Category: Pests

Our Popular Thrips Identification Workshop is Adding Another Date!

Published on by Cara McCreary

Our thrips ID workshop in March in Vineland was a smash hit, and the May 16th date in Leamington ON is already full!

So, we’ve decided to add an extra date to accommodate as many growers, IPM professionals and industry reps as possible.

The new date will be in Leamington on May 17th. And remember, there’s always the workshop at the Canadian Greenhouse Conference as well! Read on for what this workshop entails and how to register.

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Diseases caused by Diaporthe (Phomopsis) species on greenhouse cucumber

Published on by Cara McCreary

Authors: Geneviève Marchand, Cara McCreary, and Katie Goldenhar

Let’s start with the confusing part… I’m sure many growers have heard of Phomopsis. But how many are familiar with Diaporthe? We’ll just settle this right here and now. The Phomopsis species discussed in this blog post were renamed and now belong to the genus Diaporthe. (We are so grateful for taxonomists, but it’s hard to keep up with name changes sometimes!).

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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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Tropical Thrips Species Intercepted on Plant Material in Ontario: Be Aware – But Don’t Panic.

Published on by Cara McCreary

Written by: SARAH JANDRICIC, GREENHOUSE FLORICULTURE IPM SPECIALIST, OMAFRA

Figure 1. Thrips parvispinus is generally dark coloured (though the head and thorax can be lighter than the abdomen), has bright red ocelli and clear patches at the top of its wings.
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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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