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Soil pests
Soil pests can range from fungus gnat larvae, wire worm, root weevil, non-beneficial nematodes and certain types of moth eggs. Some of the more common pests in soil are:
- cutworms
- carrot rustic fly
- white grubs
- stable flies
- citrus weevil
- craneflies
- billbugs
- cranberry gurdlers
- armyworms
- rhoedodernian weevils
- houseflies
- scarid fly
These and most other soil dwelling pests can be controlled with regular applications of beneficial nematodes. Nematodes can attack and control over 250 types of soil pests; we recommend an application of nematodes in early spring and late fall. |
Controls
Biological
Mechanical/Physical
- Destroy affected crops
- Diatomaceous earth can be helpful
- Replace soil if possible
- Rotation of crops is essential
Chemical
- Pyrethrin Spray
- Rotenone Dust
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Flies
 The stable fly is in the same family as the common house fly. It is a biting species that feeds on blood. Flies carry diseases and viruses as well as being down right annoying.
The female lives about two and one half months and lays between 600 and 1000 eggs eggs during its lifetime. The eggs hatch in about 12 hours into white legless larvae called maggots, which grow to 12.5 mm [0.5 inch] in length. The maggot pupates in five to six days and the new adult emerges in another four or five days if the weather is warm or in a month if weather conditions are unfavorable.On average, 12 generations are produced in one year.
Scientific data reports that high fly concentrations in a farm setting are responsible for significant reductions in egg production, milk production and meat production. |
Controls
Biological
Mechanical/Physical
- Compost rotting organic matter
- Use sticky fly traps
Chemical
- Pyrethrin sprays
- Fly baits
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Spidermites
 Spidermites are one of the most common pests and can cause considerable damage to a wide variety of plants. Females lay up to 120 eggs and with a life cycle of only 14 days, spidermites can cause significant damage in a very short time frame if left untreated.
They look like small black dots on the underside of leaves and in heavy infestations webbing may be present. The mites cause bleached areas and cause bud droop; if left untreated the plants will rapidly dry out and die.
Spidermites prefer it hot and dry so it is important to raise the humidity around the plants. Spidermites are common in strawberry, raspberry, tomato, and cucumber crops as well as chrysanthemums and several other ornamental plants. |
Controls
Biological
Mechanical/Physical
- Cold water misted on underside and topside of plants
- Wood ashes around base of plants
- Garlic barriers have been effective
- Diatomaceous earth
Chemical
- Dormant Oil
- Sulphur
- Rotenone
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Thrips
 Thrips cause damage by piercing plant tissue and sucking out the cells, resulting in silvery patches on the leaves. When thrips are feeding on fruit or flowers, they can cause deformation or spots.
In addition to damage done by feeding, thrips can transmit viruses, the two most dangerous are, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus and Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus. Thrips are a significant problem on sweet peppers, tomatoes, and roses.
Adult thrips are about 1.4 - 1.7 mm [1/16 inch] long, yellow-brown with an orange [sometimes dark brown] thorax and have 2 pairs of narrow fringed wings.
Eggs are deposited in the leaf tissue. The 1st instar larvae are white. The 2nd instar larva drops from the plant to pupate in the soil. The prepupal and pupal stages take place in the soil and are whitish in color. |
Controls
Biological
Mechanical/Physical
- Plant a garlic barrier near affected plants
- Use essential oil products
- Monitor with blue sticky traps
Chemical
- Pyrethrin spray
- Insecticidal Soap Spray
- Rotenone Spray or Dust
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Aphids
 Aphids suck sap from plants, which reduces the ability of the plant to photosynthesize and causes leaves to curl; excrete honeydew that encourages mold growth; inject toxic substances into the plants and transmit several plant viruses.
There are over 3000 species of aphids of which about 50 are important to crops and gardens. Aphids have pear shaped bodies and depending on the life cycle stage, can be winged or wingless. They are slow moving insects 1 - 4 mm or 1/25 inch long. The color can range from yellow, green, red, purple, brown to black. White cast off skins can be found in high concentrations of aphids.
The rapid reproductive cycle of aphids can lead to severe plant damage unless aggressively treated. Several natural enemies can be used at the same time. |
Controls
Biological
Mechanical/Physical
- Pick by hand
- Soapy water spray / plain water spray
Chemical
- Rotenone Dust
- Pyrethrin sprays
- Dormant Oil Spray
- Neem Oil
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Fungus Gnats
 Fungus gnat larvae feed on decaying plant material, algae, fungi and on fine roots and root hairs which causes direct damage to the plants. Young seedlings or cuttings are very sensitive to fungus gnat larvae.Indirect damage is caused by spreading diseases such a Pythium, Phytophthora and Fusarium.
Conditions that favor fungal and algal growth enhance the fungus gnat problem, and good irrigation management can reduce the fungus gnat population significantly. In crops where fungus gnats are expected, a preventative application of beneficials is recommended. Hypoaspis miles and nematodes can be used alone or combined. The correct strategy depends on the crop, irrigation system, the amount of fungus gnats.
Adult fungus gnats are 2 - 5 mm [1/12 - 1/5 inch] long, grayish black with long antennae. The larvae are up to 8 mm [1/3 inch] long, transparent with a black head. The larvae are found in the top two cm [1 inch] of the soil. The pupae are 3 - 6 mm [1/8-1/4 inch] long and gray to light brown colored. |
Controls
Biological
Monitoring
- Yellow sticky cards, potato slices - attract larvae and adults
Mechanical/Physical
- Soil replacement
- Diatomaceous earth
- Allowing the soil dry out. This sometimes will kill off a number of fungus gnats as they do not thrive well in dry soil.
Chemical
- Pyrethrins
- Foliar spray
- Nicotine spray for adult fungus gnat
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Caterpillars
 As caterpillars feed almost continuously, they can cause devastating damage in crops in a very short time.
Caterpillars have many native enemies including birds, yellowjackets and other predatory wasps, parasitic flies, predatory bugs as well as viruses, bacteria and fungus diseases. Encouraging or augmenting these native enemies is the most environmentally sound option.
Once the caterpillars have done their damage there is little point in treating the crop, just dispose of affected plants and foliage. An application of parasitic nematodes in early spring will reduce the number of eggs in the soil and significantly reduce the caterpillar problem. |
Controls
Biological
Mechanical/Physical
- Dormant oil sprays [before buds appear]
- Sticky bands around base of plant
- Pick and burn infested foliage
Chemical
- Pyrethrin sprays
- BT [Bacillus thuringiensis var.]
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Whitefly
 Whitefly reproduce quickly and coat the underside of leaves, interfering with the respiration of the plant. Symptoms include stickiness and yellowing of foliage.
Whiteflies can produce honeydew that encourages mold growth. Yellow sticky traps are a useful monitoring tool, to detect the presence of whitefly in greenhouses and field crops. Whiteflies are common in vegetable and ornamental crops. It is interesting to note that whiteflies are showing a high resistance to most insecticides.
Adult whiteflies look like tiny white moths that cloud around infested plants when disturbed. The immature stages are called scale, which are egg shaped, immobile and are difficult to see without magnification. |
Controls
Biological
Mechanical/Physical
- Sticky traps for monitoring
Chemical
- Insecticidal Soap
- Pyrethrin sprays
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Mealybug
 Damage to crops is caused by mealy bugs sucking of sap which can make the leaves curl and turn yellow, sometimes effecting leaf loss. This reduces photosynthesis and can cause flowers or fruit to drop.
Mealy bugs excrete excess sap in the form of honeydew which can be infected with sooty moulds. This in turn reduces the attractiveness of the plants for ornamental purposes. Mealy bug will overwinter in the soil and emerge as weather becomes favorable.
Mealy bugs are a very common pest species. Mealy is a pest of outdoor crops in the tropical regions and particularly of interior plantscapes. It causes damage chiefly to fruit trees and ornamentals.
The adult female is usually 2.5 -4 mm long, soft bodied, oval, slow moving insect, covered with a white, waxy substance. Males are much smaller than females with two sets of wings and two long filaments on the back of their body, they have no mouth parts, so do not feed, and their only purpose is to fertilize the females. |
Controls
Biological
Mechanical/Physical
- Hand picking and disposing of affected foliage
- dge, then discarding mealybugs
Chemical
- Insecticidal soap
- Pyrethrin spray
- Rotenone dust
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Mosquitoes
Almost everyone has had the unpleasant experience of being bitten by a mosquito. Mosquito bites can cause severe skin irritation through an allergic reaction to the mosquito's saliva - this is what causes the red bump and itching. But a more serious consequence of some mosquito bites may be transmission of certain serious diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and west nile virus. Not only can mosquitoes carry diseases which afflict humans, but they also can transmit several diseases and parasites that dogs and horses are very susceptible, too. These include dog heart worms and eastern equine encephalitis.
There are about 200 different species of mosquitoes in the North America, all of which live in specific habitats, exhibit unique behaviors and bite different types of animals. Despite these differences, all mosquitoes share some common traits, such as a four-stage life cycle.
After the female mosquito obtains a blood meal (male mosquitoes do not bite), she lays her eggs directly on the surface of stagnant water, in a depression, or on the edge of a container where rainwater may collect and flood the eggs. The eggs hatch and a mosquito larva or "wriggler" emerges. The larva lives in the water, feeds and develops into the third stage of the life cycle called a pupa or "tumbler". The pupa also lives in the water, but no longer feeds. Finally, the mosquito emerges from the pupal case and the water as a fully developed adult, ready to bite.
The type of standing water in which the mosquito chooses to lay her eggs depends upon the species. The presence of beneficial predators such as fish and dragonfly nymphs in permanent ponds, lakes and streams usually keep these bodies of water relatively free of mosquito larvae.
However, marshes, swamps, clogged ditches, and temporary pools and puddles are all prolific mosquito breeding sites. Other sites in which some species lay their eggs include tree holes and containers such as old tires, buckets, toys, potted plant trays and saucers and plastic covers or tarpaulins. |
Controls
Biological
Mechanical/Physical
- Empty standing water in old tires, buckets, plastic covers, toys, or any other container where "wrigglers" and "tumblers" live. Keep swimming pools treated and circulating and rain gutters unclogged.
- Electric light zappers
Mosquito life cycle
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