The UK Ag Weather Center’s degree day model for alfalfa weevil indicates that by the third week in March, many counties in Kentucky have exceeded 190 Degree Days (DD), which is used as a starting point to begin scouting. In…

A few years ago, a bioassay of alfalfa weevil larvae collected in a Central Kentucky alfalfa field showed low levels of control by a pyrethroid compared to other insecticide modes of action. In this particular instance, pyrethorids were used exclusively…

Current Conditions During the last past 3 weeks, from July 14 to August 11, there was an increase in true armyworm (Mythimna unipuncta) numbers in pheromone-based traps in Lexington and Princeton, Kentucky. Peak populations reached 234 moths (July 28) in…

The Carolina horsenettle is a weed found in field crops, grass pastures, and hay fields. This weed is in the Solanaceae family, which includes tomato, pepper, and potato.  The larvae of the false potato beetle (Leptinotarsa juncta) are known to…

This past week, there were reports of increasing problems with clover root curculio in a couple of central Kentucky counties. Clover root curculio is an overlooked invasive pest from Europe that has been in the United States since the 1800s.…

Small insect pests often go unnoticed until their damage appears, and this is true with potato leafhopper. Potato leafhoppers often go unnoticed until their characteristic damage to alfalfa begins to appear in early summer. Potato leafhopper is tiny and non-descript,…

A few years ago, a bioassay of alfalfa weevil larvae collected in a central Kentucky alfalfa field showed low levels of control by a pyrethroid compared to other insecticide modes of action. In this particular instance, pyrethroids were used exclusively…

The UK Ag Weather Center’s degree day model for alfalfa weevil indicates that by the third week in March, many counties in Kentucky have exceed 190 Degree Days (DD), which is used as a starting point to begin scouting. In…

The University of Kentucky Ag Weather Center’s degree day model for alfalfa weevil indicates that many counties in Kentucky are likely to exceed the 190 Degree Days (DD) used as a starting point to begin scouting by early to mid-March.…

New Name & Seasonal Update Since 2013, Melanaphis sacchari has been known as the sugarcane aphid; however, entomologist decided to change its name to sorghum aphid in view of the fact that sorghum is the main host of this pest.…

The larval stage of the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a voracious defoliator of many plant species. The FAW is a native pest of the New World; however, it overwinters in south Florida or in the southernmost…

The sound of cicadas and katydids whining in the woods or velvet ants and blister beetles running around on the ground are signs of summer in Kentucky. However, our relationship with blister beetles is complicated. Depending on the situation, they…