Insect Pest Monitoring in Arkansas

This interactive map of Arkansas shows locations of various insect trapping efforts by Extension specialists and county agents. When a location is clicked, the map will populate with insect trap data for that region to help indicate pest presence or absence. You can zoom in and out using the map features on the top left of the map. Additionally, click the >> arrows to access the map legend. We monitor for Tomato Fruitworm Moth (Helicoverpa zea), Melonworm (Diaphania hyalinata), Squash Vine Borer (Melittia cucurbitae), Cabbage Looper (Trichoplusia ni) and many other pest species in fruit and vegetables every year.

We are monitoring for the some pests like Plum Curculio, San Jose Scale, Lesser Peachtree Borer, and Grape Berry Moth; although those data are NOT represented on the map. Info about those pests can be found further down the page. Updates to the Pest Map regarding Tomato Fruitworm and Cabbage Looper are happening weekly now that we are clear of the average last frost date and growers are planting susceptible crops! Check back often!

Pest Alerts

Pest Update: 5-29-25

Hartstack traps across Arkansas are collecting larger numbers of tomato fruitworm moths! While it is still early in the season, these large collection numbers should encourage growers and agents to scout their tomato and sweet corn fields to determine if pests are present. We have seen TFW egg laying on tomatoes in high tunnel production in Hope, and large trap catches of Faulkner (Picture by Kevin Lawson), Bradley, and Crawford Counties. Visit our "Using Pheromone Traps to Monitor Pests in Tomatoes and Cucurbits" factsheet to learn more about scouting thresholds for tomato fruitworm moth. Refresh your memory with our How-To IPM: Tomato Pests YouTube video as well!

Hartstact Trap in Faulkner County, Arkansas showing a large number of tomato fruitworm moths. Photo by Kevin Lawson

Previous Pest Alerts

Hartstack traps in Southwest and Northwest Arkansas are collecting larger numbers of tomato fruitworm moths and cabbage loopers! While it is still early in the season , these large collection numbers should encourage growers and agents to scout their tomato fields to determine if pests are present. We have seen TFW egg laying on tomatoes in high tunnel production in Hope, and trap catches of 400+ in Lafayette and Crawford Counties. Visit our "Using Pheromone Traps to Monitor Pests in Tomatoes and Cucurbits" factsheet to learn more about scouting thresholds for tomato fruitworm moth. Refresh your memory with our How-To IPM: Tomato Pests YouTube video as well!

Most of Arkansas is now above the minimum Growing Degree Day (GDD) accumulation for Squash Vine Borer! Warmer areas are above the minimum threshold of 750 GDD for Sqush Vine Borers. Visit the GDD section below to see the # of GDD units for your area and view our Squash Vine Borer Factsheet!

Now is the time to get out those Grape Berry Moth (GBM) pheromone traps! Set out three Grape Berry Moth (GBM) pheromone traps on trees in woods adjacent to vineyard (overwintering site for GBM) and check twice weekly to record first consistent moth emergence (mid-April) = GBM biofix. Be sure to keep trap bottoms clean and replace lures monthly or every two months for long life lures. By May 15th, move these traps to the vineyard interior and begin scouting 100-200 fruit clusters in the perimeter and second row for new larvae tunneling under the berry skin (damaged skin appears pink/purple).

Peach growers should monitor now for Lesser Peachtree Borer (LPTB) by placing two pheromone traps in interior orchard trees and check weekly to monitor for adult moths. Lesser peachtree borer lay eggs on the bark near scaffold wounds where the larvae then hatch and bore into the wounds. Your cover sprays for plum curculio will help to suppress this pest. More information can be found in the MP144. LPTB traps in Faulkner County with ag agent Krista Quinn have detected LPTB adults on traps already.

San Jose Scale (SJS) adult males were captured in traps at the SWREC in Hempstead County on March 27th, by Hempstead Co. ag agent Kim Rowe (photos below). Crawler activity is expected 600 growing degree days after this first capture of males. SJS traps have been deployed elsewhere across the state recently and are being monitored by county ag agents.

San Jose scale crawler activity is expected approximately 600 GDD (Growing Degree Days) after the first male captures, indicated as March 27th for southwest Arkansas but will differ for other areas of the state. We are also using a GDD model (see below) starting Feb. 1st to help determine crawler activity. Stay tuned for more San Jose Scale information around the state.

Our traps in SW Arkansas caught adult Plum Curculio on 3/18/25 and the peach trees are near petal fall. This is an important time to begin to control them. Visit the link for Plum Curculio in the Key Pest dropdowns below.

Plum Curculio weevils do not emerge at the same time, so applications should be made every 7-10 days starting at petal fall and continuing for several weeks. Higher rates of pyrethroids at this time will also help control stink bugs, lesser peachtree borer, and some other pests.

Neopestalotiopsis in strawberries, or "Neo-P" for short, is an emerging disease that impacts strawberry production. It was observed in Arkansas in 2024. Watch our most recent video update below or visit our blog to learn more about this disease and recommendations..

Growing Degree Day Models

GDDs as of 5/28/2025 (Base 50°F, beginning Jan. 1)

Kibler — 1515
Clarksville — 1286
Hope — 1473
Little Rock — 1541
Fayetteville — 1211
Jonesboro — 1319

We expect to see adult SVB moths at 750-1000 GDD (Base 50°F). For more information, visit our Managing Squash Vine Borer in Arkansas Factsheet.

GDDs as of 5/28/2025 (Base 51°F, Upper 90°F - beginning Feb. 1)

Kibler — 1403
Clarksville —1190
Hope — 1360 (Biofix = 3/27/2025)
Little Rock — 1417
Fayetteville — 1115
Jonesboro — 1223

Monitor for San Jose scale during the dormant period by checking prunings to make sure scale hasn't developed in tree tops. Also check fruit at harvest for the presence of scale. By March 15th, place 2-3 traps in orchard interior in tops of trees known to have a live SJS (San Jose Scale) infestation. Biofix is the first date that male scales are caught in traps. Crawlers could emerge anywhere from 650-900 GDD after the Feb. 1st start date of the model. The GDD model is still being investigated here in Arkansas.