Description of the Problem While scouting for insects affecting corn and soybeans in their early stages of development, large numbers of thrips were observed in corn seedlings (greater than 20 thrips per plant) (Figure 1A-C). Corn plants with thrips were…
Bramble Scout Website
The publication An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of Brambles in Kentucky was first introduced in 2018 as an online/paper version. In order to improve access to this important scouting guide, a mobile website was developed. The Bramble Scout…
Posted in Fruit
Assessing and Utilizing UK Extension Resources for Commercial Fruit Production
The University of Kentucky Extension team has put together numerous resources for commercial fruit growers regarding production and pest management. However, many growers are not aware of the wide range of publications, newsletters, websites, and other resources that are available…
Posted in Fruit
Fire Ants Gaining a Foothold in the State
Fire ants have long been found further south of Kentucky. Since 2000, they have been annual issues in the Land Between the Lakes area of our state. Surveys in that area have found multiple mounds of ants but Kentucky has…
Posted in Human Pests
New Tick-transmitted Cattle Disease Detected in Tennessee
Last week, on June 10, a herd of cattle in central Tennessee was reported to have Theileria orientalis Ikedia, a protozoan disease vectored by the invasive Asian longhorned tick. This protozoon attacks red and white blood cells and causes bovine…
Posted in Livestock Pests
Submitting Plant Specimens for Disease Diagnosis (PPFS-GEN-09)
The accurate diagnosis of a plant problem is critical to knowing what strategies will be needed for current management and/or prevention of future problems. When diagnostic assistance is needed, Kentucky homeowners and commercial growers can submit plant samples to their…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
2022 Insect Trap Counts
Trap counts for major insect pests are provided by the Kentucky IPM Program. Traps are located at the UK Research and Education Center in western Kentucky and the UK Spindletop Farm in Lexington. Below are trap counts for the current…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
Septoria Leaf Spot of Hemp
Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is grown both outdoors and in greenhouses. Outdoor-grown hemp is susceptible to infection by leaf spot fungi that affect other crops and nearby plants, especially during periods of extensive rain or high humidity. There are three primary…
Posted in Hemp
Phomopsis Twig Blight & Stem Canker of Blueberry
Phomopsis twig blight and stem canker is becoming more common in Kentucky blueberry. Stressed plants are more susceptible to this disease, and reports are often associated with fields that have a history of Phytophthora root rot or severe abiotic disorder…
Posted in Fruit
Cherry Leaf Spot
Cherry leaf spot is a fungal disease of sweet, sour, and ornamental cherries. While this leaf disease is rarely a death sentence for trees, it can result in reduced blossoms, weakened trees, and increased risk for winter injury. Cherry Leaf…
Posted in Fruit, Landscape Trees & Shrubs
Don’t Lose Sleep over Fall Armyworms
Last year, Kentucky was one of the many states impacted by a historic outbreak of fall armyworms. Much of the eastern U.S. was eaten up by these hungry, hungry caterpillars with lawns and fields on the menu. While things eventually…
Posted in Landscapes, Lawn & Turf
The Red Oak Clearwing Borer: An Example of Wasp Mimicry
Description The red oak clearwing moth, Paranthrene simulans (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), is one of those insects capable of deceiving the human eye by resembling a wasp. In this case the target organism attempts to be less susceptible to predation by resembling…
Posted in Misc. Topics
Blackberry Rosette (Double Blossom) (PPFS-FR-S-03)
Blackberries are a popular fruit grown for both home and commercial production in Kentucky. A significant challenge, however, is the presence of several fungal diseases that require careful cultivar selection and management during the growing season. Blackberry rosette, also known…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
2022 Insect Trap Counts
Trap counts for major insect pests are provided by the Kentucky IPM Program. Traps are located at the UK Research and Education Center in western Kentucky and the UK Spindletop Farm in Lexington. Below are trap counts for the current…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
Don’t Get Burned by Potato Leafhopper…Hopperburn That Is!
Potato leafhoppers often go unnoticed until their characteristic damage to alfalfa begins to appear in early summer. Potato leafhopper is tiny and non-descript, hence, it is easy to overlook. It is the key insect pest of second and third cutting…
Posted in Forages
Kentucky Pest News 