Introduction
Pests - Recognition & Control

There is greater concern over pests than diseases, and there are many more types and varieties. All attack the living plant and either suck the glucose and carbohydrates from the plants, or eat leaf parts directly. There is a bewildering array of phylla, each with their particular habits, but all usually attack weak plants. It can be effectively controlled by good management.

All incoming plants should be thoroughly checked, and all plants less than healthy removed. Hygiene should be of the upmost importance and all debris cleared. Checks should be made daily to ensure that no pests have hatched or bred, and if time, remove by hand. Always use soil that is sterile, and if possible use resistant varities of plants. Keep all plants watered and fed with adequate lighting and do not crowd plants. Spacing and good airing can hamper the smallest of insects' migrations.

Chemicals should only be used in the most severe circumstances, and then at the correct time, there is a bewildering array available. Systemics are used for sap feeders, and contacts for those who feed from the plant directly.

Biological control has shown to be effective for continuous maintenance of pests, but not against plagues. Use of chemicals in the presence of biological control, is not recommended, but there are selective insectisides available.

All can be thoroughly controlled by cleansing and disinfecting the whole greenhouse in winter.

There is concern that many pests are being introduced here from foreign countries, such as the Glashouse Whitefly, which was brought here via tropical plants. This is now a serious and established pest, and difficult to control. Plant health export and import laws do exist against the more serious pests, e.g. A range of Timber trees are banned here due to the Timber Boring Bettle. But these laws are far from being perfect and many do slip through the border checks. In the next century unless strict border controls are maintained we may face plagues of competitive species.

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