CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 03/05/18

Identify pests before applying pesticides

By Amanda Tedrow

Pesticides, which include insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and more, can contain organic or conventional ingredients. People use them in homes and workplaces, on farms and in gardens, and in other places where they want to control pests like weeds, insects, fungi, rodents and plant viruses.

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension urges all Georgians to learn more about the safe use, storage and disposal of pesticides. The UGA Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program promotes the safe, responsible use of pesticides by individuals and commercial groups by providing training programs, materials and educational resources that cover pest identification, personal safety, safe storage and safe disposal of pesticides.

UGA Extension experts educate homeowners, landscape professionals, farmers and other individuals who commonly use pesticides about how to protect the environment, reduce pesticide drift and runoff, protect threatened and endangered species, protect water quality, and keep food safe.

To reduce the unnecessary use of pesticides, remember that not every bug is a pest. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a science-based decision-making process focused on controlling insects through biological, mechanical, cultural and chemical methods. IPM reduces the economic, environmental and public health risks associated with pests and pest management practices.

The first step in the IPM process is pest identification. If an insect, weed or suspected plant disease causes trouble in your landscape or garden, bring a sample of the pest or email a photograph to your local UGA Extension office. Place the insect in a plastic container or glass bottle, or bring in a freshly cut leaf sample.

UGA Extension agents can identify the suspected pest and recommend the low-risk treatment options, if treatment is needed. Some insects may actually be beneficial to your plants.

Agents use their knowledge and experience, and the home and garden edition of the 2018 Georgia Pest Management Handbook, to give control recommendations. The home and garden edition of the handbook, along with the commercial edition, provides current information on selection, application and safe use of pest control chemicals.

To purchase a print copy of either edition of the 2018 Georgia Pest Management Handbook, visit UGAExtensionStore.com. The Commercial Edition is $50, which includes both volumes. The Home and Garden Edition is $20.

Amanda Tedrow is a Cooperative Extension agent with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Authors:
Amanda Tedrow
Experts/Sources:
Amanda Tedrow
Agents use the home and garden edition of the 2018 Georgia Pest Management Handbook to give control recommendations. Both the home and garden and commercial editions of the handbook provide current information on selection, application and safe use of pest control chemicals.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
SilverleafWhitefly CAES News
CAES researchers secure $4 million to tackle silverleaf whitefly problem 01/11/24 Emily Cabrera
A multidisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences recently renewed a $4 million contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service to build upon their previous work to develop targeted interventions to mitigate the impact of silverleaf whiteflies on vegetable production in the Southeast. UGA entomologist Allen Moore leads the research team in collaboration with USDA ARS in Charleston, South Carolina.
Fig1 Cucurbit anthracnose web CAES News
CAES leads effort to tackle emerging threat to watermelon, cucumber production 12/07/23 Jordan Powers
Seven East Coast states harvested nearly 102,000 acres of watermelon and cucumber in 2019 and 2020, representing more than 62% ($410 million) and 45% ($180 million) of the U.S. production of the two crops, respectively. Growers of cucurbits — which include melons, pumpkin, squash and cucumbers — face numerous challenges in production, leading to decreased profitability and less produce on grocery shelves.
Image submitted by Melissa Mitchum showing SCN impact in field and under microscope. CAES News
CAES researchers spearhead development of new soybean cyst nematode-resistant cultivars 12/01/23
Plant-parasitic nematodes cause billions of dollars in annual yield losses and represent a major impediment to meeting the challenge of feeding an ever-growing global population. One plant-parasitic nematode, the soybean cyst nematode, has been a long-standing focus of research and innovation in the Melissa G. Mitchum Lab at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Orange spores emerge from southern rust pustules on a corn leaf. The fungal spores associated with this disease can be carried long distances on wind currents from surrounding states. (Submitted photo) CAES News
As corn rust blows into south Georgia, producers should be on the lookout 06/26/23 Maria M. Lameiras
The first cases of southern corn rust for the 2023 growing season were discovered on Tuesday, June 20 and Wednesday June 21 in Clinch and Grady Counties , along the Georgia-Florida line. University of Georgia Extension experts are encouraging producers to be diligent in scouting for the fast-spreading disease among their corn crops.
While blueberries are known to be susceptible to postharvest injuries, resulting in fruit softening or splitting during harvest, handling and storage, UGA researchers are trying to figure out why some crops experience greater losses. CAES News
CAES researchers examine blueberry quality issues for Georgia producers 01/20/23 Maria M. Lameiras
A multidisciplinary team of University of Georgia agriculture experts are working to determine causes and solutions to postharvest quality problems that have hit Georgia’s blueberry growers hard in recent seasons. Funded by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Office of Research and UGA Cooperative Extension, the project will address “major issues” with fruit quality, particularly in rabbiteye blueberries.
Fall armyworm larvae have a white inverted Y-shaped mark on the front of their dark head. They are smooth skinned and vary in color from light tan or green to nearly black, with three yellowish-white hairlines down the back. The larval stage lasts from three to four weeks and can be damaging to turfgrass and crops. (Photo by USDA Agricultural Research Service Photo Unit, Bugwood.org) CAES News
Armyworms are marching across Georgia turfgrass 09/02/22 William G. Tyson
Over the past couple of weeks, I have received numerous calls from curious homeowners and frustrated farmers regarding the dreaded fall armyworm. Damage to established turf is most often aesthetic. However, newly planted sod or sprigs can be severely damaged or even killed by fall armyworm feeding.