Vincent P. Jones

Symposium: Advances in Integrated Pest Management Programs for Ornamental Plants: Advances in Sampling in Ornamentals

The traditional viewpoint that there is a zero tolerance level for pests or their damage on ornamental plants has hindered the development of statistically accurate sampling plans. Monitoring procedures determining initial presence, peak flight times, etc. have been developed, but actual methods to estimate pest populations on plants are lacking. This is changing coincidentally with grower perceptions that some pests or damage can be tolerated. This attitude change is most common in crops where a considerable portion of early growth is not marketed, where pesticide resistance renders even weekly insecticide applications less than satisfactory, or where restrictions on pesticide use has forced growers to be more judicious about pesticide applications. Recent developments in sampling for adults and larvae of the leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) using yellow traps and/or leaf samples in chrysanthemums, marigolds and gypsophila are reviewed. In addition, the utility of using yellow traps to monitor adult whitelifes, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) and Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Homoptera; Aleyrodidae) on poinsettias, is discussed.