Online Database Helps Track Nebraska Insect Activity

Created through a cooperative grant by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, USDA-Plant and Pest Quarantine with support from the Entomology Department, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the insect record database provides users with several search options to determine pest existence by county, pest discovery dates in the state and historical pest activity. The database features more than 40,000 insect species found in Nebraska.

Tracking existence of pests in specific counties can help LCOs better identify those pests as they come across them during lawn and landscape maintenance. "If you have turfgrass that you are responsible for and you want to know if a pest exists in your area that could potentially be a problem, you can check the database," explained James Kalisch, Nebraska University Cooperative Extension entomology technologist. "You would then know whether you’re in an area that these particular pests are distributed."

Regular updates of pest activity from key contacts throughout the state will be included in the database. This feature will help LCOs plan ahead for control of specific pests by following existing pest outbreaks and checking historical records of pests, according to Kalisch. "Everybody can check the database to follow active infestations of a pest. LCOs can check specific counties that are having a problem and know that if they’re adjacent to the area, they could predict to find that pest in their area soon," he noted.

Historical data can also help from a planning standpoint. "Quite often you’ll get a repeat in pest activity, especially if you had problems that were fairly widespread and intense the last year," Kalisch said. Therefore, he recommended that LCOs check the database before the season begins to see what happened last year and to be aware of the potential for similar outbreaks that may occur this year. "Then, during the season, check at least once a week to see what is happening in real time," he said.

"Sometimes the information that’s really valuable is the host plant itself," Kalisch also noted. For planning purposes, a contractor creating landscapes or establishing turfgrass areas can track pest activity and note which plant species are more susceptible to prevalent pests and adjust his plant selection accordingly.

Users may query the database, which includes the most common insects found in Nebraska and some rarer species, using the following search criteria:

• County and Scientific Name;
• County and Common Name;
• Scientific Name;
• Common Name;
• Family Name; and
• Location/Host.

Kalisch hopes to add images of pests and statewide distribution maps of pest activity to the Nebraska State Insect Records Database in the future.