Issue 3, May 8, 2009
Coincide
Don Orton's original edition of this book was published in 1989. Coincide addresses the prediction of pest occurrence on ornamental plants by using phenology. With phenology, stages of plant development (usually bloom time) are used to predict stages in pest development. This method is more accurate than using calendar dates because the plant is exposed to the same climatic conditions as the insect. Thus, "early" and "late" springs associated with unusually high or low temperatures, respectively, cause similar responses in both plant and insect. Degree days can also be used to accurately predict pest occurrence, and Coincide provides these numbers as well.
Phenology helps predict when pest stages susceptible to control are likely to be present, but it is not a spray guide. When a phenological event predicts that a pest is susceptible to control, one needs to scout to verify that the pest is present and in a susceptible stage before using a control measure.
A major revision of this book was published in 2007 that contains a few additional insects, but also covers diseases. The name of the book was changed to Coincide: The Orton System of Pest and Disease Management. It is still available from Dennis W. Jamieson, Labor of Love Conservatory, 723 Dawes Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60189-6587. The publisher can also be contacted at 630-668-8597 and dennyjam@aol.com. The price per book is $39.00 plus $5.00 shipping and handling. Coincide is also available through some trade organizations and bookstores, including The Morton Arboretum Gift Shop.--Phil Nixon
Author:
Phil Nixon