Arthropod and mollusk pests of hemp, Cannabis sativa (Rosales: Cannabaceae), and their indoor management plan in Florida

Abstract

The first step in developing a pest management strategy is to know which pests can be found on the crop. Recently, the legal cultivation of hemp, Cannabis sativa (Rosales: Cannabaceae), has begun in Florida, and although hemp harbors one of the most diverse pest complexes globally, growers often do not consider the importance of pest identification until it is too late. This study aims to list arthropod and mollusk species reported on hemp in Florida to date. A total of 105 arthropod and mollusk species are reported on hemp in Florida from 8 insect orders and 2 non-insect orders. We found 78 species in Florida already reported in published literature, and 27 species are reported here on hemp for the first time. Even though 105 species in Florida are reported from hemp, not all can reproduce, complete their life cycle, and cause damage to hemp. Therefore, we divided them into 3 categories based on their pest potential: major (26), minor (72), and minor-to-major (7) pests. In addition, we provide representative images, a field guide, and easy-to-follow keys for hemp pest diagnostics. Our study provides the first comprehensive list of hemp pests known to occur in Florida. This will help extension agents, growers, regulators, and researchers scout and inspect hemp regardless of their background and let them know which hemp pest species are commonly found in Florida. We propose and discuss a management plan for pest species on hemp in indoor cultivation with a controlled environment. The pest list and the management plan proposed herein will help aid in the management of hemp pests and the detection of newly introduced hemp pests in Florida.