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TNLA is a trade association representing all segments of the Green Industry in Texas. Members are growers, landscape contractors, retail nursery, and allied green industry businesses. Email TNLA

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Texas Department of Agriculture Issues Emergency Quarantine To Control Harmful Palm Disease

Recently the Texas Department of Agriculture adopted an Emergency Quarantine in Cameron, Hidalgo, Nueces and Willacy counties of Texas against Date Palm Lethal Decline disease caused by a phytoplasma. The quarantine was effective since December 3, 2008, and is available here. Information about the disease (also referred to as Texas Phoenix Palm Decline) can be found at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PP163. The regulated palms include: Date palm, Phoenix dactylifera; Canary Island date palm, Phoenix canariensis; silver or sylvester date palm, Phoenix sylvestris; queen palm, Syagrus romanzoffiana; and cabbage palm or sabal palm, Sabal palmetto.

For more information, click here.

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Pink Hibiscus Mealybugs
Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) collected 20 suspect mealybug samples from approximately two square miles surrounding a Pearland home. Of these 20 samples, six were confirmed as the pink hibiscus mealybug. TDA will initiate a similar survey around a southwest Houston home where the other mealy bug was detected to determine the extent of infestation.
Once infestation is determined, inspectors will control the pest using a biological method – parasitic wasps. Research has shown these parasitic insects are the best method to control mealybugs, resulting in a 90 percent success rate. The tiny wasps will only attack the mealybugs, not humans or pets.

Treatment for mealybugs should avoid using insecticides, as they are usually ineffective and could harm beneficial insects. Instead prune off the most heavily infested plant parts, place in sealed bags and dispose in garbage.

For more information about mealybugs and the Houston treatment see the following:

East Texas Nursery & Greenhouse IPM Program

Article in TNLA Green magazine

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Chili thrips An inspection of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston revealed chilli thrips or signs
of chilli thrips damage at each bed. Inspection of a bed of Knock Out roses a couple of miles away from the Medical Center also found chilli thrips. Scott Ludwig of Texas AgriLife Extension is updating a homeowner information fact sheet on chilli thrips to include the latest efficacy results from the work he is conducting with USDA-APHIS. He is also working on management recommendations for professional landscapers. This information will be available at http://chillithrips.tamu.edu/. Dr. Ludwig will address this topic during a session at the the educational lounge at the Nursery/Landscape Expo.

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