People, Plants, and Pollinators edition - April 2026

About this episode

Kaitlin Haase interviews Victor Lucero about managing tree pests while protecting pollinators and beneficial insects.

Join Kaitlin Haase for a conversation with Victor Lucero, Forest Health Program Coordinator with the New Mexico Forestry Division. Kaitlin and Victor discuss how to manage tree pests while protecting pollinator and beneficial insects in your yard, with special attention to pinon scale identification, life cycles, and management options. For example to minimize impacts to beneficial insects when treating pinon needle scale, seasonal direct application of neem or horticultural oils immediately after egg hatch is a significantly less harmful chemical option compared to long-lasting tree injections or soil soaks of systemic synthetic insecticides. NMSU Desert Blooms blog - Pinon Needle Scale Part 1 and Part 2

People in this episode

Host: Kaitlin Haase

Guest: Victor Lucero

Topics covered

• tree pests
• pollinators
• beneficial insects
• pinon scale
• management options
• neem oil
• horticultural oils

Keywords

• tree pests
• pollinators
• pinon scale
• neem oil
• horticultural oils
• insecticides
• beneficial insects

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New Mexico Forestry Division, NMSU Desert Blooms

Books & works: Pinon Needle Scale Part 1, Pinon Needle Scale Part 2

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