Mississippi State University encouraging beneficial insect use

From Mississippi State University:

They don’t need paychecks, time cards, or coffee breaks. They don’t even complain about the August heat in a Mississippi greenhouse.

Parasitic wasps and predatory mites are just a couple of the insect species growers can release to guard against damaging pests in greenhouses.

Layton has made regular trips to greenhouse nurseries around Mississippi to encourage more use of biocontrol. His efforts are supported through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. He has worked with pests in gerbera daisies, cucumbers, poinsettias, and many other plants.

Layton said insects develop a resistance to pesticides with repetitive chemical use.

To read the full article, visit the Mississippi State University website.