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WELCOME

A Grower’s Story…

A Storyteller…

Two things have pulled me through most anything I’ve encountered

When trying something new or facing business challenges keep this top of mind…

CONFIDENCE and ATTITUDE NOT an EntomologistNor a product specialist be….

Know just enough to be dangerous.

But not enough to get paid the big bucks!

Greenhouse IPM – Spring 2017

Banker Plants – Really just Bug BnB’s

I have no special talent, I am only passionately curious. -Albert Einstein

That which does not kill us, makes us stronger. -Friedrich Nietzsche

Nadine StielowOwner / Head Grower

It’s an adventure -It’ll be FUN!Try something wild and crazy…

Why it’s beneficial to use banker plants.

Bad bug basics and good bug greatness.

How I do it – and give you ideas and tools to get started.

BioControl Jeopardy – I’ll take ‘Good Bugs Rule’ for a 1000 Alex!

Questions and perhaps some answers.

BYOB – Is it too early in the day? – 5 o’clock somewhere!

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Brought to you by:

Thiel’s Greenhouses - Me!

Biobest Biological Systems

Emiel Vanderwel

WIN WIN WIN

Leave your business card or name/number with Nadine and one lucky grower will win a banker seed plant from Emiel at Biobest North America (shipping fees not included)

GO GOOD BUGS!!

WHAT do you mean I BUY aphids? #wth #crazytalk #shesnuts

Stay with me folks….

Definition:

Banker plants are a self contained sustainable system that suppliesa non pest prey species to support a continual source of natural enemies that disperse into the crop in search of other pests.

Essentially they are a mini rearing system for the natural enemy.

There are several advantages to this banker plant system:

• It is an inexpensive way to produce a continual source of aphid parasites without needed to purchase new shipments throughout the season

• It eliminates the lag time between detecting an aphid infestation and receiving the natural enemy you need from your supplier

• It’s easy to do and doesn’t take a lot of time

How it all comes together…Aphid Species 101:

Why is it important to know what species of Aphids you have?

When using BCA’s parasites work on specific species.

When using traditional control some pesticides and or application technique work better then others depending on species.

Some aphid spp do more damage then others (fox glove aphid)

How can I tell which aphid spp I have?

Color is not a good indicator

Aphids have a very wide range of host plants plant spp does not tell what aphid spp you have

Some keys for identification are available Pest info sheet ‘Aphids’ from Biobest

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“Say ELLO to ma Lit’l Friend”Scouting is the KEY…

Aphid species:Myzus persicae – Green Peach Aphid

Green Peach Aphid:

Yellow-Green, Green or Red

Red Morph behavior is different, and less susceptible to pesticides

Susceptible to most aphid pesticides

Antenna same length or slightly shorter then body

Medium size cornicles

Most common aphid species - > 67%

Large host range

March 20, 2017

Aphid species:Aphis Gossypii– Black Melon Aphid

Black Melon / Cotton Aphid :

Light yellow to dark green to black

Antenna same length or slightly shorter then body

Medium size cornicles

Cornicles always black

Smaller aphid species

Less susceptible to pesticides than Green Peach Aphid

March 20, 2017

Aphid species:Macrosiphum euphorbiae – Potato aphid

Potato Aphid:

Yellowish, bright green or pink

Larger aphid species

Long cornicles with darker tips & long legs

Antenna very long, longer than body

Susceptible to most common aphid pesticides

Easily disturbed, which works as a defense meganism aphids drop when plant is touched

March 20, 2017

Aphid species:Aulacorthum solani – Foxglove Aphid

Foxglove Aphid:

Glossy yellowish-green to brownish green

Medium - long cornicles

Antenna longer than the body with dark bands

Dark green patches around the cornicles

Larger aphid species

Black tips of legs

In medium to heavy infestations systemic pesticides might not be effective

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Biological Control of Aphids:Parasites & Predators

What is the difference between Aphid BCA’s Parasites vs. Predators?

Parasites are:

Generally better searchers find that first aphid! (before you do ;-)

Use host to lay egg inside and reproduce life depends on it!

Are often more specific to one or a few species of host

Used as a first line of defense, in combination with banker plants.

Predators are:

Better/faster in cleaning up hot spots

Eat or such dry their prey and are often very ferocious (true killers)

Develop better in hotspots

Are not very species specific are not picky eaters!20 March

2017

Know who the good guys are…

BCA’s - The good “guys” (I mean girls):Aphidius colemani

Aphidius colemani:

Highly mobile parasitic wasp

Very good searching behavior

If effective for Green Peach Aphid and Black Melon Aphid

At 20 Celsius approx. 14 days after laying an egg, mummy shows. Two weeks after that new parasites hatches

Very suitable with aphid banker plants!

March 20, 2017

BCA’s - The good “guys” (I mean girls):Aphidius ervi

Aphidius ervi:

Highly mobile parasitic wasp

Larger than A. colemani

Very good searching behavior

If effective for Potato and Foxglove aphid (larger aphid spp)

At 20 Celsius approx. 14 days after laying an egg, mummy shows. Two weeks after that new parasites hatches

No banker system available (yet)

March 20, 2017

BCA’s - The good “guys” (I mean girls):Aphelinus abdominalis

Aphelinus abdominalis:

Mobile parasitic wasp

Very good searching behavior

Very gentle in action!

Effective for Potato and Foxglove aphid (larger aphid spp)

Mummies are black

At 20 Celsius approx. 21 days after laying an egg, mummy shows. Two weeks after that new parasites hatches

March 20, 2017

BCA’s - The good “guys” (I mean girls):Aphidoletes aphidimyza

Aphidoletes aphidimyza:

Very mobile midge/predator

Not picky in what they eat!

Adults attracted to honeydew lays eggs

Larva kill up to 80 aphids per day

Kill by paralyzing toxin

Larva are sneaking up onto their prey, paralyze it, and then suck the aphid dry

Works better on hot spots

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BCA’s - The good “guys” (I mean girls):Adalia bipunctata

Adalia bipunctata:

Both adults and larva are very aggressive feeders on aphids

Not picky on what’s on the menu eats all aphid species!

Larva need to feed on lots of aphids to complete life cycle (20 days a 20 Celsius to complete life cycle)

Supplied as larva excellent hot spot treatment.

March 20, 2017

Nuff said…

Biological Control of Aphids:Banker plants for Aphid control

20 March 2017

Aphid banker plants • Plants used are cereals such as wheat, barley

or rye.• Aphid species used is Rhopalosiphum padi

(bird cherry oat aphid) and can only survive on monocotyledous plants (grasses)

• Excellent host for Aphidius colemanii• If technique is used properly, population of

Aphidius colemanii is kept high on an ongoing basis.(min. 10 A. colemanii / sticky card / wk)

• Banker plants also have shown to attract and support other (naturally occurring - free) BCA’s

• Technique applied in many countries and in many different crop settings

• System works best if implemented before aphids are detected in the crop!

Biological Control of Aphids:Banker plants for Aphid control

20 March 2017

Important to know about Aphid banker plants:• Understand the technique (it is not just a

matter of seeding some pots with barley or wheat!!!) Growers who do there own, protect the bankers! (see picture hairnet or cages)

• Apply properly use the correct rate of banker plants start with 2 per acre and maintain with a minimum of 1 per acre bi-weekly

• Maintain system properly (watering etc..)• Monitor system watch for other BCA

showing up (usually spring time) and hyper parasites (late summer)

• Watch aphid species showing up in greenhouse (Aphidius colemanii only effective against green peach and black melon aphid

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Biological Control of Aphids:Banker plants for Aphid control Step by step…

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The key to banker plants and rearing aphidius is to have enough systems built up early in the season as to overwhelm the pests - build up the population before the aphids can establish themselves.

Hit em HARD and right off the bat – SMACK!

“Wewease the secwet weapon…-Gussie Mausheiner

An American Tail

Aphids – Yes, they SUCK!Storytime….

Discovered a TON of aphid mummies on my pet lime trees.

Pet plants – DON’T do it! EVER Get RID of them!

Scouting – petri dishes, hatching, watching = Fascinating.

Tools: lenses, camera, light, notepad

SO MUCH SCOUTING

Specialists on speed dial!

Yes, I AM a geek!

Predator vs Alien – THE Saga Hey Emiel…I’ve got over-wintering Colemani!

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Congratulations! It’s a wasp.(And I shall call you ‘Newbie’)

Mummiesandwaspsgalore!

Wait a second….What’s going on here?

Suzanne - Buglady Consulting

Good news and bad news . . .Which do you want first?

Banker plants coming along nicely.This program was brought to you by the

LETTER A and the NUMBER LOTS

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Add the Aphidius Colemani Let the games begin…GO Wasps!

Pocket IPM Greenhouse Scout Mobile Apphttps://nysipm.cornell.edu/agriculture/ornamental-crops

Pocket IPM Greenhouse Scout Mobile App

The Greenhouse Scout mobile app has been designed to help growers manage greenhouse insect pests with:

an easily accessible summary of information on biocontrol of common greenhouse insects,

an interactive interface for collecting scouting data and recording product applications, and

record keeping with a graphical presentation of scouting data.

Created by the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell University and GORGES Custom Software Development, Ithaca NY.

Find it at your favorite app store

You can’t build resistance to being EATEN!

www.bugladyconsulting.com

Why I do this . . .The adventure is actually quite exciting!

Kids – Colleagues - Community

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FamilyBioControl Jeopardy – Answer using a question!

#1 The name of the monocot loving aphid that’s used to inoculate the banker plants …

#2 The best type of monocot to use when growing your own bankers…

#3 The two types of aphids that the colemani wasp is very effective in parasitizing…

#4 How to tell if you have healthy hatching colemani from your aphid mummies…

#5 BONUS!!!!What University has a mobile App and good IPM info online…

Stay for BYOB after the session and ENTER to WIN a banker plant from Biobest!

THE END -Thanks!