The present invention is a flexible container to house a root ball of a plant and method of using the same. The container comprises a fabric sack, a securing ring and draw string. The fabric sack has an enclosed base and an open top that is folded over forming a narrow tubular aperture. The sack is made of a fabric having a mesh that inhibits or interferes with the life cycle of pests that infect or attempt to infect the root ball of the plant. The securing ring has a central aperture able to receive the stalk of the plant, an outer edge having a groove, an inner edge and an opening extending from the outer edge to the inner edge. The draw string is fitted through the narrow tubular aperture of the sack to enable the sack to be closed about the securing ring's outer edge groove.

The present invention is a flexible container to house a root ball of a plant and method of using the same. The container comprises a fabric sack, a securing ring and draw string. The fabric sack has an enclosed base and an open top that is folded over forming a narrow tubular aperture. The sack is made of a fabric having a mesh that inhibits or interferes with the life cycle of pests that infect or attempt to infect the root ball of the plant. The securing ring has a central aperture able to receive the stalk of the plant, an outer edge having a groove, an inner edge and an opening extending from the outer edge to the inner edge. The draw string is fitted through the narrow tubular aperture of the sack to enable the sack to be closed about the securing ring's outer edge groove.

An insect barrier strip that prevents targeted insects from climbing up a targeted tree. The insect barrier strip may contain insecticides that the targeted insects will encounter and kill. The insect barrier strip may be made of material(s) with a low coefficient of friction to provide a difficult surface for insects to traverse, that are flexible/expandable to enable the insect barrier strip to be wrapped around a tree trunk and expand over time as the trunk grows, are chemical resistant so insecticides will not degrade, and are capable of withstanding a wide range of environmental conditions. The insect barrier strip may include an overhang to make it more difficult for the targeted insects to get past. The insect barrier strip may include a trough that the insecticide can be located in or clips that insecticide can be secured to. A wick can be utilized to hold the insecticide.

A method and system for eradicating insects in palm trees (such as arecaceae) by means of a lower stem encasement embedded with fumigant. Said encasement comprised of a plastic, polymer sheet with internal, flexible foam lining. The lining having a plurality of apertures configured to receive a multitude of fumigants (such as aluminum phosphide tablets) therein. The invention being wrapped around the perimeter of the aforementioned palm tree and selectively affixed by means of adhesive strips and adjustable strapping on distal ends. While it is well-known that such insects respond well to fumigants, it is difficult to make contact with them in the center of a tree. An object of the invention is to impregnate an Arecacae tree with fumigants by means of a non-invasive fumigant wrap system.

One variation of a method for interpreting pressures in plants includes: accessing a first image of a first set of sentinel plants in a field; accessing a second image of a second set of sentinel plants in the field, recorded during a first period; interpreting a first pressure of a stressor in the first set based on features extracted from the first image, captured during the first period; interpreting a second pressure in the second set based on features extracted from the second image; deriving a model associating pressure at the first set and pressure at the second set based on the first pressure and the second pressure; interpreting a third pressure in the first set based on features extracted from a third image captured during a second period; and predicting a fourth pressure in the second set during the second period based on the third pressure and the model.

One variation of a method for interpreting pressures in plants includes: accessing a first image of a first set of sentinel plants in a field; accessing a second image of a second set of sentinel plants in the field, recorded during a first period; interpreting a first pressure of a stressor in the first set based on features extracted from the first image, captured during the first period; interpreting a second pressure in the second set based on features extracted from the second image; deriving a model associating pressure at the first set and pressure at the second set based on the first pressure and the second pressure; interpreting a third pressure in the first set based on features extracted from a third image captured during a second period; and predicting a fourth pressure in the second set during the second period based on the third pressure and the model.

Methods and platforms are provided for maintaining a population of natural enemies on plants, prior and/or parallel to an occurrence of respective prey pests, by associating with the plants platform(s) comprising mechanical support(s) with attached feeding elements for the natural enemies. The platform may be configured to keep the feeding elements close to but not on the plants, protecting them and enhancing the distribution efficiency and life time, while maintaining good availability of the feeding elements to the natural enemies. Various features may enhance supporting the natural enemies' population prior and/or parallel to the occurrence of the pest prey such as olfactory and/or visual cues to the feeding elements as well as sheltering elements such as artificial domatia on the surface of the mechanical supportto enhance biological pest control. Moreover, methods for preparing decapsulated Artemia cysts as feed for predatory arthropods are provided.

A protector device includes a plurality of pairs of multi-pronged elements. Each pair of multi-pronged elements includes a first multi-pronged element having a first C-shaped element that has a first straight section, a first end forming a first end spike, and a second end forming a second end spike, and a first connecting element attached to and perpendicular to the first C-shaped element. Each pair of multi-pronged elements also includes a second multi-pronged element including a second C-shaped element connected to the first connecting element of the first multi-pronged element, the second C-shape element having a second straight section, a third end forming a third end spike, and a fourth end forming a fourth end spike, and a second connecting element attached to and perpendicular to the second C-shaped element.

A protector device includes a plurality of pairs of multi-pronged elements. Each pair of multi-pronged elements includes a first multi-pronged element having a first C-shaped element that has a first straight section, a first end forming a first end spike, and a second end forming a second end spike, and a first connecting element attached to and perpendicular to the first C-shaped element. Each pair of multi-pronged elements also includes a second multi-pronged element including a second C-shaped element connected to the first connecting element of the first multi-pronged element, the second C-shape element having a second straight section, a third end forming a third end spike, and a fourth end forming a fourth end spike, and a second connecting element attached to and perpendicular to the second C-shaped element.

A tree net assembly includes a pole vertically oriented and positioned adjacent to a plant. Each of a pair of globes is slidably positioned around the pole, and each of the globes has a plurality of wells each extending toward a center of a respective one of the globes. each of a pair of rods is comprised of a resiliently bendable material. Each of the rods is removably coupled between the globes when the globes are positioned on the pole. The globes are spaced apart from each other a distance less than a length of the rods. The rods curve outwardly from the pole between the globes such that the rods define a sphere surrounding the plant. A net is positionable around the rods to surround the plant.