Whitefly populations are building in southwest Florida and have reached high levels in some locations, while remaining low in others.
 
In Homestead, whiteflies are present in squash, cucumber, and watermelon. TYLCV and topso virus are also present at detectable levels.

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Fall armyworms are reported to be increasing in central Florida.
 
Caterpillar pests in southwest Florida are intermittent and densely populated in some areas. In corn, armyworms are persistent, with new hatches in all stages. In Glades County specifically, a high population of corn ear worm has also been reported. Armyworms are also present in beans, although to a lesser degree. Melonworms and loopers have been reported more generally. A few diamondback moth larvae have been seen as well.
 
In the EAA, armyworm and looper populations are consistent and high. Armyworms are being found consistently in early-stage corn across the area and, in some locations, in all stages of corn. Armyworms are also present in beans, as are loopers. In lettuce, beet armyworm and looper populations are surviving aggressive spray programs.
 
Caterpillars are intermittent in crops on the east coast. Loopers continue to be found in beans, while there are moderate to high populations of beet armyworm in pepper. Caterpillar populations in corn are reported to be higher than they were at this time last year.
 
In Homestead, fall and beet armyworms are present in corn, while melonworms are being found in squash, cucumber, and watermelon. Beet armyworm has additionally been seen in pepper.

Leafminer populations in southwest Florida are increasing, although pressure is still low to moderate in most locations.
 
In the EAA, Leafminer populations have spiked a few times in lettuce, but they are mostly responding well to Abamectin.
 

Pepper weevils have been reported in multiple locations in southwest Florida. Populations are low, but slowly building.
 
In Homestead, pepper weevil populations are low in pepper; adults have been found on eggplant.
 

In southwest Florida, in some areas silk fly numbers have improved with the dry weather. However, there are hot spots where populations have increased and additional insecticide applications had to be made for control.
 
In the EAA, in some areas silk fly numbers have improved with the dry weather. However, there are hot spots where populations have increased and additional insecticide applications had to be made for control.
 
On the east coast, there are a few hot spots where populations have increased and additional insecticide applications had to be made for control.

In Homestead silk fly numbers are low.
 

In Southwest Florida, aphids were reported at moderate population levels in cabbage and reached high population levels in some leafy green crops. Aphid populations remain low in other crops.

Broadmites are increasing in southwest Florida, but are still at low population levels. Spidermites were also reported to be low in several crops.
 
In the EAA, spidermite populations are emerging in younger corn.
 
Broadmites are persistent on the east coast and are not responding well to control measures.
 
In Homestead, mites are present in corn and eggplant, while broadmites are present in pepper.
 

Listronotus sparsus is an emerging weevil pest of Apiaceae crops (celery, parsley, dill, and carrot).

On-farm trials are ongoing to study different management options for weevil control in celery and parsley. See data from a fall 2022 research trial (Research Connections - Commercial Vegetable Production Website). Grower partners indicate that some insecticides have been effective to lower the pest population in conventional celery and parsley production. However, managing this pest in organic production remains challenging. Blacklight traps seem to be an effective method to monitor weevil populations, but this method still needs to be studied further.
 
Populations continue to be high in southwest Florida.

In the EAA, populations were reported to be low to moderate depending on the location.
 
If you suspect L. sparsus in your celery, parsley, dill, cilantro, and carrot field, please contact Anna Meszaros: ameszaros@ufl.edu or Craig Frey: craigfrey@ufl.edu for sampling and confirmation.
 

Mosaic virus was reported to be present in squash, cucumber, and watermelon crops in Homestead.