Scout now or forever keep your pests

In the midst of spring it is sometimes challenging for a person that works in the horticulture field to spend any time on their own yard. But regardless of the minimal time I have spent in the garden this spring, up until last week I was very proud of my potato plants. They were getting bigger and bigger and staying a dark healthy green color. For this to be my first try at growing potatoes, I was pretty pleased. Pleased, that is, until it happened: the bugs arrived.

A few pests are to be tolerated in the vegetable garden; it is part of the process. But there weren't just a few here and there. I think there must be a shuttle service that drops them off at the back gate. I could just imagine them filing down the bus stairs and running to the garden like children pouring into an amusement park. On one plant there were thrips, aphids, flea beetles and potato beetles! And to add insult to injury, a fellow co-worker of mine was touring the garden with me when I finally spotted them. I sort of got the "I thought you were a horticulturist" look. So humiliating...

But wait, it gets worse. Later that evening we were having dinner at my house. As we were cooking I noticed a few ants on the backsplash of the counter. Bugs in the garden I will tolerate, but when they get in the house they have stepped behind enemy lines where there is no mercy. So again the humiliation continued. Fortunately she is a good gardening friend and will hopefully look beyond the temporary 'infestation' that is occurring at the Snyder house.

Insect pests can become a serious problem in the landscape and in the home. In the garden, they can damage plants to the point that they will not produce or they can damage the crop before it can be harvested. There is nothing more disappointing than raising vegetables all summer, only to have the fruits ruined. Ornamentals can also be the victims of insect attacks. One of the pests that I loathe is the slug. Not only are they disgusting little creatures, but they can ruin my hostas in a matter of days if I don't catch them early in the act.

Insects in the home are typically more troubling than they are damaging. Call me a sissy, but I really don't like bugs in my house. I get along with them just fine as long as they aren't crawling on the counter in my kitchen or across the living room floor. But since I am living in the middle of their habitat, I should probably learn to share a little better.

All of the different types of bugs and insects in Oklahoma are a part of life just the same as tornadoes and wind. Since they are not going anywhere soon we must learn to adjust our lives when need be. Scouting for insect pests is the first step towards minimizing their effects on the landscape and garden.

Scouting is simply what it sounds like, regularly and intentionally examining plants for anything that is not going as planned. This could be insects, diseases or any other symptoms that are out of the norm for the species. The chance of locating a pest goes up as the number of scouting trips goes up. This also serves as a way to learn the plant's cycle of development.

The real benefit of scouting is the opportunity to catch problems in their early stages. Insects are easier to control when they are smaller; both in size and population. If the numbers are still low when the insect pest is spotted it may be possible to eliminate them by hand or by using other more organic products. This could save us from having to pull out the 'bigger guns' of pest control.

One example of a pest that is easily controlled with a few scouting trips is the tomato hornworm. This nuisance can easily clean off a stem of tomato leaves in a few days. The leafless stems are one of the signs to look for while scouting. Another clue would be little black pellet-like products on lower leaves. Frass is the fancy word for this 'fertilizer' that is left behind by the caterpillar. Scouting for these guys may take a few minutes, as they are identical in color to a tomato plant. But once they are found, you will wonder how it took so long to find them.

Scouting may be a little intimidating for a person who doesn't know a great deal about insects. But there is some good news for you. The OSU Master Gardeners are on staff Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to help you identify the pest and direct you towards the best method for control. There is no charge to utilize the OSU Extension Service or the Master Gardeners--we're here to help. Our offices are located at 930 North Portland in Oklahoma City. Also remember that there is an OSU Extension Service in nearly every county of the state and any office can help solve your problem.

As you are inspecting the plant look at the tops and bottom of the leaves, along the stems and down to the base of the plant. Taking a little bit of time now could prevent you from having a big problem later. It might also prevent the humiliation of giving tours in a bug infested vegetable garden. Happy scouting!

5/19/08
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Date: 5/12/08

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