Publications
From Our Blog
Short-spined thrips (Thrips parvispinus) in Ornamentals: An update
Short-spined thrips (Thrips parvispinus) (Fig. 1) remains an insect worth watching in Georgia. Although the insect has received increasing attention because of its potential to affect ornamental plants, its current presence in Georgia’s ornamental plant industry is still being monitored. Recent observations from our surveys suggest that we are currently detecting this pest in retail […]
A Newly Established Flea Beetle Associated with Chinese Privet in Georgia
The flea beetle, Argopistes tsekooni (Fig. 1) is an emerging pest on Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) in Georgia. Native to China, it is now widely distributed in North and central Georgia. Both larvae and adults feed on foliage (Fig. 2). Larvae are leaf miners that develop within leaf tissues (Fig. 3), while adults feed externally, […]
Tour Stop 2: Tips for Protecting the Turf, Preserving the Pollinators at Turfgrass Research Field Day
The Turfgrass Research Field Day returns to the UGA Griffin Campus on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026. Since this exclusive event only happens every other year, it offers a rare opportunity for turf professionals, landscapers, and superintendents to explore the cutting edge of turf science. Attendees will spend the day engaging in educational field tours, browsing […]
Pasture Mealybug: The Grass Specialist Threatening Your Turfgrass
Pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei) has not yet been confirmed in Georgia. The pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei) (Fig. 1) is a destructive, invasive sap-sucking insect native to South and Southeast Asia that has recently emerged as a threat to agriculture in the United States. After first becoming a serious pasture pest in Queensland, Australia, in 1928, […]
