Keep Pansies Beautiful by Identifying and Controlling Harmful Insects and Pests

Insects and other pests are a key threat to the health and beauty of pansy plants. To mitigate damage, it is vital to identify threats and implement strategies to keep pests in check before they become a problem.

/// Identify key threats

To identify key threats, encourage your customers to scout at least once a week, if possible. Scouting can be useful for detecting and addressing problem insects before damage occurs. Some of the key pests in pansies include:

• Aphids are soft-bodied insects that range in size from 1/16-to-3/8-inch long and in color from tan to pink to green to almost black. Aphids feed on pansies by piercing plant tissue and sucking plant sap. Damage includes twisting and curling of young, soft leaves and stems. Aphids also produce honeydew, a sugary excrement, that may allow for the growth of black, sooty mold.
• Whiteflies feed on pansies in both the nymph and adult stages. As nymphs, they are flat, almost clear and less than 1/16-inch wide. They can often be found on the underside of leaves. Adult whiteflies are small, powdery insects with four white wings. Often, whiteflies damage pansies by causing discoloration to the leaves and depositing honeydew.
• Mealybugs are tiny white bugs that commonly look like white fuzz on plant leaves and stems. In immature stages, mealybugs can also appear brown or cream colored. Mealybugs feed at the stem tips and where the leaf meets the stem. Symptoms can be detrimental to the entire plant and can include stunting, chlorosis, defoliation and wilting. Mealybugs can also produce honeydew.
• Spider mites are so small that they can barely be seen without a magnifying lens. They have piercing mouthparts that they use to feed on the underside of leaves, making tiny cuts and sucking out the contents. This causes tiny yellow or white speckles on the upper leaf surface. Spider mites also produce fine webbing on the plant, which can easily be observed in the morning dew.

/// Management strategies

Growers can implement the following strategies to help manage key pests in pansies:

• Keep the greenhouse clean. Remove all plant debris from the greenhouse to minimize insect breeding grounds. Eliminate weeds from the perimeter of the greenhouse. These areas can serve as hiding places for insects and other pests.
• Reduce plant stress. Avoid overwatering and underwatering pansies. Stressed plants are more susceptible to insect and pest damage.
• Introduce natural predators. For best results, introduce beneficial predators before the harmful insect populations get out of hand.
• Apply an insecticide. If insects do become a problem in a greenhouse take action with an insecticide application.

/// Take action

• Altus^® insecticide provides flexible and long-lasting control against insects in pansies. As the most economical non-neonic insecticide for drench application on the market, Altus is a great fit for any integrated pest management program. Growers are encouraged to use the Altus cost-in-use calculator to compare insecticide costs for any product(s) they are considering.
• Kontos^® insecticide offers highly effective control of sucking pests with true systemic activity in the plant xylem and phloem. With up to 30 days of insect control, it is an ideal tool for use in IPM programs and is a great rotational partner.
• Savate^® insecticide provides excellent knockdown and residual control of all stages of mites and whiteflies, including eggs and immature stages. Its translaminar movement protects upper and lower leaf surfaces. With up to 30 days of residual control and minimal risk for many beneficial insect species when used as directed, its mode of action is ideal for rotation and IPM programs.

/// More information

Contact your Envu Ornamental Specialist to learn more.