Root-knot nematodes cause severe damage in vegetable production. Its infection results in root swellings called galls that interrupt plant water and nutrient uptake (Figure 1). Aboveground, plants show symptoms that include stunted growth, wilting, and leaf yellowing. In addition to root-knot nematodes, several other plant parasitic nematodes can cause damage to vegetable roots. Damage to[Read More…]
Pests and Pest Management - General
References, associations, organizations, periodicals, pesticides, pesticide safety, pest laws and regulations
This season started out dry and hot. These are the ideal conditions for pests that we often associate with controlled environments: aphids and mites. There are a number of factors that contribute to their success in these conditions, including lack of rain which physically removes the insect from the plant and drought-stressed plants, which are[Read More…]
Last week I encountered my first adult Japanese Beetle of the 2023 season. It was at my home, and I was keeping my fingers crossed that it was just an unlucky stray individual, but hoping I had more time before their devastation would arrive. Well, I was wrong. Over the weekend, I found a few[Read More…]
Join eOrganic for 4 webinars on the findings of the biocontrol project in April and May 2023! Register at the links below for the May 18 and May 24 webinars! Recordings will be posted here and on the eOrganic YouTube channel! eOrganic Webinars Date Webinar Presenters April 26, 2023 Marketing Value-added Grains for Local and[Read More…]
Each year we get several reports of seedlings being cut at or near the base of the plant/soil surface. The critter who gets the blame most often is cutworms. And that makes sense because the damage is in the name. However, with closer inspection, it seems that the blame can often be misplaced. There are[Read More…]
Background Pillbugs, roly-polys, and potato bugs are the dominant common names for the isopod genus Armadillidium spp. As the scientific name suggests, these little critters resemble mini armadillos but are, in fact, crustaceans that live on land (Figure 1). Therefore, they are more closely related to lobsters, crabs, and shrimp than insects. Pillbugs are important[Read More…]
We announced in a previous newsletter article that we are doing a survey to understand the extent of root-knot nematode (RKN) damage on vegetable crops in Indiana. Among the 18 soil samples from high tunnels of 14 farms, RKNs (juvenile or adult) were found in 13 samples at 9 farms. Only 3 farmers knew RKN[Read More…]
Purdue recently joined and became one of twenty US states that are in the NEWA network. NEWA is a partnership of land grant universities and grower associations. If you live in one of the states listed, you can buy a weather station for your farm and connect to NEWA. For Indiana growers, this means your membership is[Read More…]
Researchers at Purdue University and The College of Wooster are conducting a study to learn more about insect pest management practices used by vegetable producers in the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions of the US. Although there is a key insect we’re curious about (the carrot weevil), you’ll only see 1 question about it; the[Read More…]