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. Diagnostic samples of agronomic crops from the past week have included Lepto leaf spot and…
Monthly Archives: August 2017
2017 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
Sugarcane Aphid: Occurrence in August 2017, Misidentification, and Insecticides Registered for Grain, Forage and Sweet Sorghum
Occurrence Although the sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) was not a serious problem in Texas, Kansas, or other states in 2017; its occurrence in Kentucky appears to be problematic due to the high numbers being observed in sweet and forage sorghum…
Posted in Grains
Spike of Southwestern Corn Borer Might Need Attention in Corn Fields in Western Kentucky
Pest Description Southwestern corn borer (SWCB) (Diatraea grandiosella) was a caterpillar regarded as one of the most serious insect pests of corn in the late 1970s. Since then, it has sporadic appearances; however, it is more difficult to control than…
Posted in Grains
Lace Bugs Make “Ghost Leaves”
Lace bugs use their sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap. Damage ranges from scattered small white spots to complete bleaching of leaves. Some species feed on many different types of plants while others feed only on a narrow range…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
Wheel Bugs Roll On
Adult and nymphal wheel bugs are relatively common predators that can be found on trees and shrubs in late summer. Adults have cog-like wheels on their backs. Both adults and nymphs are predators that seize their victims with long grasping…
Posted in Landscape Trees & Shrubs
Stingers
Sweat Bees Sweat bees (Figure 1) are solitary insects that busily visit flowers to collect pollen and nectar that they carry back to their burrows. Many species in Kentucky have dark bodies while others are bright with a metallic sheen.…
Posted in Human Pests
Cattle Grub Treatments
Cattle grubs damage muscle tissue along the back line of cattle and cut holes in the hide to breathe (Figure 1). The results of their handiwork generally do not appear until February, but now is the time to apply the…
Posted in Livestock Pests
When Genetic Engineering is the Environmentally Friendly Choice
(First published July 27, 2017 at: https://ensia.com/voices/genetically-engineered-crops/) CRISPR gene editing can fight crop disease far more benignly than conventional practices Which is more disruptive to a plant: genetic engineering or conventional breeding? It often surprises people to learn that GE…
Posted in Misc. Topics
2017 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 Foliar Disease Considerations
It’s the time of the year in which symptoms of some foliar soybean diseases are becoming apparent. Variety susceptibility, field history, and weather conditions all play a role in the incidence and severity of foliar diseases of soybean, so scouting…
Posted in Grains
Mexican Bean Beetle, Not Just a Lady Beetle
There have been several reports of Mexican bean beetle attacking green beans. This insect is a bit unusual in that it is in the lady beetle family, which we usually associate with insects that feed on other insects. However, this…
Posted in Vegetables
Yard Wasps–Beyond Cicada Killers
Velvet ant Cicada killers, velvet ants, and Scolia wasps are among the wasps in lawns now. While these insects are intent on carrying out their daily chores and tend to disregard humans, they can cause painful stings if disturbed. Velvet…
Posted in Landscapes
Eastern Bloodsucking Conenose Bug
Four recent samples of eastern conenose bug (a species of kissing bug) lets us know that the insect is active. All were adults, which are good fliers and attracted to lights. Encounters are most likely in homes near wooded areas.…
Posted in Human Pests
Stable Flies
Stable flies are blood suckers that look much like house flies, except that they have piercing-mouthparts, which jut out like bayonets from the front of their heads. These insects visit cattle and horses only to feed. They spend the rest…
Posted in Livestock Pests
Kentucky Pest News 