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Healthy plants are the foundation of a successful greenhouse and nursery operation. As growers continue to face new pest challenges, emerging diseases, and changing regulatory requirements, staying informed about effective pest management strategies is essential. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service invites greenhouse growers, nursery professionals, landscape professionals, and horticulture enthusiasts to attend the Greenhouse and Nursery Pest Management Seminar on Friday, July 31, 2026, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton, Texas. This one-day educational program will provide practical, research-based information to help participants improve integrated pest management (IPM) programs, protect plant health, and enhance production efficiency. The seminar will feature specialists from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the Texas Department of Agriculture, and industry partners. The program will begin with registration at 8 a.m. and will include presentations covering a wide range of topics important to greenhouse and nursery production. Attendees will earn six Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units (CEUs), including one hour in Laws and Regulations and five hours in Integrated Pest Management. Morning sessions will focus on building strong pest and disease management programs. Mark Freeman and Sam Gray with Bioworks will discuss the use of biopesticides as part of modern IPM strategies. Dr. Kevin Ong, professor and associate department head with AgriLife Extension, will share approaches for preventing greenhouse plant diseases through proper sanitation and production practices. Dr. Rafia Khan, Extension Entomologist with Texas A&M AgriLife, will discuss emerging and established insect pests affecting ornamental crops, including monitoring and management strategies. The morning will conclude with Desaray Melina Delaloza from the Texas Department of Agriculture, who will provide updates on laws and regulations impacting greenhouse and nursery operations. After lunch and networking, afternoon sessions will highlight sustainable approaches to pest management. Dr. Arash Kheirodin with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension in Dallas will discuss ecologically based IPM strategies for controlled environment cropping systems. Dr. Andrew King with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Overton will present horticultural practices that support IPM and promote healthy ornamental production. The seminar provides a valuable opportunity for industry professionals to learn from experts, connect with peers, and gain practical knowledge that can be applied immediately. With increasing pest pressures and evolving production challenges, proactive management and continued education are key to maintaining healthy plants and successful businesses. Registration is $50 per person and includes seminar materials and lunch. The event will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, located at 1710 FM 3053, Overton, Texas. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Join Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for a day of learning, collaboration, and networking as we work together to strengthen greenhouse and nursery pest management programs across Texas. Whether you are a seasoned professional or looking to expand your IPM knowledge, this seminar offers valuable information and resources to support healthier plants and more successful production systems.  Rafia Khan, Ph. D. Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist
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Excess rainfall during spring and summer can significantly increase pest pressure in nurseries, greenhouses, and landscapes. Warm temperatures combined with high humidity and prolonged moisture create favorable conditions for rapid pest development, survival, and spread. Soft-bodied insects such as aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and mites often become more active during wet weather periods. Excess moisture promotes lush plant growth and tender foliage, which are highly attractive to many pests. Standing water and saturated growing media can also encourage European pepper moth, fungus gnats and shore flies, particularly in greenhouse production systems. Wet conditions can make pest management more challenging. Rain may reduce the effectiveness of contact insecticides by washing away spray residues, often requiring repeated applications. Prolonged wet weather can also limit access to production areas, making routine scouting and timely pesticide applications difficult. High humidity and dense plant canopies further complicate early pest detection. Many pests, including thrips and mites, remain hidden within flowers, buds, or on the undersides of leaves, allowing populations to build unnoticed. In addition, storm events and strong winds may contribute to the movement and spread of invasive pests into new production areas. Excess rainfall may also disrupt beneficial insect activity. Natural enemies such as predators and parasitoids are often less active during prolonged storms and humid conditions, reducing natural pest suppression and allowing pest populations to increase rapidly once environmental conditions improve. Implementing proactive integrated pest management (IPM) practices is essential during periods of excessive rainfall. Regular scouting and monitoring with sticky traps can help detect pest populations early. Improving drainage, increasing air circulation, maintaining proper sanitation, avoiding overwatering, and removing heavily infested plant material can reduce favorable conditions for pests. Rotating insecticides with different modes of action and conserving beneficial insects are also important strategies for long-term pest management and resistance prevention. As weather patterns continue to become increasingly unpredictable, adopting management practices and maintaining consistent monitoring programs will remain Rafia Khan, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Overton, TX When growers and landscape professionals think about insects, the first thought is often pests and the damage they cause. However, not all insects are harmful. Many beneficial insects play an important role in naturally suppressing pest populations in greenhouses, nurseries, and landscapes. These “good bugs” are valuable partners in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs and can help reduce reliance on chemical insecticides. Beneficial insects are a key component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. They help suppress pests naturally and can improve long-term pest management success when properly conserved or introduced into production systems. Two important groups of beneficial insects are predators and parasitoids. Predators actively consume pests throughout their life cycle. Common examples include lady beetles, green lacewings, minute pirate bugs, predatory mites, and hover fly larvae. These natural enemies feed on aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, scales, thrips, and other soft-bodied pests commonly encountered in Texas greenhouses and landscapes. Parasitoids are specialized insects, usually tiny wasps, that develop inside or on a host insect and eventually kill it. Several parasitoid species are commercially available and widely used in greenhouse biological control programs, especially for whitefly and aphid management. Parasitoids are specialized insects, usually tiny wasps, that develop inside or on a host insect and eventually kill it. Several parasitoid species are commercially available and widely used in greenhouse biological control programs, especially for whitefly and aphid management. Greenhouse environments often provide ideal conditions for biological control because temperature, humidity, and pest populations can be monitored more closely. In landscapes and nurseries, conserving naturally occurring beneficial insects can also provide significant pest suppression over time. Unfortunately, beneficial populations are frequently disrupted by unnecessary or repeated applications of broad-spectrum insecticides. One of the biggest challenges in pest management is recognizing when beneficial insects are already helping control a pest problem. In some situations, professionals may apply insecticides before evaluating predator or parasitoid activity. This can eliminate natural enemies and create secondary pest outbreaks or pest resurgence. In addition, repeated use of the same insecticide groups can contribute to pesticide resistance, making future pest management more difficult. Scouting remains one of the most important tools in preserving beneficial insects. Correct identification of both pests and beneficials allows professionals to make informed treatment decisions. When insecticide applications are necessary, selecting reduced-risk or selective products can help preserve natural enemy populations while still managing key pests. Habitat also plays a role in supporting beneficial insects. Flowering plants, reduced dust, proper irrigation management, and minimizing unnecessary pesticide exposure can all encourage beneficial activity in landscapes and production systems. Biological control is not always a complete replacement for insecticides, but it is an effective management tool when incorporated into a broader IPM strategy. As greenhouse and landscape industries continue to face challenges from invasive pests, environmental concerns, and pesticide resistance, beneficial insects should not be viewed as forgotten tools. Instead, they should be recognized as valuable partners in sustainable pest management programs. Photo credit: Rafia Khan, Ph. D. Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Overton, TX. Spring in Texas often brings warm temperatures along with frequent rain and storm events, creating highly favorable conditions for increased pest pressure in nurseries, greenhouses, and landscape systems. Elevated humidity and excess moisture significantly enhance pest development, survival, and reproduction, making this season particularly challenging for growers. These environmental conditions not only accelerate pest life cycles but also create ideal microhabitats for hidden and soil-associated pests, increasing the risk of sudden infestations and economic losses. Favorable Conditions for Pest OutbreaksSoft-bodied insects such as aphids, whiteflies, and thrips thrive under warm, humid conditions commonly observed during spring. The flush of new plant growth during this period provides tender, nutrient-rich tissues that are highly attractive for feeding and reproduction. As a result, pest populations can increase rapidly within a short period, often going unnoticed until visible damage appears. Without timely monitoring and intervention, these pests can quickly reach damaging levels and affect plant quality and marketability. Soil and Moisture Associated Pests Prolonged wet conditions create ideal environments for pests such as fungus gnats and shore flies, particularly in greenhouse and nursery production systems. Their larvae develop in moist growing media, feeding on organic matter and plant roots, which can weaken plants and reduce overall vigor. Additionally, pests like the European pepper moth benefit from high moisture conditions, as their larvae remain concealed in the lower canopy or within the growing media. This hidden feeding behavior, combined with favorable environmental conditions, makes early detection difficult and allows populations to build up before noticeable symptoms appear. Pest Spread and Increased Activity Rainfall and storm events can also contribute to the spread of pests within production systems. Splashing water can move infested soil, plant debris, eggs, and larvae between containers or across growing areas, facilitating rapid dispersal. Furthermore, outdoor pests such as caterpillars and beetles often become more active following rainfall, increasing feeding activity and the likelihood of damage. Wind and storm movement can also aid in dispersing adult insects into new areas, compounding pest pressure. Challenges in Pest Control Frequent rainfall presents additional challenges by reducing the effectiveness of insecticide applications. Rain can wash off residues from plant surfaces, shortening the duration of control and requiring more precise timing of applications. High humidity may also affect product performance and pest exposure, making control less consistent during extended wet periods. Take-Home Message Overall, rainy spring weather creates ideal conditions for pest outbreaks by enhancing survival, reproduction, and spread, while simultaneously reducing control effectiveness. Under these conditions, consistent scouting, proper irrigation management, and timely, integrated interventions are essential to minimize pest impact and maintain plant quality and marketability. Rafia Khan, Ph. D. Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Overton, TX Rafia Khan, Ph. D. Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Overton, TX. |
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October 2026
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