Attention scouts: Crops that are insect “magnets” in the greenhouse

We review the most common hosts for the top greenhouse insect pests.

Some crops are notorious insect magnets for certain insects, like Mandevilla is for spider mites. Every year, the pest pressure in greenhouses fluctuates with many factors. West Michigan IPM, who provides scouting services to clients in west Michigan, has put together a list of common greenhouse insects and crops on which pests are most commonly found. This list is an aggregation of observations from 2016 and is continually changing with the crops being grown, weather conditions, suppliers, crop movements and many other factors.

For example, root aphids were a problem for succulent growers last growing season, but they were not included on this list. Greenhouse scouts can use this list as a guide when scouting their crops for the 2017 growing season.

Aphids, thrips, mites and whiteflies can be found on many other types of plants grown in greenhouses, but the plants listed below are some of the favorites of each of the pests listed below.

Common hosts for top greenhouse insect pests

Aphids

Broad mites

Western flower thrips

Spider mites

Peppers

Zonal geraniums

Dracaena

Tricolor ipomoea

Celosia

New Guinea impatiens

Ivy geraniums

Dracaena

Pansy

Thunbergia

Ipomoea

Mandevilla (other tropical)

Dracaena

Torenia

Verbena

Herbs

Ipomoea

Verbena

Marigold

Chrysanthemums

Salvia

Rieger begonias

Chrysanthemums

Ivy geranium

Sprengeri (Asparagus fern)

Scaevola

Dahlia

Hedera (ivy)

Marigold

Angel wing begonia

Double impatiens

Marigold

Fuchsia

Ivy geranium

Peppers

Dahlia

Ivy and zonal geraniums

Buddleia

New Guinea impatiens

Buddleia

Whitefly

Mealybug

Scale

Herbs (esp. sage)

Tropical plants

Tropical plants

Poinsettia

Hedera

Lantana

Succulents (Sempervivum)

Ipomoea

Sedum

Black and blue salvia

Pothos

Ivy geranium

Thank you to Mark Crossley of Western Michigan IPM for releasing this list. 

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