Using plant phenological
markers as a pest management tool for the landscape.
There are times of
garden activity marked by the different phases in a plants life cycle. Some of the stages of plant activity are bud
break, leafing out, and flowering. These
stages correlate to the accumulation of degree days, a measure of the accumulation
of heat. Insects also have lifecycle
stages that are linked with this measure.
A good way to know when to monitor your landscape for various pests is
to use the phenological indicators provided by plants. They are easy to
observe. By linking the flowering of a
dogwood, with insect activity that occurs normally during that same degree day period,
you have a visual calendar to aid you in knowing what pests you should be on
the lookout for. It is also a great way
to appreciate the seasons and enjoy beauty in the landscape! Here we are providing a few tips to help you
get started using one of mother natures tools for
pest management.
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Different stages of insect life cycles are
more susceptible to management than others.
Some feed on plants at different stages of maturity. Some stages are
better than others for effective management.
Egg - a difficult stage for effective control because they are
well protected and not feeding on the plant
Larvae a stage that often feeds heavily on
plants, a good time for control.
Some insects feed
on plants while in the larval stage but not as adults.
Pupae- often an overwintering stage,
generally not an effective control period
Adult- the adult stage is often an effective time for control especially
for insects that do feed on plants as adults. Preventing reproduction can alleviate the need
for control in the future.
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