Cornell Integrated Pest Management

09/24/2026

Cornell IPM Director Alejandro Calixto and Extension Aide Lukas Rood collected ant and leaf samples this week as part of an exciting eDNA surveillance research project that uses ants and spotted lanternfly (SLF) honeydew as biological sampling tools to detect SLF in areas where specimens have not yet been collected.

By analyzing SLF DNA traces in honeydew and collected by ants, the method has the potential to identify the presence at very low population levels, supporting earlier detection in addition to traditional survey methods. Early detection is critical for invasive species management, particularly in grape-growing regions.

This approach could provide a sensitive, scalable and cost-effective tool for improving surveillance and informing timely management actions to protect vineyards and surrounding agricultural landscapes

09/18/2026

Cornell IPM Extension Aide Kass Cerny, a Catskill Science Collaborative Research Fellow, and her mentor, W**d IPM Specialist Bryan Brown, Ph.D., recently joined the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) for a guided tour of the Napanoch trial site, where they are researching the best ways to manage mile-a-minute (Persicaria perfoliata), a fast-growing invasive plant that is spreading throughout the Catskill region and threatening forest regeneration

Sponsored by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the project is designed to help researchers and land partners better understand and control mile-a-minute.

Mile-a-minute can spread rapidly, with its seeds dispersed by wildlife, birds, water and accidental human transport. As new populations continue to appear and established infestations grow, identifying effective management practices is an important part of protecting forests and other natural areas throughout the Catskills and across New York.

09/17/2026

🐄 Small areas can make a big difference when it comes to fly management.

Cornell IPM Dairy and Livestock Coordinator Ken Wise and Extension Support Specialist Jacob Leeser recently visited a Central New York dairy farm to identify areas conducive to house and stable fly breeding.

One area they observed was bedding pack near watering troughs, where organic matter can remain damp and provide an ideal habitat for fly maggots. Even a few handfuls of suitable breeding material can produce thousands of flies—creating stress for cattle and potentially reducing milk production.

On-farm observations like these are an important part of developing effective, practical integrated pest management strategies for New York growers and producers.

09/14/2026

🦟 Can you identify an insect by the sound of its wings?

Our next Cornell IPM Academic Seminar features Dr. Eamonn Keogh, whose research has helped turn wing sounds into a practical tool for insect pest monitoring.

Join us for: "Automatic Digital Classification for Insect Pests: Out of the Lab, and into the Field"

📅 Wednesday, September 16
⏰ 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. ET
💻 Via Zoom

Dr. Keogh will explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are being used to automatically detect and classify insects—including approaches that identify insects based on their wingbeat sounds. These technologies could help monitor insect populations by s*x, species and life stage, supporting more precise pest management in agriculture and beyond.

The talk will also examine the challenges of moving digital insect classification from the laboratory into the field, including entomological, cultural, regulatory and practical considerations.

Dr. Keogh is a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at the University of California-Riverside and co-founder of FarmSense, a digital insect surveillance company.

🌱 Don’t miss this look at the intersection of entomology, artificial intelligence, and the future of pest monitoring!

Register here: https://cals.cornell.edu/integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/events/cornell-ipm-academic-seminars

09/10/2026

Capital Region friends are invited to join Tick and School IPM Coordinator Joellen Lampman to learn about tick identification and tick-borne disease prevention Tuesday, September 15 at the Voorheesville Public Library.

The program is free and participants will receive a free tick removal kit.

Learn more at https://voorheesville.librarycalendar.com/event/tick-presentation-6221

09/08/2026

The Cornell IPM vegetable team's efforts to source better controls for striped cucumber beetles (SCB) in organic cucurbits is continuing into the fall.

The team recently introduced SCB adults to caged plants and are collecting sticky card traps to determine how emergence varies per treatment of different applications of Beauveria bassiana, a fungal bioinsecticide.

08/31/2026

If it feels like you've been surrounded by small bees while enjoying time outside recently, don't panic! You've likely attracted the attention of hover flies.

Sometimes mistakenly called “sweat bees,” hover flies are extremely active this time of year. These harmless insects don’t sting or bite and are beneficial to the environment, with adults serving as important pollinators and young feeding on aphids in farms and gardens.

If one lands on you and gives you a little tickle with its tongue, don’t worry! It’s just looking for water and salt in your sweat. 💧

Learn more about hover flies at: https://cals.cornell.edu/integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/fact-sheets/hover-fly-biocontrol-fact-sheet

08/26/2026

Can we protect crops and pollinators at the same time?

80 New York farmers and Cornell researchers are working together to answer that question.

Early results from statewide field trials found no difference in yield between corn grown with and without neonicotinoid seed treatments.

Preliminary Cornell research on managing the dreaded seedcorn maggot is giving hope to growers across the state ahead of New York’s 2029 ban on neonicotinoid pesticides in field crops: Side-by-side farm trials of neonic-treated vs. untreated corn showed no difference in yield.

08/26/2026

Cornell Integrated Pest Management, Cornell Department of Entomology, Cornell Dyce Lab for Honey Bee Studies and Cornell Cooperative Extension are leading efforts to help New York growers transition away from the use of neonicotinoid insecticides while maintaining crop health and yield.

Learn about our comprehensive research and current findings:

Preliminary Cornell research on managing the dreaded seedcorn maggot is giving hope to growers across the state ahead of New York’s 2029 ban on neonicotinoid pesticides in field crops: Side-by-side farm trials of neonic-treated vs. untreated corn showed no difference in yield.

08/24/2026

New York science teachers participaged in hands-on lessons designed by Cornell IPM and Cornell AgriTech scientists and a Geneva City School District teacher last week.

Participants can now take these lessons back to their classrooms to help students learn required content and critical thinking skills during the upcoming academic year.