While 2015 was a light to moderate year for black shank of tobacco, 2016 is proving to be much more challenging. Black shank can be the most yield-limiting disease of tobacco, and once a field is infested with the pathogen,…
Monthly Archives: July 2016
Spider Mites Attacking Tomatoes this Summer
There have been a number of recent reports of two-spotted spider mites on tomatoes, both in high tunnel and field production. Spider mites are favored by hot dry weather, and we have had several periods fitting this description since mid-April.…
Posted in Vegetables
Yellow-striped Armyworm Attacking Vegetables
One pest that is becoming more common is the yellow-striped armyworm. This pest has a wide host range and will feed on tomato, pepper, cole crops, and leafy vegetables. It is not specifically listed in the Vegetable Production Guide for…
Posted in Vegetables
Cicada Killer Wasps
Cicada killer wasps are active across Kentucky during July and August. Females are intent on their tasks of: 1) digging underground burrows and 2) provisioning them with the paralyzed cicadas that will be food for their grub-like larvae. These insects…
Posted in Lawn & Turf
Foreign Grain Beetles May Appear In Mass Inside
Huge emergences of the foreign grain beetle can occur in homes and buildings in late summer. This 1/16-inch long reddish-brown beetle (Figure 1) is a fungus feeder. Moldy, out-of-condition grain or grain products are traditional sources. However, structural infestations develop in…
Posted in Household Pests
Late Summer Cattle Fly Check Can Catch Control Breakdown
Horn fly and face fly numbers will continue to build for a few weeks, which will put pressure on control programs. It is a good time to evaluate the pasture fly situation in your herd; check during the early afternoon…
Posted in Livestock Pests
End of Endosulfan Phaseout/Cancellation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and endosulfan registrants have been phasing out uses of this insecticide for several years. July 31, 2016 – this Sunday – is the end of the phaseout period, which started in 2012. This product cancellation…
Posted in Pesticide Topics
Featured Publication
An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of High Tunnel and Greenhouse Vegetable Crops in Kentucky (ID-235) Scouting and monitoring crops to determine potential problems before they result in serious economic loss is key to the Integrated Pest Management (IPM)…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab Highlights
The following plant disease highlights from the University of Kentucky Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratories represent recent sample submissions from field crops, fruit, vegetables, and ornamentals. Diseases and other problems diagnosed on agronomic crops during the past week have included gray…
Posted in Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
2016 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
Soybean Disease Considerations
The continued frequent rainfalls and high relative humidity we have been experiencing have led to conditions favorable for the development of foliar diseases of soybean. Some diseases to look for are listed below. Septoria Brown Spot Probably the most commonly…
Posted in Grains
Update on Southern Rust of Corn
Southern rust was observed in the University of Kentucky Hybrid Corn Performance Test in Webster County, KY on July 18, 2016. The disease was observed by the keen eyes of UK Plant Pathology interns, Andrew Gennett and Conner Raymond, and…
Posted in Grains
Caterpillars May Affect Late Corn Planting In Different Areas of Kentucky In 2016
Insect Description & Damage In Clinton and Todd counties, damage to corn and sweet sorghum has been reported to Drs. Lee Townsend and Ric Bessin since mid-June; and I have noticed injuries on corn foliage in Princeton during the last…
Posted in Grains
The Sugarcane Aphid Arrived to Kentucky a Month Earlier in 2016 Than in 2015
The invasive sugarcane aphid (SCA) Melanaphis sacchari has arrived to Kentucky almost a month ahead of its 2015 appearance (KPN). Sugarcane aphids have caused yield losses of 30% to 100% for sorghum growers since 2013 in many states of the…
Posted in Grains
Take Aim at Tobacco Target Spot & Frogeye Now
In our research plots and in grower fields, we are beginning to see target spot and frogeye pressure. Target spot is caused by Thanatephorus cucumeris (more commonly known as Rhizoctonia solani) and frogeye is caused by Cercospora nicotianae. These are…
Posted in Tobacco
Kentucky Pest News 