Mid-Atlantic Photo Insect ID Guide
PI(s): Herbert, Jr, David Ames, Malone, Sean
Investigators: Dively, Galen , Whalen, Joanne
Abstract: Accurate identification of insect pest and beneficial species is essential to practicing IPM. However, proper identification of insect pests continues to challenge growers and agriservice personnel involved in pest management in field crops. An IPM survey of Virginia corn, soybean, and wheat growers found that many often misidentified insect pests. Inaccurate pest identifications often lead to unnecessary or off-label pesticide applications. Photographs of insect pests are available in numerous books, but they often include many insects not found in this region, and omit some of our major pest species. Likewise, several Internet sites with high-quality photographs exist, but results of the recent Virginia IPM survey show that a small percent of growers are accessing these sites. With this stakeholder identified need, I was successful in obtaining two outside grants (USDA-CSREES-SRIPM and VDACS) totaling $32,066 to develop a simple, pocket-sized, full color, durable field ID guide for insect pests and beneficials common to the Mid-Atlantic region. In cooperation with Extension specialists in Virginia, Delaware and Maryland I developed a coil bound, laminated, pocket-sized guide with clear, high-resolution full-color photos of 40 insect pests and 10 benefical insects of soybean, corn and small grains. Insects are grouped by commodity, along with keys for easy separation of most commonly misidentified species. Ten thousand copies were produced and are being distributed across the mid-Atlantic region.
Description:
Our guide facilitates pest identification “in the field,” where many management decisions are made and aids in training new VCE agents and people in the agribusiness sector. A self-addressed, postage-paid postcard with 3 questions on usefulness was developed and distributed with each guide. Returned surveys show that ratings and comments are very positive (4.3 to 4.7 on a scale of 1=not useful to 5=very useful). We anticipate that this guide will be an effective pest management tool for many years.
Commodities: Corn, Grains, Soybeans, Wheat
Resources: Agricultural Experiment Station Facilities
Disciplines: Integrated Pest Management
Audiences: Agribusiness, Commodity Groups, Environmental Groups, Extension Agents, Government Agencies, Graduate Students, Producers, Researchers, Teachers
