President, Entomologist IPM Laboratories Inc. Locke, New York
Biological control in public and private landscapes takes the pressure off landscapers to navigate heavy spray equipment among the pedestrians. Although the use of predatory mites for spider mite control has surged throughout the United States, Cambridge Landscape Company's primary request was for control of aphid, black vine weevil, and lacebug. This company serves multiple college campuses and private properties and previously used pesticides on each pest problem twice a year. Since 2017, they have used Aphidoletes aphidimyza, Chrysoperla rufilabris, Orius insidiosus, Neoseiulus fallacis, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, and Steinernema feltiae to address these problems and have been very happy with the results. Over these last 6 years, they have only used pesticides to protect the elm trees from Dutch Elm Disease.
Aphid control on lindens, tulip trees and catalpa has been achieved by hanging vials of 250 Aphidoletes aphidimyza pupae containing 2 cohorts 5 days apart in mid May and repeated 2 weeks later. This hanging vial system was created by Applied Bionomics of Sydney, BC, Canada. The result is that honeydew is no longer produced in quantities by these trees in comparison with the tree trunks that used to be black with sooty mold despite 2 pesticide sprays.
Lacebug control is achieved using lacewing larvae. Entomopathogenic nematode treatments have reduced black vine weevil chewing on leaves from everywhere to very occasional. Orius is introduced to flower plantings as a generalist against many pests. Spider mites are controlled by the predatory mite N. fallacis.