenhouse Grower Link
Tips on Scouting from Metrolina Greenhouses
Funky Pests: Unusual aphids
- July 2019 Greenhouse Management Link
Don’t Miss Opportunities to Market Your Biocontrol Program
- Jan 2018 Greenhouse Grower Link
Take Control of Mites in Cannabis Crops
- Oct 2017 Greenhouse Grower Link
Quality Control With Biocontrols
- Jan 2015 Greenhouse Grower Link
How to Identify and Manage Spider Mites
Understand the reality vs. myths regarding biological control costs
- Aug 2011 Nursery Management. Understand the reality vs. myths regarding biological control costs. Link
Plant Health: Aphids
- June 2011 Nursery Management. Link
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
- June 2011 Nursery Management. This pest has jumped from a residential nuisance to a grower problem. Link
Beneficial Insects
- Nov 2011 Greenhouse Management. Get the scoop on insectaries from around the world. Link
Solid Pest Management Starts with Propagation
- Oct 2010 Nursery Management. When it comes to pest management, the best place to start your program is from the beginning, so start with propagation. Link
A Pest Management Glossary for Growers
- Aug 2010 Nursery Management. With pest management rapidly advancing, more terms and technical words are being thrown at the industry. Here are some key terms being used today in conjunction with pest management.
Pest Identification
- June 2010 Nursery Management. Don’t confuse pests with beneficials, or it could cost you. Link
Beneficial Breakthrough
- May 2010 Nursery Management. After a successful trial, the Conard-Pyle Co. plans to implement more beneficial insect releases. Link
Where do Beneficials Come From?
- April 2010 Nursery Management. Suzanne Wainwright-Evans provides a primer to the beneficials industry. Link
Knowing The Origin of Pests Helps With Proper Control
- March 2010 Nursery Management. No matter what you do, they always seem to come back - pests that want to feed on your crops. Link
Effectively Integrating Biocontrol Agents into Pest Management
- Jan 2010 OFA Bulletin. Link
Some Simple Steps Can Shave Costs From Your Pesticide Program
- Dec 2009 Nursery Management. While we may not all agree on how to manage insect problems, we can all agree that reducing pesticide use is a good thing. Link
Hunter Flies May Be Small, but They Have a Big Appetite
- Oct 2009 Nursery Management. Most growers do not really think of flies as their friends because they are dealing with pests like fungus gnats, shore flies and leafminers. Hunter Flies, Coenosia attenuata. Link
Speed Scouting can Save Your Crops
- Aug 2008 Nursery Management. Scouting is like flossing your teeth. You know you should do it because in the long run it will save you money, but you get busy, make excuses and don’t get it done. I’m going to give you some hints to help speed up the scouting process (yet still be effective). Link
Before You Treat, See The 'Hole' Picture
- June 2008 Nursery Management. It is easy for growers to recognize that there are insects on their crops. Scouting for insect pests is important, but before you mix up your spray tank, don’t forget to make sure your pests are still alive. One of the key indicators that a spray may not be needed is exit holes in the host. Finding these little exit holes can save you time and money as well as conserve your good bugs. Link
