The eradication effort in Chicago continues. This involves the removal of all infested trees, most of them large, along public streets and in private yards. Various stock continues to be imported infested with scale insects. Since the last report, Carex morroti sent from Pittman Nursery in Magnolia, Arkansas was heavily infested with an unidentified scale. Specimens were sent to USDA for identification.
Thrips continue to be a problem for greenhouse growers.
The best control is to practice good sanitation. Both are important vectors of Tomato Spot Wilt Virus . I am guessing that many of you are scratching your head like myself asking those same questions. It seemed that the weather pattern of frequent changes of the past few weeks has made it difficult to consistently address the increasing number of concerns that we all face in plant pest management. We should address those high priority items or big ticket items and then work back to the smaller or lower priority items.