Got Beetles?
Chuck Bornt, Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Anyone that takes care of a pool knows that inthe last couple of weeks you've probably been fishing out a bunch of brown or brownish silver "bugs". These "bugs" aremostly Orientalbeetles, June Bugs and Asiatic garden beetles. These beetles, along with Japanese Beetles are the adults of the "whitegrub" complex that affects many lawns, but can also affect many different vegetable and small fruit crops. Theadults can feed on leaves of plants such as sunflowers, basil, raspberries, carrots,beets and a 100 other different plants. Japanese beetles can also be found in the silks of sweet corn whenpopulations are high. Although that canbe a problem, the majority of the damage in vegetables comes from the larvae or "white grub" stage feeding on the roots of several different root crops such as sweet potato, carrots and even Irish potatoes. Their long narrow tunnels can cause many roots to be unmarketable. I dusted off an old article written by former Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Specialist Amy Ivy on how to identify the different beetles and grubs that might be lurking in your fields, lawn and pool!
Got Grubs? (pdf; 746KB)
Apples
Apricots
Asparagus
Beets
Blueberries
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cherries
Cucumbers
Dry Beans
Eggplant
Ethnic Vegetables
Garlic
Grapes
Horseradish
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce / Leafy Greens
Melons
Nectarines
Onions
Parsnips
Peaches
Pears
Peas
Peppers
Plums
Potatoes
Pumpkins / Gourds
Radishes
Raspberries / Blackberries
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Snap Beans
Squash - Summer
Squash- Winter
Strawberries
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips
Upcoming Events
Leading the Farm Team: Supervisory Skills for New Managers
April 14, 2026 : Session 1: Becoming a Supervisor
The transition from working alongside employees to supervising them can be challenging. This session explores the shift from individual contributor to supervisor and the mindset and skills needed to lead a team effectively. Participants will learn about the role of a supervisor, key leadership behaviors, and how to build trust and credibility with employees.
April 21, 2026 : Session 2: Improving Performance
This session will introduce the performance triad—clear expectations, training, and feedback—to support employee success. We will discuss practical communication strategies, how to give constructive feedback, and how supervisors can help employees improve their performance over time.
April 28, 2026 : Session 3: Managing Conflict
Supervisors are responsible for maintaining a professional and respectful workplace. This session covers some of the legal and ethical responsibilities of supervisors and the responsibilities managers have in addressing workplace concerns.
Participants will also explore common sources of workplace conflict, learn to recognize potential biases that can influence management decisions, and discuss practical approaches for addressing difficult situations and resolving conflicts at work.