📢South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline📢
🍉 Increasing whitefly numbers, squash vein yellowing virus, cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus, and papaya ringspot virus, Powdery mildew, Cucurbit downy mildew 🥒
The South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline
The South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline shares vegetable scouting reports, research highlights, weather and crop reports, and is compiled by UF / IFAS Extension Agents. This report is sent to the vegetable industry every 3 weeks to highlight pest and disease populations and trends across five locations in south Florida.
South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline | March 2024
Anthracnose has been reported in watermelon plants submitted to Southwest Florida Research & Education Center.
South Florida Pest update | Dec. 2023
Whitefly populations are increasing in all vegetable crops in the Homestead, Florida, area including high levels of whitefly populations in squash.
South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline | Oct. 18, 2023
In Central Florida, reports indicate incidence of Cucurbit downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) is increasing and Cucurbit leaf crumple virus (CuLCrV) incidence is very low.
In Southwest Florida, CuLCrV, Squash Vein Yellowing Virus and Cucurbit Yellow Stunting Disorder Virus were diagnosed. Gummy stem blight was reported on watermelons in older watermelon fields.
In Southwest Florida, Very low infestation levels of Cucurbit Downy Mildew were reported by field scouts.
South Florida pest and disease hotline | Oct. 8, 2023
Florida extension agents reported low to moderate levels of whiteflies on cucurbit crops in several regions. Whiteflies are vectors of several cucurbit viruses.
South Florida Whitefly Population update
Thrips on Cucurbits in Florida
Melonworms and Pickworms in Watermelon
Caterpillar pressure has increased to moderate levels in Homestead, Florida, though beet armyworm was reportedly at high levels in okra. Rindworm damage was also reported from melonworms and pickworms in watermelon.
