On this page the following entries were made in the “Best Practices” category. Check out other categories in our Archives.
Bug Blog Archives for “Best Practices”
Summer’s Good Fighting Time
August and September is a time when many growers let things slide a bit. Gardeners put their gardens on autopilot to some extent, and commercial growers are either gearing up for the fall season or have closed their doors until next year. Vacation and summer activities take up residence in the mind, before time runs out. But there is still some work to be done, if you want fewer pests problems next year.
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Why Multiple Biocontrol Releases Makes Sense
I often explain why making multiple releases of biocontrols makes sense in human terms. I typically do this over the phone, but I don’t think I’ve ever written about my oft-used analogy. The one I resort to most often is to compare releasing of biocontrols to the US Civil War tactic where rows of infantry — the Line — would keep pressure on opposing forces by creating an unceasing barrage of fire.
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The SIP Approach
This entry is actually a quick reminder of what you should be doing this season. You know, so you’ll kick some bug butt and be a successful biocontroller, totally rockin’ your garden, greenhouse, or other green-growing domain. To get more in-depth information about what’s covered herein, please start with our Necessary Info section. Otherwise, let’s dive right in and check out the SIP Approach. Also know as Scouting, Identification, and Prevention.
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What Went Wrong, and Why
If 2009 was your first year of using biocontrols as part of an IPM program, how did it go? Were you successful in meeting your goals? We suspect most of you will answer that you’ve partially met your goals; only a small minority will speak of rare grand successes or of dismal catastrophic failures. The majority of new users struggle the first year (or more), but usually survive, stronger and more knowledgeable than before. We’ve heard from some of you, and where there was failure, there is some strong commonality. And this commonality is confirmed by our years of experience helping folks overcome their initial experiences.
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The Art of Finding Spider Mites
Locating spider mite colonies early on during scouting is important, no, essential, to gaining the upper hand in your attempt to keep them off your pest list. But this can be challenging, especially since they aren’t usually detected on sticky traps and other scouting tools. In fact, even the most diligent pest scouts have difficulty locating spider mites before they reproduce into more significant — and difficult to control — numbers. To find mites more quickly, there are things you can do.
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Packaging Biocontrols for Shipment
[…] the boxes look fragile (they’re not really) and “perishable” from all angles!
It’s not easy packaging bugs, but we’ve gotten really good at it over the years. It boils down to understanding the bugs’ requirements, preferred conditions, tolerances, and durability. Then taking into consideration the destination, transit route, weather and temps along the way, and time of year. We then have to understand the materials we’re working with and how they mitigate the pitfalls we face. And since we try to contain costs, we must of course give them due consideration as well. All these factors in concert determine how we pack. We’ll break it down more.
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