E W H E R E 



THE NEWS 



produced a rule change in which 

 they would not or could not com- 

 pletely assess the potential risks of 

 pathogens associated with the gen- 

 era in questions. Several scientists 

 whom APHIS invited refused to partici- 

 pate because of inadequate methodol- 

 ogy, " said Dr. William Carlson, Execu- 

 tive Vice President of PPGA and a pro- 

 fessor of horticulture at Michigan State. 



Greenhouse Geranium 

 Pest Alert 



(from American Association of Nurs- 

 erymen Update, February 27, 1Q95) 



Two pests not known to be estab- 

 lished in the US have apparently en- 

 tered on geranium cuttings imported 

 from the Canary Islands. The first, 

 Heikoverpa armigera (Old World Boll- 

 worm) has been found on geraniums 

 in an Oregon greenhouse. The sec- 

 ond, Cfirysodeixis chakites (tomato looper 

 or golden twin spot) has been found 

 in an Ohio greenhouse. Both are con- 

 sidered economically important pests. 



Eradication efforts and investiga- 

 tion of import and distribution docu- 

 ments are underway by the USDA 

 and state plant health officials. Any 

 growers who have received geranium 

 cuttings from the Canary Islands be- 

 tween mid-November, 1994, and 

 February ninth should contact their 

 state department of agriculture and 

 request a prompt inspection. Fail- 

 ure to do so could result in emer- 

 gency quarantine actions, including 

 stop-sale and treatment orders, dur- 

 ing the spring shipping season. 



The Green spot 



ONE WAY TO KEEP PESTS AWAY FROM YOUR GREENHOUSE 

 plants is to incorporate screens into your pest control program. 

 However, screens are not for every grower. 



Screening may be needed if: you don't have the time or facilities 

 to quarantine or inspect new material; if you are in--or adjacent 

 to--an area that has very high numbers of pests; you treat crops 

 regularly with chemical substances and have thus eliminated natural 

 predator populations. 



Screening may not be needed if: you carefully inspect or quaran- 

 tine new plant material; you're in an area with little pest pressure; 

 you only spot-treat with chemical substances in order to spare your 

 pests' natural enemies and prevent the development of resistance. 

 Screens are usually either "anti-virus" or "anti-thrips." Anti-virus 

 screens have openings of around 0.0103 x 0.0322 inches with a 

 shade value of about 20%, depending on mesh, thread size, and 

 weave. These are useful in barring common pests such as white- 

 flies, aphids, leaf miners, and about 80% of western flower thrips. 



No-thrips screens have openings of about 0.0059 x 0.0059 inches, 

 a shade value of about 33%, and will exclude 100% of western 

 flower thrips, along with all of the other pests mentioned. 



Drawbacks to screening include cost, reduced light and ventila- 

 tion, appearance (customers can't see the plants from outside), and 

 the obstruction of natural enemies. 



Advantages include pest exclusion in an isolated micro- 

 environment that keeps introduced biological agents in with the 

 crop, less disease (if ventilation and air flow are adequate), and 

 shade 



Mifee Cherim, owner of The Creen Spot, a company supplying biological pest 

 control agents and related supplies, can be reached at 603-942-8925. 



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