April 2024 - 24

VEG CONNECTIONS
Biopesticides and
beneficial insects
MANAGING APHIDS ON HIGH-TUNNEL
SPINACH DURING WINTER
BY SAMANTHA WILLDEN, JEAN
PIERRE ZAVALA, ARIANA P. TORRES
AND LAURA INGWELL
H
igh tunnels are an essential
tool to maintain cold-tolerant
crops such as spinach
and other leafy greens during
winter months. However, even in
winter, tunnels can also provide a
hospitable environment for pests
to proliferate. Green peach aphids,
foxglove aphids and potato aphids
are cold-tolerant pests that are
common on winter greens.
To prevent aphid outbreaks in
high tunnels, management options
are needed that are safe, effective
during winter and economically
viable. Economic viability indicators
such as benefit-cost, break-even and
profitability analyses allow farmers
to compare cost-effective pest
Chrysoperla
carnea, one of
the species of
common green
lacewing, is
shown eating
an aphid.
While high tunnels allow crops such as spinach to survive the winter,
they also allow pests such as aphids to thrive.
management strategies and identify
the most profitable approach.
We conducted a study during
the winter of 2022-23 at a Purdue
Agricultural Research Farm to
determine the best combination of
biopesticide sprays and commercially
available biological control agents for
aphid management on high tunnel
spinach. Sprays included PyGanic
24 | APRIL 2024
(Pyrethrin), Sil-MATRIX (Potassium
silicate) and Neemix (Azadiractin).
Biocontrol agents included the
two-spotted lady beetle/ladybug
(Adalia bipunctata), green lacewing
(Chrysoperla carnea) and minute
pirate bug (Orius insidiosus).
Two treatment applications
were made during the season. See
Table 1 (Page 28) for rates. We also

April 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2024

Editor's Letter
The Pest Whisperer?
Managing wildlife on the farm
Weed battle
Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association
Southeast honors
Why every operation needs two succession plans
Biopesticides and beneficial insects
Ag Labor Review
Farm Market & Agriculture
Classifieds
Advertiser Index
April 2024 - 1
April 2024 - 2
April 2024 - 3
April 2024 - Editor's Letter
April 2024 - 5
April 2024 - The Pest Whisperer?
April 2024 - 7
April 2024 - 8
April 2024 - 9
April 2024 - Managing wildlife on the farm
April 2024 - 11
April 2024 - 12
April 2024 - 13
April 2024 - Weed battle
April 2024 - 15
April 2024 - 16
April 2024 - 17
April 2024 - Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association
April 2024 - 19
April 2024 - Southeast honors
April 2024 - 21
April 2024 - Why every operation needs two succession plans
April 2024 - 23
April 2024 - Biopesticides and beneficial insects
April 2024 - 25
April 2024 - 26
April 2024 - 27
April 2024 - 28
April 2024 - 29
April 2024 - Ag Labor Review
April 2024 - 31
April 2024 - Farm Market & Agriculture
April 2024 - 33
April 2024 - Classifieds
April 2024 - Advertiser Index
April 2024 - 36
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