1. Doing it Biologically !!! Opportunities to use Natural Enemies on Landscape Ornamentals Michael Brownbridge Entomology Research Laboratory University of Vermont

2. Biocontrol success in greenhouses… controlled environment closed environment once released, natural enemies remain on the crop

3. Why are there fewer options for landscape ornamentals ? environmental conditions more variable, may be sub-optimal pests can migrate in from surrounding environment natural enemies will head for the food source – may not be on your plants! Few beneficials with proven efficacy

4. IPM Sanitation Cultural Biological Chemical

5. Pest management is a dynamic process: Pest outbreaks vary from year to year Influenced by location, weather Plant variety Market Clientele

6. 1. Pesticide stewardship important: to delay resistance limited number of new insecticide registrations; FQPA = net loss 2. Health and safety of staff, general public 3. Environmental concerns 4. Difficult to work nr. schools, residential areas Why biologicals ? Why IPM?

7. Scouting – knowing what’s going on on your plants! Early detection More control options Better control More cost-effective

9. Bacillus thuringiensis - Bt Bt kurstaki e.g. Dipelcaterpillars Bt aizawaie.g. Xentaricaterpillars Bt san diego, tenebrionisbeetles elm leaf beetle, imported willow leaf beetle; not viburnum leaf beetle

10. Viburnum leaf beetle eggs Prune infested twigs Oct-mid April

11. Optimizing Bt efficacy: Select correct strain Good spray coverage Apply early vs. young larvae More susceptible Less damage, less product, more cost-effective

12. Insect-parasitic nematodes

13. Produced by: Becker- Underwood Sold through: AgBio Inc. Nematodes for slug control

14. HETEROMASK™ Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

15. Steinernema carpocapsae Effective at 70 – 85° F Dogwood borer, banded ash clearwing borer, lilac borer, oak borer, peach tree borer (larvae) Steinernema kushidai Japanese beetle, oriental beetle (larvae) Difficult to mass produce Steinernema feltiae Fungus gnat larvae in propagation houses Will work at temps down to 50 ° F

16. Atheta coriaria rove beetle Predator of shore fly and fungus gnat larvae, pupating thrips. Excellent control of shore flies obtained when released at 100 beetles per week per 5000 sq. ft of greenhouse; releases made in early morning or late evening.

17. Nematode use practices: Active vs. larvae; most effective in containers/pots Apply to moist soils by drenching Apply when host larvae present Soil temperature is important Compatible with many fungicides and insecticides www.agnr.umd.edu/users/ipmnet/nemanurs.htm

18. Beauveria bassiana Metarhizium anisopliae ‘Rhizosphere-competent’

19. Ladybeetles Active release? Naturally-occurring

20. feeding on azalea lace bug nymphs Green lacewing larvae Chrysoperla carnea lacewing eggs

21. Spider mites Rapid reproductive rate Short generation time Damaging populations build quickly Pesticide resistance Broad-spectrum pesticides, resurgence

22. Phytoseiulus persimilis good vs. two-spot in greenhouses does not work well outdoors in cooler regions Spider Mite Predators Neoseiulus fallacis wider host range works outdoors (strawberries, apples) may overwinter outdoors use early in infestation cycle release onto infested plants www.ent.orst.edu/prattp/plant.html

23. Biocontrol of euonymus scale Cybocephalus nipponicus Originally from Korea Released in NJ on infested euonymus Established in infestation sites

24. Conservation Biological Control Conserve naturally-occurring beneficials Create an environment that is attractive to beneficials Avoid use of broad-spectrum insecticides Enormous benefits, minimal cost

25. Habitat manipulation to increase biodiversity Flowers attract predators and parasitoids; other insects serve as alternate prey/hosts

26. Use of alternative ground covers University of Maryland, Paula Shrewsbury www.shrewsburylab.umd.edu wood mulch on/in place of fabric mat provides a more favorable habitat for generalist predators refugia, alterative prey ground beetle larva predatory mites

27. In avocado orchards, mulching increased the incidence and activity of natural enemies and other beneficial arthropods.

28. Using pesticides Create habitats to maintain natural enemies (refugia) Flowering plants, ivies, vines Select and use ‘soft’ or ‘reduced-risk’ pesticides Short residual activity, narrow host spectrum, IPM compatible. EPA classification, limited use restrictions

29. Bio-derived Products Minimum-risk pesticides, exempted from registration requirements – even in NY!!! E-Rase – Jojoba oil; whitefly control GC-Mite – cotton seed and clove oils, garlic extract; mites, thrips Hexycide – rosemary and mineral oil; whiteflies? Organocide – sesame oil; aphids, mites, powdery mildew Very little efficacy data available on any of the products. May be phytotoxic – test on a limited number of plants before treating a whole crop!

30. Spray Oils and Insecticidal Soaps Ultra-Fine Spray Oil (Whitmire) Dormant oils Synergy Super Fine spray oil emulsion (Griffin) - micro-emulsion process = remains in suspension for 3 h PureSpray Foliar 15 (Purespray Green?); Petro Canada - used in Canada on tree crops, fruits, ornamentals - pursuing registration in the US Olympic Insecticidal Soap, M-Pede Broad-spectrum, but short residual; often applied at times of year when little natural enemy activity. Beware of phytotoxicity, esp. on spruces and conifers, after bud-break or in early dormancy.

31. Neonicotinoid Insecticides Similarities: Expensive Long residual control Excellent plant safety, low mammalian toxicity Systemic or translaminar movement Active vs. piercing/sucking insects Variable activity against other pests Similar modes of action, risk of cross-resistance

32. Neonicotinoid Insecticides Pioneer products: Marathon, Discus, Xenith, Merit New products:  TriStar (Cleary’s) – Acetamiprid spray application only  Safari (Valent) – Dinotefuran very water-soluble, readily translocated  Clutch/Arena (Arvesta) – Clothianidin  Flagship (Syngenta) – Thiamethoxam Various formulations for spray or drench application

33. Other reduced-risk insecticides Flagship, Endeavor very effective vs. aphids (sprays), mealy bugs (drench) Conserve caterpillars, leaf-feeding beetles, short residual

34. Reduced-risk miticides TetraSan translaminar activity vs. spider mites, ovicidal, slow-acting Floramite good for early-season infestations, compatible w. predators, selective Hexygon restricted use label in NY Ornamite Limited n. applications per growing season; resistance management

35. Products to avoid: organophosphates Dursban, Diazinon, Dimethoate carbamates Sevin, Furadan pyrethroids Talstar, Tame, Ambush (Pounce) Broad-spectrum, long residual, highly toxic. Many withdrawn for nursery and residential use; restricted use. Pest resurgence, secondary pest outbreaks. www.ent.orst.edu/prattp/pesticides.htmlwww.ent.orst.edu/prattp/pesticides.html for compatibility with N. fallacis

36. Can you do it biologically? Take active steps to release and preserve natural enemies Create an environment that conserves and encourages activity Use reduced-risk pesticides only when necessary in a planned IPM strategy Will depend on plant species, pest and infestation level, time of year, location and clientele

37. Thanks to: New England Grows Paula Shrewsbury, Univ. Maryland Carol Glenister, IPM Labs, Locke, NY Dan Gilrein, Cornell Univ. Cooperative Extension This presentation is available for download on our website: www.uvm.edu/~entlab Click on ‘Recent Publications’