I’m an outdoor grower in Oklahoma. This year I had to tackle hemp borers. My research showed these borers are native to eastern Colorado. However, they made their way to Oklahoma. What are some of the ways to manage borers?
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We got a similar plague here in Spain, they came with the geraniums from Morocco, they are not easy to handle as they hide inside the stems and go in open air once in 15 days 
, I’ve got my house and garden full of those flying moths.
Not much info about how to fight them:
Eurasian Hemp Borer
The Eurasian hemp borer (Eurasian hemp moth, hemp borer) is currently found east of the Rockies and has become a prevalent pest in eastern Colorado. It has become a major pest in outdoor hemp and cannabis cultivation sites, causing stem girdling at the base of buds that leads to wilt (leaf flagging) and death. This is most concerning for growers of flower buds and developing seeds as it stunts production. Since most damage is caused by stalk tunneling where the pest is protected, prevention is key to managing Eurasian hemp borers.
Controlling Eurasian Hemp Borers:
- Scouting should be done early and often along with preventive releases of Trichogramma minutum.
- Traps can be placed to help monitor adults; however, there are no commercially available lures that have proven effective.
- Releases of assassin bugs beginning prior to adults being spotted. They will seek out eggs laid on leaves, limiting the number that make it into plant stalks.
- Remove all crop debris after harvest to limit overwintering sites. Monitor nearby weed growth for knotweed and remove it if found to be harboring any Eurasian corn hemp borer larvae.
Eurasian hemp borer July 2018.pdf (419.6 KB)
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