Conference on Floricultures Environmental Footprint

Seeley Conference to Discuss Environmental Footprint
An Inconvenient Truth or Consumer Opportunity? June 26 - 29, 2010, Ithaca, N.Y.

"Seeley Conferences promote discussion of issues important to the future of commercial floriculture. The meetings are structured to foster discussion by industry leaders and increase the level of understanding of topics through presentations by speakers with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. The goal of the Conference is to better prepare attendees to make decisions on issues that have a great impact on their businesses and the industry as a whole." For more information visit the Seeley Conference website.

Phenology and Degree day model calculator

Online Phenology and Degree day models for agricultural and pest management decision making in the US. Very helpful for timing pesticide applications and biological control releases. This is targeting more the Pacific NW and Canada. Calculator link

Lebbeck mealybug now in Florida

There is a new mealybug in Fl. Nipaecoccus viridis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) (Lebbeck Mealybug). There is a fact sheet available on this new pest from the Florida Department of Agriculture here.

For more information you can visit: USDA Lebbeck mealybug

Biological Control in PA Orchards

In PA growers are finding that using biological control is work well for the control of pest mites in their crops. With the use of predatory mites and a specialized ladybird beetle that are reducing the amount of pesticides used. Read more...

Whiteflies sabotage alarm system of plant in distress

ScienceDaily (2009-12-28) -- When spider mites attack a bean plant, the plant produces odors attracting predatory mites. These mites then exterminate the spider mite population, thus acting as a type of "bodyguard" for the plant. However, if the plant is simultaneously attacked by whiteflies, insects that are related to aphids, the plant becomes less attractive to the mites and therefore more vulnerable to spider mites, say entomologists. Read more...

Parasitic Wasps Studied

"Gardeners have long turned to parasitic wasps and other beneficial insects to control unwanted insects, and new genetic research suggests even more ways to harness these species' potential"..... Read more on Beyond Pesticides Daily News.

Ants and Answers - E.O. Wilson

On The New Yorker Website there is a great interview with E.O Wilson. If you love ants or ecology you will love reading this. He talks about his book "Anthill" that will be published this April.