A single adult Kudzu bug was collected on June 16, 2014 from a Kudzu patch located at near KY mile marker #1 on the north-bound right-of-way of I-24 (Christian County). No nymphs or eggs were collected. This represents the first…
Monthly Archives: June 2014
Leaf Spotting on Tobacco Common across Kentucky
Recently, we have been seeing many cases of lower leaf spotting in tobacco in all areas of the state (Figure 1). These symptoms are most common in crops that were set 3 to 6 weeks ago (late May). In most…
Posted in Tobacco
Spotted Wing Drosophila Captured in Western Kentucky
We have identified our first spotted wing drosophila (SWD) of 2014 in western Kentucky. It was present in a trap maintained by Patty Lucas in the Purchase Area of the state. The timing of this capture is very close to…
Posted in Fruit
Burrower Bugs and Purple Deadnettle
White margined burrower bugs are 1/8 to 1/4 inch long insects with sucking mouthparts. The adult is glossy black with a thin gray line around the edge of the body (Figure 1). The smaller nymphs, immature stages, are orange/red and…
Posted in General Pests
Some Insect Nuisances around Swimming Pools
Swimming pools will attract certain aquatic insects every year, but the lure of the water may bring in many other creatures. Thrips The most dramatic are thrips, tiny elongate yellow insects. They may be drawn to water after being driven…
Posted in General Pests
Managing the Asian Tiger Mosquito
The Asian tiger mosquito (ATM) is a serious nuisance at best and a potential public health threat at worst. This aggressive day-biting mosquito prefers mammals: humans, cats, dogs, etc., but will occasionally feed on birds. It is capable of transmitting…
Posted in Human Pests
Mosquito Repellents
Repellents are chemicals that interfere with the host-finding or feeding events of biting insects and ticks. Used according to label directions, they can protect people from bites by these arthropods. The Centers for Disease Control recommends using products that have…
Posted in Human Pests
Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab Highlights
The following plant disease highlights from the UK Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratories represent recent sample submissions from field crops, fruit and vegetables, and ornamentals. During the past week, field crop diagnoses included potassium deficiency on soybean; Pythium root rot, transplant…
Posted in Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
2014 Insect Trap Counts
Weekly trap counts for major insect pests are provided by the Kentucky IPM Program. Traps are located at the UK Research Center in western Kentucky and the UK Spindletop Farm in Lexington. Below are trap counts for the current period.…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
Darkling / Mealworm Beetles Found in Baled Alfalfa
Finding beetles in alfalfa hay raises an immediate red flag. Are they blister beetles? If not, what are they, and are they harmful? A beetle was found with square baled alfalfa hay last week. It is a darkling beetle, also…
Posted in Forages
Palmer Amaranth on the Move in Kentucky
Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) continues to march across Kentucky. Initially this weed was thought to be present primarily in the west end of the state (Purchase Area), but sightings have been reported in the past few years within several Kentucky…
Posted in Grains
Prepare Bins for Wheat Storage
In just a few weeks, a major portion of our 2013-14 winter wheat crop will go into some type of storage. In fact, if this message is prompting you to prepare your bins, you are probably behind the curve. Nevertheless,…
Posted in Grains
Tobacco Hornworms
Tobacco hornworm moths will be flying for the first of two generations that occur each year in Kentucky. This insect spends the winter as a pupa deep in the soil of the previous year’s tobacco fields. The moths emerge and…
Posted in Tobacco
Corn Earworm Risk
Corn earworm (Figure 1) can be a serious pest of a number of crops, including sweet corn, tomatoes (a.k.a. tomato fruitworm), field corn, and soybeans (a.k.a. soybean podworm). In years following a mild winter, we can have high levels of…
Posted in Vegetables
Spotted Wing Drosophila Update
Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) caused serious damage to fall raspberries and blackberries, as well as some damage to certain grape varieties across the state in 2013. The adult female of this fly is able to lay eggs under the skin…
Posted in Fruit
Kentucky Pest News 