Now’s the time to stay on top of pests

Growers are being advised to increase their scouting efforts now that their greenhouses are full of spring crops and temperatures are starting to increase. Extension personnel at Central Maryland Research and Education Center are advising growers of verbena to be particularly vigilant as they have seen emerging thrips populations on these crops. Growers should check both pot and hanging basket crops by doing a tap test and conducting visual inspections.
Tom Dudek at Mich. St. Univ. Extension said Michigan growers are seeing an increase in activity of broad mites on New Guinea impatiens and various aphids including foxglove aphid, green peach aphid and melon aphid.
Dudek said impatiens necrotic spot virus has been reported on double impatiens and seed impatiens so growers need to be sure to control thrips, which vector the disease. He said warmer temperatures and longer days have given overwintering thrips the green light to reproduce. An ample supply of pollen from spring crops and warmer temperatures allow thrips to reproduce faster.