Integrated pest management scouting guide

Scout weekly before choosing a treatment. Walk doors, vents, crop edges, hot rows, irrigation zones and new growth. Count sticky cards, leaf undersides and flowers separately for whitefly adults or nymphs, thrips scarring, mite webbing, mildew, botrytis and stress symptoms. Record crop stage, EC, pH, airflow, humidity, sanitation, pruning and recent irrigation changes. Act on trends and affected zones first: improve exclusion, sanitation, climate, spacing and label-compliant crop-safe controls before changing treatment. Use the greenhouse pest scouting notes when symptoms overlap with nutrition or water stress.

Use sticky cards and leaf checks to separate whitefly, thrips, mites, mildew and heat or irrigation stress. Look at young growth, flowers, leaf undersides, vents and crop edges, then write counts by zone rather than one whole-house note. A treatment decision should also include crop stage, beneficial insects, sanitation, airflow, humidity, pruning, water stress and label restrictions. If counts are low or limited to one hot row, improve exclusion, remove infested leaves, adjust irrigation or climate and isolate the zone before spraying the full house. When treatment is needed, rotate modes of action, follow UAE label directions and record the date, product, dose, weather, target pest and follow-up count.