Pests Of Florida Hops: Preliminary Observations

Surveys of arthropods associated with hops at the University of Florida's Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Wimauma, Florida, USA, from 2016 to 2020 reveal that spider mites are the primary pest of the crop. Lepidoptera and lace bugs also were observed causing occasional damage to the crop. Whiteflies and thrips have been observed on the crop in low numbers. The tall (5.5 m) canopy of the hops trellis creates a challenge to applying insecticides with adequate coverage. Sampling data indicate that spider mite densities tend to be higher in the upper canopy than at ground level. Efforts to control spider mites with releases of the commercially available predator Phytoseiulus persimilis showed promise. Naturally occurring spider mite predators observed on hops at Gulf Coast Research and Education Center include Stethorus sp., Neoseiulus sp., Orius sp., and trash bugs.