Products containing the active ingredient imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control, Bonide Annual Tree & Shrub Insect Control, Ferti-lome Systemic Tree & Shrub Drench, Green Light Tree & Shrub Insect Killer, etc.) are available to homeowners for do-it-yourself…
Monthly Archives: March 2015
Consumption of Genetically Engineered (=GMO) Crops: Examples of Quotes from Position Papers of Scientific Organizations
GMO1 traits are sometimes used for the purposes of controlling weeds, insects, and diseases in crop production. Questions sometimes arise as to the safety of consuming GMO crops. Hundreds of studies have been published to address these questions. The public…
Posted in News & Views
2015 Insect Trap Counts
Weekly 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…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
Fungus Gnats and Shore Flies Can Thrive in Tobacco Float Systems
Fungus gnats and shore flies are common greenhouse pests that also can thrive in float plant systems. The larvae of both species develop in moist to wet habitats; wet growing media also can supply their needs. Fungus Gnats Fungus gnats…
Posted in Tobacco
Eastern Tent Caterpillar Egg Hatch Begins In Central Kentucky
Eastern tent caterpillar (ETC) egg hatch was reported March 23 in Scott County by Larry Hanks, a consulting arborist. The tiny larvae will continue to emerge over the next 2 weeks from eggs (Figure 1) laid last summer on wild…
Posted in Forest Trees, Landscape Trees & Shrubs
Boxwood Leafminer Injury Now Apparent
Leafminers are serious pests of boxwoods. Boxwood leafminers prefer American boxwood but will attack English and Japanese boxwood. Leafminer Description and Their Damage Leaf mining by larvae (small maggots) creates oval yellow areas similar to blisters on infested leaves (Figure…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
2015 Insect Trap Counts
Weekly 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…
Posted in Insect Trap Counts
2015 IPM Training March 24
The 2015 IPM Training is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24. The program will be held from 9 AM to 3 PM CDST at the University of Kentucky Research & Education Center at 1205 Hopkinsville Street in Princeton, Kentucky. Program topics…
Posted in Announcements
Challenges in Weed Management in Wheat Due to Wet Conditions
The large amount of snow cover, combined with recent rainfall, has made it a challenge to treat for weeds as we transition into spring. The following are some suggestions to consider as we progress through the next few days: Harmony…
Posted in Grains
Managing Mites and Miticides in High Tunnels
Mites can be challenging pests to manage in greenhouses and high tunnels. This is partly due to their small size; mites can go undetected until their numbers build and damage becomes apparent. We are fortunate to have several miticides available…
Posted in Greenhouses/High Tunnels, Vegetables
BROOD XXIII Due In West Kentucky
Brood XXIII of the periodical cicada is due to emerge along the Mississippi River Valley (Figure 1). In Kentucky, the bulk of this 13-year brood should occur west of I-65; the insects should be most abundant in counties along the…
Posted in Greenhouses/High Tunnels
Rainfall Sets Stage For Several Nuisance Pests
Springtails Springtails are tiny wingless insects that can flip into the air, giving them the appearance of tiny fleas. They would go completely unnoticed except that hundreds of them can accumulate on surfaces like a small, dusty gray carpet that…
Posted in General Pests, Lawn & Turf
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, vegetables, and ornamentals. During the first part of 2015, relatively few samples were submitted for diagnosis. Diplodia ear rot on…
Posted in Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
2015 IPM Training Rescheduled for March 24
The IPM Training canceled last week has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 24. This program will be held from 9 AM to 3 PM CDST at the University of Kentucky Research & Education Center at 1205 Hopkinsville Street in Princeton,…
Posted in Announcements
Management of San Jose Scale Begins Soon
While pruning, producers need to be on the watch for signs of active San Jose scale on their apple and peach trees (Figure 1). Left uncontrolled, San Jose scale is potentially the most destructive pest of peaches in Kentucky and…
Posted in Fruit
Kentucky Pest News 