The soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Figure 1) causes greater annual yield losses in Kentucky than any other pathogen of soybean. The last time a formal survey was conducted by the University of Kentucky in 2006 and 2007, approximately 76% of…
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Overview of Insect Pests in Maturing Soybean Fields in Central Kentucky
From September 8 to September10, we scouted for insect pests on 14 commercial soybean fields across several central Kentucky counties, including Nelson, Hardin, Breckenridge, Hancock, Davies, and McLean counties. Tallies were conducted using nets, and soybeans were in the R3…
Posted in Grains
Status of Stink Bugs in Full Season and Double Crop Soybeans in August 2021
Stink Bugs in Kentucky Stink bug species (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are present in soybean fields in Kentucky. They include phytophagous species, such as green stink bug (Chinavia hilaris), the complex of brown stink bugs (i.e., Euschistus variolarius, Euschistus servus), southern green…
Posted in Grains
Fall Armyworm Update
Fall armyworm reports continue to come in with a wide range of crops attacked, including pasture grasses (crabgrass, Bermuda grass, orchard grass, sorghum-Sudan grass), alfalfa, clover, soybean, sorghum, and cabbage. The pest has a wide host range including over 80…
Why are My Fall Armyworm Melting?
The have been a few reports of fall armyworm (FAW) larvae ‘melting’ on plants. This is likely due to infections of the larvae by a naturally occurring nucleopolyhedrovirus, usually referred to as an NPV. There are many different types of…
Status of Several Aphid Species in Grain, Forage, and Sweet Sorghum in 2021
Problem Grain, forage, and sweet sorghum can be affected by several species of aphids. In 2013, a recently arrived new strain of the sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari) (Figure 1) appeared, and since then, has been considered the most important pest…
Posted in Grains
Symptoms of Sudden Death Syndrome of Soybean Appearing
Symptoms of sudden death syndrome (SDS) have been appearing over the last few weeks in some soybean fields in the state. These symptoms first appear as yellow blotches between the leaf veins, which will turn to interveinal chlorosis (yellowing between…
Posted in Grains
Fall Armyworm May Have a Persistent Presence as Oviposition Lingers in August
During July of 2021, fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) caused serious damage in soybeans and forages in Central and Western Kentucky. Fall armyworm is a polyphagous pest that feeds on many plant species of the Poaceae (grasses, including rice,…
Fall Armyworm Outbreak: Round Two
About a month ago, we experienced a large fall armyworm moth flight into the state from southern areas. This resulted in outbreaks in Western Kentucky in pastures, sorghum, and soybeans, primarily double-crop beans. Some surrounding states consider this the biggest…
The White Marginated Burrower Bug in Soybeans is a Harmless Insect
During soybean field scouting, a small black insect can be observed in relative abundance in 2021. This insect is known as the white-margined burrower bug, Sehirus cinctus (Hemiptera: Cydnidae) (Figure 1). This insect is not a pest of soybeans but…
Posted in Grains
Controlling Slugs Through the Application of Potash and Molluscicides
Slugs, a pest once found in homeowner’s gardens and greenhouses, have quickly become a problem in crop fields. Slugs belong to the gastropod family, which includes slugs and snails. Slugs have a unique biology because they have both male and…
Posted in Grains
Abrupt Presence of Fall Armyworms in Double-Crop Soybeans in Kentucky
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…
Posted in Grains
The Kudzu Bug and The Search for Its Parasitoids
The kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) (Figure 1), is a shield bug that is native to Asia. This insect receives its name because its main host plant is kudzu, Pueraria montana (Fabaceae). However, kudzu bugs also feed on soybeans…
Posted in Grains
Spider Mites Damage Observed in Soybeans in Western Kentucky
The two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) is probably one the most polyphagous pests in the world. Two-spotted spider mites feed on leaves, stems, and fruit of many plant species by piercing cells and sucking out cell contents. This injury causes…
Posted in Grains
Managing Southern Rust in Corn
Southern rust of corn, caused by the fungus Puccinia polysora, was confirmed in Kentucky on July 12, in Union County. The disease was at very low incidence and severity; however with our current weather conducive for disease development, it will…
Posted in Grains
