Squash bugs and cucumber beetles (both spotted and striped) are in full swing this time of year on your cucurbit crops. We no longer have to worry about flowers developing into harvestable fruits, so it is a time that you need to think strategically about insect pest damage thresholds in relation to the decision to[Read More…]
Laura Ingwell
Entomology
Area(s) of Interest: Vegetable Pest Management, Protected Agriculture, Controlled Environment Agriculture, Urban Agriculture
Area(s) of Interest: Vegetable Pest Management, Protected Agriculture, Controlled Environment Agriculture, Urban Agriculture
Two-spotted spider mites (TSSM) are one of the most common mite pests occurring throughout the world. They are known to feed on over 300 plant species, including tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, grapes, apples, and a variety of common flower and weed species. They disperse by walking or floating on the wind currents. Early infestations can be[Read More…]
This is my second year coordinating a bucket trap network to monitor squash vine borers. And, for a second year in a row we are witnessing some interesting organisms in the trap. The first of which is the unfortunate capture of pollinators. This is nearly unavoidable because of the color attraction; yellow mimics flowers, but[Read More…]
The tobacco hornworm is one of the most devastating tomato pests in Indiana, if left unchecked. There are several natural enemies that help suppress this pest, such as stilt bugs (Figure 1), spined soldier bugs (Figure 2) and the parasitoid Cotesia congregata (Figure 3). Often, these natural enemies are not abundant until later in the[Read More…]
This time of year, when we are busy in the fields planting and prepping for a fruitful season, we need to be observant of the pest pressures that may be present. We have already had reports this year of cucumber beetles feeding on recently transplanted cucurbit crops, in particular melons and cucumbers. Let’s review why[Read More…]
While it is not so much of a problem on large farms, with many acres of cucurbits, small farms and organic growers tend to be the most impacted by this pest. The squash vine borer (Figure 1) is a member of the clear-winged moths, a unique group of moths that are active during the daytime.[Read More…]
Once again this year I will be monitoring corn earworm flights throughout the state. Be sure to check the CEW trapping website for updates daily. If you produce sweetcorn or popcorn and are interested in hosting a trap, please contact me at (765) 494-6167 or lingwell@purdue.edu. I will provide the trap and the lure, but[Read More…]
We will continue to host two trapping networks in the 2022 growing season. The historical corn earworm (Figure 1) trapping network will continue. This state-wide trapping and monitoring program for corn earworm is crucial to assist growers with timely management decisions in sweet corn production. The latest trap catch information can be found here. Traps[Read More…]
If you’re like us, as the season winds down it may seem like your insect pest management efforts are beginning to look a bit more reactive and less preventative. We’re hearing from growers that aphids, mites, caterpillars and stinkbugs are especially challenging in various veggie crops now, particularly tomatoes! In an attempt to ease some[Read More…]
After weeks of successive trap catches being empty or in the single digits, we have seen a dramatic increase in the last couple of days in the number of corn earworm moths captured in our pheromone traps throughout the state. At multiple locations catches jumped from near nothing to hundreds of individuals in a single[Read More…]