UGA Researchers Tackle Gerbera Daisy Pest

Entomologists with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are using a parasitic wasp to fight the leaf miner that is attacking Gerbera daisies.

---

UGA Researchers Tackle Gerbera Daisy Pest

The scene opens in a greenhouse where two adult females are counting pests on Gerbera daisies. An adult male is recording the numbers.

The scene changes to a tangerine-colored Gerbera daisy with a yellow center, then to a pink Gerbera daisy with a black center.

The scene moves to a field showing yellow Gerbera daisies with pink centers, to a pink Gerbera daisy with a yellow center, to a bright orange Gerbera daisy that has rings of yellow and orange leading to a black center, to a white gerbera daisy with a yellow center, to a red Gerbera daisy with a black center.

The scene changes to several vases holding many different colors of Gerbera daisies. It moves to yellow Gerbera daisies in black plastic pots.

The scene moves to show an adult Leaf Miner on a Gerbera daisy leaf.

The scene changes to Cheri Abraham, a University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences graduate student, showing how female leaf miners lay their eggs in Gerbera daisies. A photo of a leaf miner larva is shown. Abraham shows the variegated pattern the leaf miners leave in Gerbera daisy leaves. A leaf that has been eaten by leaf miner larva is shown. Abraham discusses what is expected and accepted for Gerbera daisies to be sold.

The scene moves to show several potted, orange Gerbera daisies. An immature leaf miner is shown eating a Gerbera daisy leaf. Orange Gerbera daisies with leaves eaten by immature leaf miners is shown. A petal of a yellow Gerbera daisies shows an adult leaf miner. A brilliant orange Gerbera daisy shows an adult leaf miner on its petal.

The scene returns to the greenhouse. A female continues to count leaf miners on the Gerbera daisies while a male records the numbers. A second female continues to count leaf miners. A photo of a large number of adult leaf miners is shown. In the greenhouse, trays of sprouting Gerbera daisies are shown.

The scene changes to Abraham examining a tray of sprouting Gerbera daisies. A photo of a tiny blue-green wasp is shown. The photo changes to a side view of the tiny wasp.

The scene returns to the greenhouse. Standing next to a table of sprouting Gerbera daisies, Dr. Kris Braman explains how the introduction of the tiny wasps will control the leaf miner pests.

The scene changes to an orange Gerbera daisy with tiny wasps on its petals.

The scene returns to the greenhouse showing rows of yellow Gerbera daisies. A pink Gerbera daisy is shown.

The scene moves to Dr. Braman discussing the need for a sustainable biological control program for controlling leaf miners on Gerbera daisies.

The scene changes to the University of Georgia logo followed by a URL for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Credits

End of video

© 2011 University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

• Category

  Education