Background Tomato pinworm “TPW” (Keiferia lycopersicella) is a small microlepidopteran pest of solanaceous crops with a strong preference for tomato (Figure 1). It naturally occurs in warm climates of the U.S., including Texas, Florida, Hawaii, and California. It cannot survive outdoors in temperate climates, such as Indiana, where winter temperatures exceed a low threshold of[Read More…]
Elizabeth Long
Assistant Professor
Entomology
Entomology
Researchers at Purdue University and The College of Wooster are conducting a study to learn more about insect pest management practices used by vegetable producers in the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions of the US. Although there is a key insect we’re curious about (the carrot weevil), you’ll only see 1 question about it; the[Read More…]
Over the last few years, we’ve heard of 2 or 3 unusual cases of high tunnel tomato producers losing entire crops of their tomatoes, with plants suddenly looking brown and covered in leaf mines/tunnels (Figure 1). After collecting specimens, we’ve confirmed the very hungry and tiny culprit is the caterpillar of the tomato pinworm (Keiferia[Read More…]
Carrots are a wonderfully diverse crop with a wide array of varieties available to growers. Within this diversity lies the potential for identifying varieties that have higher natural resistance to particular kinds of insect pests. Although it is not a major pest in Indiana, the carrot weevil (Listronotus oregonensis) (Figure 1A) is a serious pest[Read More…]
If you’re like us, as the season winds down it may seem like your insect pest management efforts are beginning to look a bit more reactive and less preventative. We’re hearing from growers that aphids, mites, caterpillars and stinkbugs are especially challenging in various veggie crops now, particularly tomatoes! In an attempt to ease some[Read More…]
This is our second year scouting CBD hemp to learn more about the insect communities occurring on these plants throughout the season and ‘who’ the potential pest insects might be! This year we had the opportunity to scout CBD hemp plants grown both in the field and in a high tunnel environment (Figure 1). Since[Read More…]
We were all hoping it would happen later, but unfortunately, the spotted lanternfly (SLF) (Lycorma delicatula) (Figure 1), an invasive planthopper with a piercing-sucking feeding strategy, was officially detected in Vevay, Indiana (Switzerland County) for the first time in July 2021. You can see pictures and read more about the detection at the Indiana Department[Read More…]
It’s around that time when your first crop of tender greens may be close to ready for first harvest! Growing kale, arugula, collard greens, and lettuce this year, I’ve been keeping a hawk’s eye out for signs of caterpillar activity. In the Lafayette area, I’m beginning to see signs of common caterpillar pests of these[Read More…]
Whether the focal crops are vegetables, field corn, or soybeans, we’re hearing from growers that poor germination has been an issue this season. The cool, wet conditions we’ve had this spring have delayed seedling germination and growth, and this just happens to be the perfect scenario for seed and root maggots to do their worst[Read More…]
A natural wonder will occur in 15 states this year: the emergence of the Brood X, 17-year periodical cicadas! Also known as “17-year or 13-year locusts” the last mass emergence of these insects occurred in 2004. Now, 17 years later, the immature cicadas will emerge from the ground, molt one last time to gain wings,[Read More…]