RESEARCH &
EDUCATION
CENTERS (REC)
In 2013, european pepper moth caterpillars were found feeding on geranium, petunia, mums and poinsettias. The caterpillars feed on foliage as well as bore into the plant stems at the base. Be sure to check compost piles near the production areas because growers have been catching this moth in pheromone traps in significant numbers.
Several greenhouse operations had a problem with whitefly on poinsettia plants received early in the season for stock plants and had difficulty bringing the population under control. In August, the whitefly from one site was tested and was not the harder-to-control Q-strain.