Author Archives: Cassie Russell

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About Cassie Russell

Nursery and Landscape Specialist with OMAFRA.

Nursery growers: still time to register for the Summer Nursery Tour!

Landscape Ontario’s summer nursery tour is right around the corner: registration has been extended and you have until August 25th to sign up. This much-anticipated event will take place on Thursday August 29th, 2024 and will focus on the crucial … Continue reading →

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August is Tree Check Month!

This annual campaign urges Canadians to thoroughly inspect trees and plants in their backyards, gardens, parks, and vehicles for invasive pests.

Posted in Arboriculture, Insects, Invasive Species, landscape | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

August 2, 2024 – Pest Updates

It’s August already!? Anyone else wondering where July went? It’s continued to be a hot and humid summer, that’s for sure. Some plants have definitely been feeling the stress of the heat, but one things for sure: the insects are … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects, Invasive Species, IPM | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Elm Zigzag Sawfly: a new(ish) pest for Southern Ontario

Elm zigzag sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda) is an invasive forestry pest from Asia that can cause defoliation of elm trees (Ulmus spp). The first report of Elm zigzag sawfly (EZS) in North America was in July of 2020, by an iNaturalist … Continue reading →

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Box Tree Moth: Time to scout and treat the second generation

Adult box tree moths have been observed throughout Southern Ontario over the last couple weeks and as their eggs hatch, early instar box tree moth larvae start to feed again on boxwood shrubs. This second period of feeding activity is … Continue reading →

Posted in Arboriculture, box tree moth, Insects, Invasive Species, IPM, landscape | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Notice for commercial boxwood growers: product update for Box Tree Moth

The LAST DATE to use any inventory you might have of the insecticide DELTAGARD SC for Box Tree Moth on commercial grown boxwood is next week: June 23, 2024. This product is no longer being produced by the manufacturer and … Continue reading →

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Box Tree Moth are flying – check your traps!

Box tree moth (BTM) development got off to an early start this spring and we’re already starting to see flight of the first generation. Using public observations from the website iNaturalist, we can see some of this springs first observations … Continue reading →

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ALTUS® insecticide label expanded via Minor Use Program to help manage Spotted Lanternfly on Outdoor Nursery and Landscape Plants in Canada

Written by Josh Mosiondz, Minor Use Coordinator,OMAFA The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of a minor use label expansion registration for ALTUS® insecticide for suppression of Spotted Lanternfly on Outdoor Nursery and Landscape Plants in Canada.

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Interested in some AgRobotics field demos?

Join the AgRobotics Working Group for its Demo Days on the 4th and 11th of July! The AgRobotics Working Group is hosting two demo days for agricultural producers to learn about technology being validated for Ontario’s diverse production systems in … Continue reading →

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Box tree moth update: Pupae already?!

Scouting this spring has revealed a lot of variation in larval development and I think we might be in for a challenging summer for management. Late instar box tree moth larvae have been observed preparing for pupation in the more … Continue reading →

Posted in box tree moth, Insects, Invasive Species, IPM, landscape | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment