The spotted lanternfly (aka SLF) is the newest invasive species that has found its way to the Bluegrass State. In early October, a homeowner in Gallatin County noticed the adult form of this insect on their property and worked with…
Monthly Archives: October 2023
An IPM Scouting Guide for Common Problems of Cucurbit Crops in Kentucky (ID-91) – newly revised
Scouting and monitoring crops to determine potential problems before they result in serious economic loss is key to the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. This IPM guide was designed to aid in the identification of common problems encountered on cucurbit…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Tomato Pinworm Found in Tomato High Tunnels
This past week, a tomato sample was received by the Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory because the client suspected an insect leafminer. The insect causing the damage is tomato pinworm (TPW), Keiferia lycopersicella. This is a southern pest that is common…
Posted in Vegetables
Cleaning & Disinfecting Hand Tools & Planting Supplies (PPFS-GEN-17)
Formerly called Cleaning & Disinfecting Home Garden Tools & Equipment with a focus on residential gardeners, this new version has an expanded scope that now includes small commercial growers, as well. This broader scope is reflected in the changes to…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
EPA IPM Webinar: Endangered Species Protection
When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registers a pesticide or reevaluates it in registration review, the Agency has a responsibility under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to determine whether the pesticide presents unreasonable adverse effects on…
Posted in Announcements
EPA IPM Webinar: Preventing Overwintering Vertebrate Pests in Buildings
As temperatures start to cool, opportunistic vertebrate pests, such as squirrels, mice, rats, racoons, bats, birds, and skunks, will seek shelter from the impending cold weather. As they set their sights on homes, schools, and other buildings, these pests gain entry…
Posted in Announcements
Corn Silk Fly Found in Sweet Corn
Corn silk fly has been found in late-planted/late-harvested sweet corn in several locations in South Central and Western Kentucky. While UK entomologists are still waiting for molecular confirmation of the species from the USDA APHIS, the morphological identification indicates it…
Posted in Vegetables
Crop Protection Network Publications
Numerous publications on field crop diseases are now available through the multi-state research and Extension group, the Crop Protection Network (CPN). CPN is a multi-state and international collaboration of university/provincial Extension specialists, and public/private professionals who provide unbiased, research-based information…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Fruit, Orchard, and Vineyard Sanitation: Cleaning Up Today May Keep Disease Away
Autumn has arrived in Kentucky, and it is time to focus on fruit, orchard, and vineyard sanitation. Good sanitation practices can help reduce disease-causing pathogens. These organisms can survive for months or years on dead plant material or in soil,…
Posted in Fruit
Phytophthora Blight of Cucurbits & Solanaceous Vegetables (PPFS-VG-4)
Phytophthora blight is an aggressive, fast-moving disease that can cause fruit rot, plant wilting, and plant death. In Kentucky, serious outbreaks with extensive losses have been reported on squash (summer and winter), cucumber, watermelon, and peppers. This newly revised fact…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Crop Protection Webinar Series Begins November 2
Beginning November 2, 2023, the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment will present a series of four webinars covering field crop protection. Hosted through the Southern Integrated Pest Management Center, the webinars will feature UK Extension…
Posted in Announcements
Management of Soybean Cyst Nematode Starts with Soil Sampling this Fall
The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Figure 1) causes greater annual yield losses in Kentucky than any other pathogen of soybean. Preliminary results from an on-going SCN survey initiated in 2019 show that approximately 80% of Kentucky fields are infested with…
Posted in Grains
Avoid Post-harvest and Storage Molds: Fusarium Bud Blight and Head Blight Contamination in Stored Hemp
Fusarium head blight (FHB, also called scab in wheat and Gibberella ear rot in corn) is a serious disease of cereals and corn around the world. The disease also affects other cereal grains and grasses. Losses result from combinations of…
Posted in Hemp
Proper Pesticide Storage Saves Money
With the outdoor growing season winding done, applicators are storing pesticides until next year. Storing these pesticides properly helps to protect your investment, as well as protect other persons and the environment. The amount of pesticides stored varies considerably from…
Posted in Pesticide Topics
Volutella Blight of Boxwood (PPFS-OR-W-26)
Volutella blight (also called Pseudonectria canker) is the most common disease of boxwood in Kentucky landscapes and nurseries. This disease is caused by an opportunistic fungal pathogen that attacks leaves and stems of damaged or stressed plants. This Plant Pathology…
Posted in Featured Pubs & Videos
Kentucky Pest News 