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Scouting procedure

Scouting Map example is a rather large image sized at 750px by 525px

(pixels).

It is displayed in a landscape format and is meant to represent an 8½" x

11" (inch) piece of paper.

On this Map is the following (starting in the upper left):The

Document title:

“Green Methods Scouting Map Example”

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This is for the date of inspection and the inspector’s name.

For this example: 6/14/2005; Watson, B.

There is also a small check box (upper-right) for the purpose of “marking”

the whole document to indicate there are noted items on the map.

A Map Key:

Green triangle representing a “flagged” plant and a yellow square

representing a yellow sticky trap.

Date and Name Field:

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More Fields:

Greenhouse name, Structure number (optional of course), and

Crop: For this example: Pest-Free Gardens, #3, Bedding,

respectively.

That makes up the top 15% of the document.

What follows is a large rectangle representing a greenhouse.

In the shape are additional rectangles which are meant to be

greenhouse benches.

The greenhouse shape is broken down into eleven (11) sections

of 250 square feet each. Next Previous End

here are two benches in each of these sections, with exception

to section “K.”

This makes the bench count at twenty-three (23).

The latter is a long work-type bench located on the

vent end/back-wall of the structure.

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Being that one section should be 250 square feet, the total size of this

greenhouse is roughly 2750 square feet.

There is one “flagged” plant and one sticky trap in each section.

The sections are labeled A-K, the benches are labeled 01-22 (the work

bench is not numbered). Each section has a small check box allowing it

to be “marked” to refer to later. This indicates that area has some issue.

Further markings can also be made to indicate where in a marked area

pests were found, more specifically.

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Below the image are a number of fields looking for inputted

data.

The fields are as follows:

Notes: Great the general notes. In this case the weather of

the past week was commented on “Hot and Humid” and a

general summary is given: “Things are looking’ good.”

Section Fields (A-K) and “Other.”

The Other is marked in this case as outdoor locations right

outside the structure.

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In this example sections D, H, K and Other are marked in

red ink (versus blue used elsewhere) detailing the

problems in those areas.

Specifically: D = Possible powdery mildew;

H = Mites found on bench 16;

K = Gnats found near potting table;

Other Area = Grasshoppers noted in numbers outside

the back end-wall of the structure.

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Another “Notes” field where details can be

given regarding observations, corrective

measures, and even things to do.

In this example it was noted that

“Aphidius” had been put out, that

“Fallacis” and “nematodes” need to be

ordered, and that Section D needs a

copper-sulfate treatment.

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Source: GreenMethods.com Next Previous End

Banana Sucking Pest Scouting and Monitoring

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Monitoring Traps for banana aphids

Yellow Sticky Traps

Sticky traps are quite valuable to growers. They

are used for one of two things:

Trapping or monitoring.

Putting traps out in numbers can be effective in

reducing airborne adult populations of certain

pests like aphids and whiteflies and fungus

gnats by trapping them.

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Blue Sticky Traps

If used at the rate of one trap per 250

square feet, though — or one per 1000

square feet in larger or monoculture

greenhouses — and checked, pests

counted, on a regular schedule, changed

as needed, and the results charted,

sticky traps can be an effective

monitoring tool.

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Magnifiers & Scopes

Mini Scopes

A common 30-power mini-scope

can be very helpful to scouts.

Using a unit like that shown in the photo,

place the scope over the bug or

eggs, turn on the light, peer inside,

adjust the focus wheel, and see all,

with remarkable clarity.

These are fairly low-priced units and really

worth their weight to a serious

scout.

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Magnifying Glasses/Loupes

In response to the small field of view drawback of

the mini scope above, a low-power, 25x, jewelers’

loupe or common hand lens is also good thing to

carry.

In the field, anyway. If you’re a mid-size or large scale grower, it

might be a good idea to get a fixed unit, next.

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Stereoscopes

The stereoscope or dissecting microscope, identifiable by its two eye-

pieces instead of one common to most microscopes, is the scout’s best

friend it they have a lab or bright place in the head-house.

The advantages are typically better quality and a larger field of view

over the above-mentioned and comparable powerful handheld mini-

scope.

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Weekly scouting and disease records

Well-managed farms scout field weekly to estimate disease severity or

"youngest leaf spotted.“

Thus provides a quantitative record how effective the disease control

program is and also when to apply the next fungicide application, and can

also help to detect the possible emergence of fungicide resistance in the

pathogen population.

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Scouting and Record keeping

Scouting, which is the monitoring of pest populations and crop developments,

is a fundamental activity in implementing IPM.

It improves a grower's ability to make sound pest management decisions

through knowledge of the pest and natural enemy populations.

If used carefully, scouting will help prevent crop damage while eliminating

unnecessary pest control treatments

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At large banana farms, scouts monitor for black leaf streak disease

levels weekly.

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Then, fungicide spray applications are scheduled based upon the data

collected. Shown below is an international disease rating scale used by some

farmers.

The idea is to scout fields regularly looking for plants of the same age (to be

determined by the farmer, although plants pre-flowering are best) and gathering

and recording disease information, usually on a sheet of paper on a clipboard.

Some farmers simply collect data on "youngest leaf spotted" (youngest leaf

showing symptoms, based on the idea that if young leaves become heavily

diseased, then bunch yield and fruit quality will be very low.

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Scouting - monitoring or investigating.

Scouting procedure

•The document title•Date and Name Field•A Map Key•More Fields

Monitoring:Monitoring Traps for banana aphids by using Yellow and Blue Sticky Traps.Magnifiers & ScopesMagnifying Glasses/LoupesStereoscopesWeekly scouting and disease recordsScouting and record keeping

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