pest management

How USDA stopped Florida’s Oriental fruit fly outbreak

There’s a good reason why USDA and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) constantly monitor more than 56,000 fruit fly traps they have strategically placed across Florida. An outbreak of exotic fruit... more »

Drosophila damage observed in South Carolina strawberries

Last week, South Carolina cooperative extension personnel issued a pest alert for drosophila damage in strawberries. It is impossible to visually distinguish drosophila larvae between species, but if fruit appear otherwise undamaged (meaning they have no holes,... more »

New model helps chile growers battle weeds

The tall morning glory weed can be problematic for chile growers. The presence of this weed in crops may lead to an increase in harvesting time or hoeing time and may also result in fewer... more »

Researchers make progress in fight against exotic BMSB

Scientists are rearing tiny Asian wasps in quarantine and evaluating whether they can be released in California to battle brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), an invasive pest that poses a serious threat to the state's... more »

Squash bugs put dent in cucurbit crop production

A noted problem insect in the United States for more than a century, the squash bug continues to do considerable damage to crops, particularly in light of the trend away from conventional insecticides to newer... more »

Control measures can negate squash bug woes

Helene Doughty, a research specialist senior at Virginia Tech’s Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, said a number of control measures can be put in place by growers to curb squash bug infestation. [caption... more »

USDA announces $58.25 million to protect agriculture from pests, diseases

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has allocated $58.25 million from Section 10007 of the 2014 Farm Bill. This money will support 434 projects that prevent... more »

New research offers tips for managing Mexican bean beetle

A study featured in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management (JIPM) is offering new insights into managing the Mexican bean beetle without using insecticides. The article “Natural History, Ecology and Management of the Mexican... more »

Northeast Small Fruit IPM Working Group publishes strawberry PMSP

The Northeast Small Fruit IPM Working Group has released an updated Pest Management Strategic Plan (PMSP) for strawberry in the northeast. Prior to the 2014 Strawberry PMSP meeting, members of the Northeast Small Fruit IPM Working... more »

Stop BMSB releases video series on BMSB research updates

Stop BMSB, a university-led research project, has released a new video series on the integrated pest management of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). The videos provide research updates on the monitoring, trapping, management, and biological control... more »