Join us at the Farwest Show with a free 3 day pass! Booth #15056 August 20-22, 2025 in Portland. info@soundhorticulture.com Join us at the FARWEST SHOW with a free 3 day pass! Booth #15056 August 20-22, 2025 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. info@soundhorticulture.com

Sound Horticulture Bug Blog

Equipped for Thrips

Equipped for Thrips

Thrips are common greenhouse pests and challenging to control with chemicals. They are tiny and hide in between leaves and flower bracts. They are easily overlooked until the telltale signs of feeding occur: discolored or distorted leaves, stipling, silvering and premature leaf drop. Using yellow sticky cards in the crop can alert you when they show up and trap them, decreasing the population.

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Biocontrols for Tropical Plants

Biocontrols for Tropical Plants
Bringing tropical plants indoors has been a trend for many years. Whether your space is so filled with plants there's no room for furniture or you just have a single vibrant green specimen plant, there are many benefits to growing plants indoors. It has been scientifically proven that plants reduce stress levels, boost productivity and improve the quality of the air in our environment. They provide so many positive things, but they also come with challenges, like providing the optimal growing conditions and the unfailing battle against pests and disease. Mimicking nature with biological controls releases natural enemies to manage problems. This approach also reduces chemical use in our environments.  Continue reading

Caterpillar Control

Caterpillar Control

It's hard to believe that the butterfly, such an ephemeral creature of light and air, is responsible for such devastating crop damage in its larval stage. Caterpillars have been chewing away on veggies, ornamentals and field crops since agriculture began. The tell tale sign of caterpillar damage is ragged chewed up leaves or leaves with holes. Caterpillars can be bright and showy, or highly camouflaged, exactly matching the color of the plant. The larval stage of butterflies and moths, in the order Lepidoptera, come in an unlimited set of colors and forms. Luckily there are several extremely effective options for control. 

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Ladybugs

Ladybugs
Ladybugs are well known and loved by many people all over the world. They are a sign of good fortune and health. They are welcome in gardens as a natural predator of aphids and other pests. Then why is it not a good idea to purchase them for biocontrol? Following are the five top reasons why we don’t sell ladybugs for biocontrol. Continue reading

Thrips Control and Intraguild Predation

Thrips Control and Intraguild Predation

Intraguild Predation (IGP) occurs when one biological control agent feeds on another biological control agent. Predators that feed on the same prey are known as a guild. This occurrence can lead to a negative effect on the impact of the biocontrols. Find out more about which biocontrol agents are compatible with each other. 

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