Category: Monitoring

European corn borer Degree Day report – 28 May 2023

Published on by Cara McCreary

There are three different European corn borer (ECB) areas in southwestern Ontario – a 1-generation (univoltine) area, a 2-generation (bivoltine) area, and an overlap area that has both univoltine and bivoltine populations (Baute, 1999). Degree Days (DD) are heat accumulations using a base temperature (i.e. a minimum temperature required for development). A DD model was validated to predict flight patterns of ECB in southwestern Ontario (Baute, 1999). This model gives us an idea when ECB flight begins, peaks and ends based on moth captures and can be used to guide scouting efforts and management decisions. Below are the estimated accumulated DD for ECB in some regions of southwestern Ontario.

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Targeted scouting efforts for European corn borer

Published on by Cara McCreary

Authors: Cara McCreary, Greenhouse Vegetable IPM Specialist, OMAFRA and Tracey Baute, Entomologist – Field Crops, OMAFRA

What is European Corn Borer (ECB) (Ostrinia nubilalis)?

In a nutshell, ECB is a small nocturnal brown moth. Problem is, they may choose pepper plants as hosts for egg-laying and larval development. Since larvae feed and develop inside the pepper fruit, which is the marketable portion of your plants, it’s important to be on the lookout for them. ECB overwinters as fully-grown larvae in corn stubble or other plant material and complete development the following spring. When adults emerge, they take flight to look for mates and suitable hosts such as corn, wheat, potatoes, hemp and unfortunately greenhouse peppers to feed and reproduce.

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Thrips: Going Dark for Winter

Published on by Cara McCreary

Authors: Dr. S. Jandricic (OMAFRA) and A. Summerfield (Vineland).

It turns out thrips and Sarah have something very important in common – they both like to change up their look depending on the season!

Although you (probably) have no trouble recognizing her with a change of hair colour, different colour morphs within certain thrips species can throw growers for a loop when it comes to identification.

Read on for which thrips like to shake it up seasonally, so you don’t get fooled.

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Thrips Identification

Published on by Cara McCreary
Western flower thrips in pepper flower

Simple Thrips Key for Growers:

This grower-friendly, pictorial key has been developed to make thrips identification easier on-farm. Recently, thrips species other than western flower thrips have become a significant problem in Ontario floriculture greenhouses. Correct identification is the first step to better control.

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Pepper Weevil: Are we in the clear?

Published on by Cara McCreary

If you grow peppers in North America, then I’m sure you are familiar with pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii. This economically damaging pest is always at the forefront of our minds through production.

Figure 1. Snout of a pepper weevil emerging from an aborted bud.
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