Vegetable Pests Research Reports

2023 Reports

Surveying and Evaluating Pests and Beneficial Insects in Utah's Vegetable Production
Nick Volesky, Veg IPM Associate • Amelia Olds, Undergrad Program Tech • Mair Murray, IPM Specialist 
In 2023, the IPM program conducted a season-long survey evaluating arthropod pests, plant diseases, pollinators, and other beneficials on a ¼ acre vegetable farm and adjacent pollinator habitat located in Logan, UT. Understanding the roles of these groups on plant health and the efficacy of non-chemical pest management approaches critically impacts the sustainability of Utah’s vegetable industry. Findings from the survey have been used as a reference for developing video content, fact sheets, and presentations to educate Utah’s commercial and small-acreage farmers

2022 Reports

Outcomes and Impacts of the IPM Demonstration Farm
Nick Volesky, Veg IPM Associate • Mair Murray, IPM Specialist
In the spring of 2022, the IPM program established a vegetable IPM farm to test and demonstrate various IPM techniques for vegetable production. This one-acre farm is located at the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station Greenville Farm, adjacent to USU main campus in Logan, UT.  The main goal of this farm was to provide a “real-life classroom” to demonstrate to clientele the cultural, mechanical, and biological control methods used to manage pests.

Using Colored Mulches to Reduce Thrips and Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus in Commercial Tomato Production
Nick Volesky, Veg IPM Associate • Bridger Carey, Undergrad Program Tech
Inspired and replicated from a prior research study, this small trial looked into determing wheather black mulch, silver mulch, or bare soil effects the presence of western flower thrips (WFT; Frankiniella occidentalis). WFT can vector Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV).

Outcomes and Impacts of the 2022 Winter IPM Workshops
Nick Volesky, Veg IPM Associate • Mair Murray, IPM Specialist
In January 2022, the IPM program responded to stakeholders’ needs by partnering with county Extension offices to deliver eight in-person workshops across the state. The workshops connected Extension specialists and county faculty with managers of home landscapes and farms. The objective of the workshops was to provide participants with IPM skills to identify, monitor, and manage pest problems in preparation for the upcoming growing season.

2021 Reports

Non-Chemical Control to Reduce Losses from Stink Bugs and Beet Curly Top Virus in Commercial Tomato Production
Nick Volesky, Veg IPM Associate • Mair Murray, IPM Specialist • Diane Alston, Entomologist
In a 2018 survey, Utah vegetable producers reported that their main crop losses came from insects and related plant diseases. In Utah’s commercial tomato production, fruit injury from stink bugs and beet curly top virus can cause significant economic loss. This project investigated the use of non-chemical control methods to reduce losses from these pests by conducting trials on both USU and commercial vegetable farms.

Blue Hubbard Squash as a Trap Crop to Suppress Squash Bugs
Nick Volesky, Veg IPM Associate
Various research studies have shown blue hubbard squash to be an effective trap crop in suppressing squash bug (Anasa tristis). In 2021, the USU Extension IPM program conducted trials at the USU Kaysville and Greenville research farms in 
northern Utah to determine if hubbard squash is a viable trap crop for Utah's climate.

2020 Reports

Seed-Transmitted Wheat Mosaic Virus in Sweet Corn in Utah
Claudia Nischwitz, Plant Pathologist
Wheat mosaic virus (WMoV) (syn. High Plains virus) causes chlorotic streaks and mosaic on corn foliage, and it stunts ear development. In 2016 and 2017, plants in a sweet corn crop in northern Utah developed chlorotic streaking on leaves, and the plants remained stunted throughout the growing season but did not die after emergence. Symptoms ranged from bright yellow to nearly white streaks in stunted plants to faint chlorosis in plants that grew to normal height but only developed one ear or no ears.

2012 Reports

Effects of Insecticide Mode-of-Action on Onion Thrips
Diane Alston, Entomologist
To gain a better understanding of how insecticide modes of action affect different life stages of onion thrips, and their fecundity and egg viability, this study treated caged and open onion plants and assessed life stage survival, egg densities in leaves, egg hatch, and thrips feeding injury to plants.  Movento, Benevia, and Radiant were all highly effective in reducing numbers of thrips larvae on plants and egg viability.  Benevia was the most effective in reducing fecundity and thrips feeding injury. 

2011 Reports

Utah Vegetable Integrated Pest Management Survey
Diane Alston, Entomologist • Mair Murray, IPM Specialist • Dan Drost, Vegetable Specialist
In 2011, the Utah State University Extension IPM Program surveyed the vegetable industry in the state to determine pest management practices, in particular, IPM implementation (integrated pest management). The survey was delivered and administered by the Utah office of the National Agriculture Statistics Service to 252 growers. We received a 40% response rate, representing 3,132 vegetable acres. The survey results will serve as a guide for improving the Extension vegetable IPM program through research and outreach activities, and as a resource for leveraging funds to execute this work.

2006 Reports

Utah Onion Thrips Efficacy Insecticide Trial: Influence of Egg Hatch, Survival, and Immigration on Insecticide Importance in Dry Bulb Onion
Diane Alston, Entomologist
The efficacy of six insecticides (including two new compounds) of varying rates were compared for suppression of three thrips life stages.  No differences among insecticides were detected for adults, while Lannate (methomyl) and Radiant (spinetoram) were most effective against larvae, and Lannate and Movento (spirotetramat) were most effective against eggs.

 

2005 Reports
Onion Thrips Control Trial
Diane Alston, Entomologist
The efficacy of new and alternative insecticides for suppression of onion thrips in dry bulb onions were studied in 2005, and results showed that Success, Mustang, and BYI 8330 at 8 oz/acre had the lowest cumulative numbers of eggs and immatures as compared to the other insecticides and the untreated control.