On-Demand Webcasts Feature Educational Bug Bites for the Greenhouse

Posted by Brian Sparks|October 13, 2020

Aphidoletes aphidimyza feeding on aphids bug bites videos

Aphidoletes aphidimyza larvae (orange) feast on the body contents of aphids (translucent green) while the drained husks of past victims lie in the background. Golden mummified aphid skins (right) are a telltale sign of parasitoid wasp activity. Photo: Jeremy Jubenville, MSU Extension.

The floriculture team from Michigan State University (MSU) Extension is offering a free series of live weekly webcasts on greenhouse biological control. “Bug Bites!” began the first week of October and is intended to offer intermediate-level discussions geared toward floriculture production systems. Five seminars, each presented in a comfortable format (45 minutes plus Q&A), will help both beginning and experienced practitioners integrate additional tactics into their existing biocontrol programs.

Thrips has long been recognized as one of the most persistent and challenging greenhouse pests to manage. So much that thrips management has become the cornerstone of greenhouse biocontrol. A dilemma that frequently arises, however, is the need to suppress additional pests without causing a significant disruption to other management efforts. This series places special emphasis on managing other common greenhouse pests using beneficial organisms and features seven guest educators from Canada and the U.S.

Here’s a closer look. Participants have the option to tune in to the live webinar or stream the recording on-demand afterward):

Poinsettia IPM in Ontario – (Sarah Jandricic, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture)
Establishing Aphidoletes and Aphid Parasitoids – (Kelly Vance and Erik van der Sluys, Beneficial Insectary)
Quality Checks and Post-Delivery Handling – (Chris Anzell, Koppert Biological Systems)
Biopesticide Integration: Strategy and Economic Considerations (JJ Klimp, Hidden Leaf Greenhouse, sponsored by Plant Products)
Effective Fungus Gnat and Shore Fly Suppression With Beneficial Organisms – (Saul Alba and Greg Bryant, Beneficial Insectary)

With the intention of taking a deeper look into each subject, the speakers will expect participants to have some familiarity with common greenhouse pests and biological control agents. Prior knowledge will be helpful, but not necessary.