Re: insect contro/giant whitefly

Interesting article Marge.  As you know I'm not in the San Diego area or 
other areas affected by G.W.  However, I will pass this along to my 
provider of liners.  I would think it would be of some value to him.  As 
it pertains to our discussion I found it interesting that they are 
experimenting with bringing biological controls up from Mexico.  Reminds 
me of that age old story where you have to bring in other animals to 
control the ones you brought in before in a procession that finally ends 
up back where you started.  Who knows what will happen to native species 
of insects when non-natives are introduced.  I suppose in a strange way 
this is what happens when non native plants are introduced.  You get the 
flotsom that accompanies them albeit slowly.  Mother nature always finds 
a way doesn't she? 

One of the controls for G.W. is washing off the affected leaves.  If you 
look at my web site that is exactly what I recommend for the homeowner 
as well as a first line defense.  On the other hand for those growing 
thousands of ornamentals in a greenhouse the answer is obviously not so 
easy.  This is a subject you and I have discussed before.  With the 
consumers wish for virtually perfect looking plants it's difficult not 
to take the chemical approach.

Nice to hear from you as well Marge.  Hope all is well with you and Clark.

DF

Marge Talt wrote:

>Hey David, darlin'...so glad to see you're back!
>
>Not Daryl, and had not heard of your giant white fly, so did a Google
>and came up with this page, which might be of interest to you as it
>talks about some natural predators and other ways of controlling this
>pest.....
>
>http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7400.html
>
>Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
>mtalt@hort.net
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>  
>
>>From: David Franzman <dfranzma@pacbell.net>
>>
>>Hey Daryl
>>
>>I just read your letter about allowing mother nature to take care
>>    
>>
>of the 
>  
>
>>insects in the garden.  I completely agree with you with this
>>    
>>
>caveat:  
>  
>
>>Under your guidelines how should one control an insect invasion
>>    
>>
>from a 
>  
>
>>foreign nation or area when that harmful bug has no natural
>>    
>>
>controls?  
>  
>
>>There are many instances of this but the two that stand out here
>>    
>>
>are the 
>  
>
>>Glassy Winged Sharpshooter (from the southeast) which damages
>>    
>>
>vineyards 
>  
>
>>and more important for me and my business is the Giant Whitefly
>>    
>>
>from 
>  
>
>>Mexico  which leaves a nasty white stringy goo on Hibs and other 
>>plants.  Neither of these insects have a natural predator here so I
>>    
>>
>was 
>  
>
>>wondering how your philosophy deals with this kind of menace. 
>>    
>>
>(Again, 
>  
>
>>in my garden I practice what you describe.)
>>
>>DF
>>
>>
>>    
>>
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