Michigan State University Extension has updated their insect and disease management recommendations for the 2022 greenhouse season. There only have been a few minor changes from the previous 2021 recommendations. These recommendations are updated yearly to reflect the efficacy of pesticides as MSU Extension specialists and their nationwide colleagues perform research trials evaluating the products against common greenhouse insects, mites, or diseases. The pesticides are evaluated by a network of researchers involved in the IR-4 Project, a research group that facilitates the labeling of pesticides on specialty crops, including greenhouse crops.
Insect management
David Smitley, MSU Extension's entomology specialist for ornamentals, has released his “2022 Greenhouse Pest Management with Insecticides” recommendations. These are the recommended products to control thrips, aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, broad and cyclamen mites, fungus gnats, mealybugs, and Florida fern caterpillar.
Growers of greenhouse vegetables and greens can use the guide, “Recommended Insecticides for Common Greenhouse Pests on Vegetables, Herbs and Leafy Greens,” when considering an insecticide application. The guide provides the names of the products, active ingredients, vegetable crops on the label, and recommended pests they control. For more information on the guide, see the MSU Extension article, "Insecticides for common pests on greenhouse vegetables and transplants."
Notes on insecticides for 2022
There have been a few new products registered and released within the last three years:
- Novato (clofentazine) has been added for spider mite control. This is the same active ingredient that was in Apollo. It works very well if resistance is not a problem. Because it is not used in the greenhouse industry much anymore, resistance may not be as much of a problem as it was in the past, and it is certainly worth trying.
- Ventigra (afidopyropen) is now labeled for control of aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs. Plants sensitive to Ventigra include coleus, poinsettia (in bract), impatiens, and petunias (in flower).
- Sarisa (cyclaniliprole) is now labeled for control of thrips, whiteflies, and mealybugs. In recent research tests at Michigan State University, we found Sarisa to reduce the number of thrips on marigolds, as well as the most recent industry standard for thrips control, Pylon.
- Pradia (cyclaniliprole and flonicamid) is a combination product, so it is like using Sarisa and Aria together. In research tests at MSU, Pradia also reduced the number of thrips on marigolds as well as Pylon, but it appeared to last a week or two longer than Sarisa. More testing of both products is needed.
In recent trials at Michigan State University, we found Sarisa and Pradia reduced the number of thrips on marigolds as well as the most recent industry standard for thrips control, Pylon. Thrips control from Pradia appeared to last a week or two longer than that for Sarisa. Pradia (cyclaniliprole and flonicamid) is a combination product, so it is like using Sarisa and Aria together. More testing of both products is needed.
Source: msu.edu