Florida Extension agents and specialists report on: Powdery Mildew, Gummy Stem Blight, Cucurbit Viruses, Whiteflies, Thrips and Caterpillars.
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 | February 2023
Whitefly pressure is high and still increasing on crops in SW Florida. On the East Coast of Florida, whitefly populations are low to moderate on cucumber. In Homestead, whitefly pressure is high on squash. Visit the hotline for whitefly management information. In the Homestead area, leafminer populations are medium on squash. Continue reading
Whiteflys infesting watermelon and squash
According to the Southe Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, whitefly levels are high in many crops including watermelon and squash.
UF | IFAS Commercial Vegetable Production Website
Visit the new commercial vegetable production website to view links to previous Pest and Disease Hotlines, upcoming and recorded South Florida Vegetable Growers’ Meetings, and upcoming Pesticide Classes.
December 2022 South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline
Whitefly populations are building in southwest Florida and have reached high levels in some locations. In Homestead, whiteflies are present in squash, cucumber, and watermelon. In Homestead melonworms are being found in squash, cucumber, and watermelon.
Whitefly pressure in Florida | AgNet
Whitefly pressure in Southwest Florida has increased in previous weeks as rains have decreased, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline.
South Florida Pest and Disease news
The South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline is a newsletter published by Florida Extension Agents. In October, the newsletter reported on crop damage caused by Hurricane Ian, whitefly observations on watermelons, Cucurbit leaf crumple virus in watermelons, and reports of gummy stem blight on watermelon in Southwest Florida.
Gummy Stem Blight on watermelon and cucumbers
According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, Gummy stem blight disease has increased in cucurbit fields across southwest Florida in recent weeks. It has become the predominate disease in some watermelon fields in the area. The disease remains moderate in cucumber crops on the east coast.
