Assistant Professor Vegetable & Strawberry Entomology Clemson University Charleston, South Carolina
The diamondback moth is a key pest of brassica crops worldwide. As one of the most insecticide-resistant insect pests in agriculture, reliance on management with insecticides regularly fails in a matter of several years. There is a need to develop new management strategies that are effective, economical, and easy to implement at different farm scales. This presentation will discuss ongoing research efforts in South Carolina to evaluate how incorporating sweet alyssum flowers into agroecosystems can improve biological control of diamondback moth. Results will be presented from small plot trials and sampling on commercial brassica farms, in addition to data from resistance monitoring efforts.
