Thrips, fungus gnats and other soil borne pests are a consistent problem in greenhouse, hoop house and some open field agriculture crops. Thrips are especially challenging to manage due to their rapid development of insecticide resistance. Augmentative biological control provides a good alternative to insecticides when available. Entomopathogenic nematodes and predators like D. coriaria are two biological control organisms with a track record of use for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of a variety of soil insects including thrips. Sourcing these natural enemies can be challenging, so learning to rear your own can make them a more feasible pest management option.
Join Michigan State University for a webinar on Tuesday November 25, at 1 p.m. EST covering three easily reared invertebrates to learn how they might be applied in your farm, garden or greenhouse. We will present rearing strategies for these three groups of “micro livestock”: a predatory beetle, entomopathogenic nematodes and black soldier flies.