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After likely staying alive through a mild winter and spring, late blight - the plant disease that caused the deadly Irish potato famine - has been found in area farms for a fourth consecutive summer. "We're finding it in more counties every day," said Beth Gugino, assistant professor of plant pathology at Penn State University. "We're trying to get the word out that it's around."
Plant diseases caused by insect-transmitted viruses are a threat to the food security of developing countries, causing serious crop and income losses for people whose livelihoods depend on farming. A symposium in India sponsored by an Indian university and the American government and co-organized by Penn State will bring together scientists to review the status of these diseases and discuss methods of combating them.
Dairy farmer Terry Wilson said his corn, hay and oat crops were coming up like they should until a week ago when he noticed one field full of young corn that looked like it was only half there. Closer examination revealed it had been eaten down to the ground by pseudaleta unipuncta, or armyworms.
Cockroaches are not just insidious home invaders, a new study finds; they are also brilliant escape artists. A roach can flip under a ledge by swinging its body around like a pendulum and hanging on underneath. It uses hook-like claws to hold on firmly.
We continue to hear about the armyworm outbreak across Pennsylvania, up into New York, and over into Ohio. This has been a widespread, destructive, and generally impressive situation. It reminds me that as much as we would like to have control over nature, occasionally it can produce situations that are beyond our control.
An iconic hotel in the heart of midtown Manhattan is buzzing with thousands of tiny new visitors. But watch out: They'll sting if you get too close.
Let DCNR's David Schmit take you on a tour of some of Pennsylvania forests' nastiest invasive pests...and learn how to avoid spreading more of them around the state.
Late blight, the same disease that caused Ireland's potato famine in the 19th century, was confirmed in three Pennsylvania counties this past week.
Colony Collapse Disorder has become primetime news as a cause for poor honeybee health in the US and around the world. Maryann Frazier, Honeybee Extension Associate, Penn State has so simple steps that homeowners can do to help our pollinating partners.
They’re back…. Extension offices and lawn care companies across Pennsylvania have received numerous calls over the last few weeks about a plague of worms.
One morning in 2008, R. Thangavel, a small papaya grower and latex supplier from a village in Tamil Nadu, India noticed a strange white growth on his papaya leaves and fruits. Thangavel had never seen it before but the white moldy substances was Paracoccus marginatus, or Papaya Mealy Bug, an alien invasive pest.
If there's one thing worse than finding a tick, it's wondering whether that tick has passed on Lyme disease. Pennsylvania continues to be one of the leading states for Lyme disease, with between 3,000 to 4,000 new cases every year, according to the State Department of Health.
Insect damage recently found on some area ash trees wasn't caused by the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that's destroyed tens of millions of trees since its discovery a decade ago in Michigan.
Consumer products known as "bug bombs" or "foggers" have been sold for decades for use against many common household insects. However, recent research published in the Journal of Economic Entomology (JEE) shows these products to be ineffective against bed bugs.
A popular publication in the mushroom industry that addresses pests with the most potential to reduce mushroom yield and quality is now available in Spanish for free online.
Corey McCleaf knows the difficulties of growing sweet cherries in Pennsylvania. He sees it every June, when just around the time his cherries start ripening, a freak storm comes through, causing his cherries to crack.
Young bug enthusiasts will have the chance to learn more about insects through Bug Camp for Kids, hosted by members of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
Although May's rainfall was well above normal in the Altoona area, the spring of 2012 has not been nearly as disruptive to area farmers as last spring.
Flies on the farm are not just pesky. They can impact production, spread disease and take a toll on overall animal health. That is why Penn State Extension Specialist Robert Graves says that fly control is a critical point of providing dairy cow comfort.
It’s bad. It’s a tough year to be a fruit grower,” said Andy Muza, Penn State Cooperative Extension educator. Fifteen frost events this spring in western Pennsylvania eradicated blossoms and buds from apples, cherries, peaches, pears and grapes. In some cases, the damage is total; in others, it is variety specific; while in still others, the damage is location-based.
