About: Dana Shugrue

Greenhouses are uniquely vulnerable to thrips. Stable temperatures let them breed year-round, continuous plant material gives them an endless food source, and limited natural enemies mean nothing keeps their numbers in check. With so many variables working against them, growers often underestimate how quickly a single overlooked thrips can spiral into a full-on infestation. “Thrips’  Continue Reading »

Lettuce production on the East Coast is much less common than the West Coast. A handful of growers have tried their hand at the crop, but the large majority of lettuce in the U.S. and Canada still comes from California and Arizona. The distance doesn’t only drive-up transportation costs. It also pushes lettuce on the  Continue Reading »

Since greenhouses remove the mortality factors that would suppress spider mites, growers are especially vulnerable to an infestation. These factors include predators, extreme temperatures, and volatile weather conditions. “Greenhouses have suitable temperatures year-round and often ideal temperatures for the growth rate of insects,” says Laura Ingwell, Ph.D., associate professor of entomology at Purdue University. “Growers  Continue Reading »