Squash Vine Borer More information available at https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/veg/squash-vine-borer/ For those trappers who are currently reporting, we can see that our first generation of active adult moths is declining. Corn Earworm More information available at https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/veg/cornearworm/ Montgomery County is still holding the record (La Porte did get the closest), but counts have dropped dramatically. We are…Read more about Insect Trapping Updates[Read More]
Laura Ingwell
Entomology
Area(s) of Interest: Vegetable Pest Management, Protected Agriculture, Controlled Environment Agriculture, Urban Agriculture
Area(s) of Interest: Vegetable Pest Management, Protected Agriculture, Controlled Environment Agriculture, Urban Agriculture
If you haven’t had the pleasure, please allow me to introduce you to the Harlequin bug, Murgantia histronica (Figure 1). This true bug (Order Hemiptera) is equipped with piercing-sucking mouthparts and has a preference for feeding on brassica crops. Unfortunately for us, their feeding results in white blotches on the leaf tissues (Figure 2), and…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Meet the Harlequin Bug![Read More]
Pheromone trap monitoring of corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) and squash vine borer (Melittia cucurbitae) is underway throughout the state. Utilizing trap catches in your area can help inform management decisions and avoid unnecessary pesticide applications. Squash Vine Borer (https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/veg/squash-vine-borer/) For those trappers who are currently reporting, we are catching moths regularly in Allen, Marion, and…Read more about Insect Trapping Updates[Read More]
If you’re scouting for cabbage aphids (Figure 1) in your brassicas this summer, don’t overlook one of your garden’s lesser-known allies: soldier beetles, also known as leatherwings (Figure 2). These beneficial insects can be valuable predators, especially when aphid populations begin to surge in warm weather. Cabbage aphids are difficult to manage due to their…Read more about Soldier Beetles: Summer Allies Against Cabbage Aphids[Read More]
Trichoplusia ni, commonly known as the cabbage looper, is a moth in the family Noctuidae. Native to North America, it is a polyphagous pest (feeds on lots of different plants) that can cause significant damage in a variety of crops and potentially lead to plant death. While cabbage looper has a large geographical distribution, it…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Cabbage Looper[Read More]
Submit your content ideas for the 2026 Indiana Horticulture and Small Farm Conference. Do you want to hear from someone in particular or about a specific topic at this year’s newly combined conference? If so, please scan the QR code or follow the link below to submit your suggestions. The survey will be open until…Read more about Shape the Conversation: Submit Your Topics for Indiana’s 2026 Horticulture and Small Farm Conferences[Read More]
Description The seedcorn maggot, or Delia platura, is a frequent pest in the Anthomyiidae family that can affect both specialty and agronomic crops, including corn, melons, onions, pumpkins, and many others. The larvae, or maggots, of this species damage the crops. The larvae tend to be white or translucent in color, about 1/4 inch long,…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Seedcorn Maggot[Read More]
Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit a local grower who installed an insectary strip adjacent to their high tunnel last year. They will be hosting a field day in June (Register HERE), so I wanted to take a sneak peek and see how the plants (and insects) were doing. The plants are…Read more about Introducing the Fourlined plant bug (Poecilocapus lineatus)[Read More]
Thrips are soft-bodied insects belonging to the order Thysanoptera. They are tiny, slender, and characterized by their fringed wings (Figure 1). While many thrips species are considered agricultural pests, some are beneficial predators. One important pest species is the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis; Figure 2), which can cause significant damage to crops. In contrast,…Read more about Insect Spotlight: Thrips[Read More]