1. “PLANT PESTS” INTERIOR PLANTS

2. PREVENTION F Monitor Regularly F Sanitation F Supplier F Quarantine F Alter Conditions

3. CURES F Chemicals â Lots of federal, state and industry regulations â Uniform application can be effective F Soap - limited effectiveness F Hand Removal - Time consuming

4. CURES, 2 F Cotton, alcohol swabs - time consuming, homeowner F Biological Controls - Knowledge base needed, $, must be prepared with sources F IPM- Use pesticides, bioloicals, cultural methods to gain control, detect early, monitoring, sticky tags

5. BIOLOGICALS F Program Design- We will look at this in depth in the future F Chemical Use- Limited, use 30 days before release F Timing- Before population explosion, may take 6-8 weeks to see results F Insects- Specific insect for each crop

6. SUCKING INSECTS - APHIDS F Aphids: â “Plant louse” in shoots and on backs of leaves â Curl and discolor foliage â Honeydew harbors black mold â Chemicals include micro- encapsulated, foam, bombs, etc.

7. TWO SPOTTED SPIDER MITES F Spider Mites - scourge of the interior industry â Mottled or sandblasted appearance, check undersides â Fine webbing â Magnifying glass & white paper â Dry air, estivate in wood

8. SCALE F Scale- â Oval, undersides along veins â Plants yellow and die, inject toxin â Notoriously hard to eradicate â 6000 species, Soft waxy shell produces honeydew, armored don’t. Denatured alcohol helps

9. MEALY BUGS F Mealy Bugs â Looks like pink to white cotton â Found in leaf axils and crevices â Alcohol dehydrates them â Leaf distortion, yellowing, stunt, and honeydew, injects toxin â Remain in soil and thatch

10. WHITE FLIES F White Flies â “Flying Dandruff” Size of fruit fly â Leaves yellow and drop â Reproduce in 3 days so spray multiple times a week â Waxy coating repels chemicals

11. FUNGUS GNATS F Fungus Gnats- â Size of fruit fly â Lives on organic material â Larvae of small worms found in unsterile soils â Low pH limits

12. LEAF MINERS F Leaf miners- â Found on wide array of ornamentals & vegetables â Rapidly develop resistance to insecticides â Neem seed extracts seem to be useful

13. THRIPS F Thrips- â Tiny with two pair of wings, tan â Streaking or browning, stunting, and distortion â Transported by wind and carry virus organisms â Target buds, flowers, and foliage ­