Insect Pest - True Bugs, Thrips and Mites

IPM Threshold Guide for Vegetable Crops

Insect Pest Management in Peppers

Insect Pests of Tomato

IPM Threshold Guide for Agronomic Field Crops

There have been problems in our vegetable fields with three pests, which include striped cucumber beetles, leafhoppers and twospotted spider mites. I think most of the problems we are having with these three comes from our mild winter as each has had an outbreak population after a mild winter sometime in the last 12 years.

Expect two-spotted spider mites on vegetables with hot and dry weather.

This has been a ‘mitey’ spring so far with two spotted spider mites, broad mites and now cyclamen mites (by Bob Rouse) being found. Usually cyclamen mites (Phytonemus pallidus) cause much of their damage to bedding plants, but they can cause significant problems in strawberries too. Adult cyclamen mites are usually never seen as they are only a quarter of a mm long and a 20X hand lens or dissecting microscope is needed to see them. And unlike two spotted spider mites that prefer dry conditions, cyclamen mites thrive in humid conditions and is why they are primarily a greenhouse pest.

I have gotten reports from flower growers of an inundation of thrips into their flower crop in the last week or so. I know, I know flowers are not vegetables, but many of the Flower thrips species that get into flowers will get into and on vegetables. Thrips are tiny, thin yellowish-orange insects the size of metal filings with fringed wings.

Cyclamen mites have been found in a few mid-Atlantic strawberry fields as well as more widespread to the south of us in North Carolina. So once we start to really warm up they may become more of a problem along with two spotted spider mites.