Fall armyworm is a recurring pest of pastures, and there have been several outbreaks in pastures the past few years. As we move into autumn, risk of fall armyworm moving into Kentucky from southern areas increases. Growers managing pastures should…
Monthly Archives: August 2019
Gummy Stem Blight of Cucurbits Can Be a Sticky Situation
Commercial producers and homeowners who grow cucurbits, such as cantaloupe, watermelon and cucumber, could suffer heavy losses from gummy stem blight. This disease is caused by the fungus Didymella bryoniae, which can infect leaves, stems, and vines at all plant…
Posted in Vegetables
Four Fall Invaders to Prepare for
As insects prepare for winter, they must try and survive the changes in temperature that are coming. Some may migrate to warmer places, some can survive being frozen, but a few see your home as a toasty timeshare they can…
Posted in Household Pests
2019 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
Central Kentucky Vining Vegetables at-Risk for Cucurbit Downy Mildew
Downy mildew was confirmed on cucumber from South-Central Kentucky on August 19, 2019. Cucurbit growers located between Interstates 75 and 65 should strongly consider making a fungicide application before the next rainfall to reduce the potential damage from downy mildew.…
Posted in Vegetables
Yellowjackets: Stinging Sugar Bandits
Fast Facts Yellowjackets are social wasps that often build their nests below ground in abandoned rodent burrows but can also use wall voids, stone walls, attics, gutters, and other spaces. Yellowjacket wasps do not have barbed stingers like honey bees…
Posted in Human Pests
Fruit Diseases of Apple (PPFS-FR-T-02)
Apple fruit diseases can cause significant losses in yield and quality. Often, these diseases go unnoticed until just prior to harvest, during harvest, or after fruit has been stored. Although there are no curative treatments for infected fruit, many diseases…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab Highlights
The following plant disease highlights have been compiled from samples submitted to the University of Kentucky Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratories from July 30 – August 20, 2019. Diagnostic samples of agronomic crops have included common rust, southern rust, Diplodia leaf…
Posted in Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
2019 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 Gall Midge: an Emergent Pest in the Midwest
Problem In Novemnber 2018, a new pest of soybeans was identified as Resseliella maxima (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) by Raymond Gagné and Junichi Yukawa, two leading taxonomists on midges from the USA and Japan, respectively. This is a new species that farmers…
Posted in Grains
Insecticides Registered in Kentucky for Insects Affecting Commercial Hemp
Many insecticides utilized for specialty crops in Kentucky cannot be utilized in commercial hemp production growing systems because they have not been registered in Kentucky for use on the crop. However, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) has a short…
Posted in Pesticide Topics
Tj: The Samurai Wasp
Upon its accidental arrival in the U.S., as with most other invasive species, brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) numbers expanded quickly in the absence of natural enemies that it left behind in its native Asia. For a number of years,…
Posted in General Pests
2019 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
Welcome Dr. Jonathan Larson to UK Extension Entomology
Our new Extension entomologist, Dr. Jonathan Larson, began work on August 1 in the Entomology Department at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Jonathan replaces Lee Townsend, who retired at the end of 2018. His responsibilities will include Extension programs and applied…
Posted in Announcements
Hemp Russet Mite Detected in Several Areas across Kentucky
Problem During the last 2 weeks of July, several hemp samples were received and evaluated by specialists at the University of Kentucky (Lexington and Princeton). Hemp russet mites (Aculops cannabicola, Acari: Eriophyidae) (Figure 1) were observed on nearly all of…
Posted in Hemp
Kentucky Pest News 