In a party of Asian fruits and vegetables in Krasnoiyarsk, pests were discovered.
Rewritten Article:
Marching into April, experts at the Krasnoyarsk branch of the FGBU "Central Research Institute of Agricultural Plant Protection" (CRIAPP) have unearthed some concerning quarantine pests lurking in produce coming from Southeast Asia. During inspections, a party of apples and ananases were found to house the Comstock mealybug, while a group of pekin cabbages was home to the Western flower thrips.
Known as an agriculture's nightmare, the Comstock mealybug is a serious menace to a variety of fruits, including apples, pears, and grapes, as well as vegetable crops. This pest causes early fruit drop and spoils the fruits' flavor due to its secretive nature and waxy protective layer, making it a difficult foe to eradicate.
The Western flower thrips, on the other hand, poses a threat to over 500 types of plants, including various vegetables, fruits, and even ornamental plants. Not only does it destroy plant tissues, but it also serves as a carrier of viral diseases. Plants affected by this pest suffer reduced yield, with their leaves deforming and becoming marred by spots.
The discovered contaminated produce was sent to the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) to take corrective actions.
Pictured: Krasnoyarsk branch of the FGBU "Central Research Institute of Agricultural Plant Protection"
Pest Footnotes:
The beloved picnic fruit staple called the "Comstock mealybug" seems to be a misunderstanding. However, the challenge we're actually dealing with is the "Comstock apple maggot," which lays its eggs within the fruit. Its close relative, the "apple mealybug," is not typically the culprit when we hear about the "Comstock mealybug."
The Western flower thrips, like tiny marauders among green leaves, can be found on a growing number of crops throughout the world. Their damage comes from sucking sap from plants, transmitting plant viruses, and spoiling products with their filth. One such virus they transmit is the Tomato spotted wilt virus.
Control Measures:
Dealing with these pests requires a multi-faceted approach:
- Comstock Apple Maggot: Insecticides, trapping techniques (such as pheromone traps or sticky traps), and cultural practices like sanitation (cleaning up and removing infested fruit) are potential strategies against the Comstock apple maggot. Biological control methods, like the introduction of natural enemies, may also be employed.
- Western Flower Thrips: Eliminating Western flower thrips calls for a combination of insecticides, cultural practices, and biological controls: 1. Insecticides: It's crucial to use insecticides judiciously to minimize their impact on beneficial insects. 2. Cultural Practices: Use fine mesh screens to shield greenhouses or indoor growing areas from thrips infiltration. 3. Biological Control: Encourage the presence of beneficial insects such as predatory mites and lacewings. 4. Insecticides in Traps: Sticky traps can help regulate thrips populations and monitor their presence.
For pests like thrips and others, integrated pest management (IPM) strategies offer the most effective solution by combining physical, biological, and chemical methods to create a sustainable, environmentally-friendly treatment routine.
- In light of the findings, it was discovered that the 'Comstock apple maggot', not the 'Comstock mealybug' as initially believed, is the problematic pest lurking in the produce from Southeast Asia.
- The Western flower thrips, found among the pekin cabbages, poses a threat to more than 500 types of plants, including various vegetables, fruits, and ornamental plants, and can transmit the Tomato spotted wilt virus.
- To combat the 'Comstock apple maggot', a mix of insecticides, trapping techniques, and cultural practices like sanitation might be employed in conjunction with biological control methods such as introducing natural enemies.
- Addressing the Western flower thrips necessitates a blend of insecticides, cultural practices, and biological controls, including the use of insecticides judiciously, fine mesh screens to shield greenhouses from thrips infiltration, encouraging beneficial insects like predatory mites and lacewings, and using sticky traps for regulation and monitoring of thrips populations.
- For pests like thrips and others, integrated pest management (IPM) strategies providing a combined approach of physical, biological, and chemical methods offer the most effective solution, promoting sustainability and environmental friendliness in treatment routines.
