VA Tech Eastern Shore AREC Entomology

04/15/2026

03/17/2026

Please join us in welcoming Casey King, the Entomology Research Specialist at the Eastern Shore AREC, working with Dr. Sutton’s program!

Originally from Berlin, Maryland, Casey is a proud Eastern Shore native who now calls Virginia’s Eastern Shore home. She is excited to collaborate with Virginia farmers and support the success of local agriculture.

We’re thrilled to have Casey on board—be sure to say hello if you see her out and about!

03/12/2026

03/12/2026

Congratulations to Dylan Raney, a masters student in our lab!

This past week Dylan presented his research on wireworm pest management at the Southeastern Branch meeting of the Entomological Society of America meeting in Hilton Head, South Carolina where he earned second place in the masters student oral presentation competition!

This was his first scientific talk. Great job Dylan!

02/19/2026

Giving Day!! Please consider donating and supporting the Eastern Shore AREC!! Scan the QR code and please share 🐛🚜

02/10/2026

Posting has been a bit quiet lately, but we’re excited to get back to regular updates and share more helpful information with y’all in 2026.

Dr. Kemper Sutton has been the Entomologist at the Virginia Tech Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center since the 2025 season, where he works on research and outreach to help Virginia growers manage insect pests and improve crop production.

Kemper is looking forward to the 2026 season and encourages farmers to reach out anytime with concerns—he’s always glad to visit fields, offer support, and help find solutions.

10/19/2023

In an article published in the September edition of the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management, Post-Doctorate faculty member Dr. Lorena Lopez profiles Amblyseius swirskii and its biology, distribution, and various applications for biological control in IPM programs.
https://entomologytoday.org/2023/10/18/amblyseius-swirskii-predatory-mite-biological-control-integrated-pest-management/

The mite Amblyseius swirskii feeds on various insect and mite species, including many notorious pests of vegetable crops.

09/07/2023

We harvested our IPM sweet corn trial today comparing sprays every 2 to 3 days with primarily pyrethroids and sprays based on corn earworm pheromone trap catch (IPM regimen) with low rates of diamides and spinosyn. From tasseling to harvest, 2 sprays were omitted with the IPM regimen, with very similar results and control. Beneficial counts in each plot were also much higher in IPM plots in comparison to pyrethroid plots.

09/05/2023

https://entomologytoday.org/2023/09/01/stink-bug-saliva-proteins-bypass-plant-defenses/

Research finding nearly 700 proteins in the saliva of five stink bug species illustrates the complex biochemical conflict between plants and insects.

08/29/2023

Corn earworm trap catch in sweet corn in Virginia a couple of weeks ago. 797 moths in 2 nights in our hartstack pheromone trap containing a hercon lure 😱
Action thresholds for corn earworm in sweet corn warrant a spray every 2 to 3 days if the catch exceeds 13 moths per night.