Integrated pest management, or IPM, has continued to improve and deliver benefits for growers While integrated pest management (IPM) has been an accepted best practice for growers since its introduction in the 1960s, it hasn’t always been growers’ first choice when looking for a fast, efficient answer to their crop dilemmas. The field of study […]
Silicon: the non-essential beneficial nutrient for plant defense?
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Rhododendrons and azaleas are the backbone of many ornamental landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, since 2016, a beautiful little insect has been plaguing the genus Rhododendron, causing aesthetic and physiological damage, which may lead to plant death if left unchecked (Figure 1). Preliminary studies suggest that cultivars vary in their tolerance to azalea lace […]
Biocontrol of azalea lace bugs
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Researchers investigate the use of lacewing predators to combat the pesky pest of rhododendrons.
Azalea lace bug arrives in Oregon
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Azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioides) There is a relatively new pest in Oregon that can damage azaleas, rhododendrons and pieris (Ericaceae): The azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioides) was first confirmed in Oregon in 2009 by Oregon State University (OSU) researchers after it was found in Washington in 2008. The pest becomes active in mid- to […]