The Virginia Pest Management Guide (PMG) series lists options for management of major pests: diseases, insects, nematodes, and weeds. These guides are produced by Virginia Cooperative Extension and each guide is revised annually. PMG recommendations are based on research conducted by the Research and Extension Division of Virginia Tech, in cooperation with other land-grant universities, the USDA, and the pest management industry.

Corn earworm is a pest of multiple agricultural crops grown in Virginia, including vegetables. These pests have a wide host range and can cause extensive damage, but monitoring and a variety of control methods help suppress populations and prevent losses.

The pepper maggot, Zonosemata electa, is a significant pest of bell pepper in eastern North America, having transitioned from its native wild host, the horse nettle, to domesticated solanaceous plants like bell pepper and eggplant. Infestation levels can be alarming, with near-total crop loss possible from a single maggot per fruit. Control methods primarily involve insecticide applications, posing challenges for organic producers. The pest has a single annual generation, overwintering as a pupa in soil. Monitoring adult populations using yellow sticky traps and oviposition scars is essential for effective management. Cultural practices such as field sanitation, crop rotation, and the eradication of alternate hosts are crucial in mitigating damage. Additionally, trap cropping with hot pepper varieties and perimeter sprays have shown success in reducing damage to bell peppers. Various insecticides are available for pre-emptive control, emphasizing the importance of monitoring to optimize application timing.

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), a pest from the Noctuidae family, originates from the tropical Americas and lacks diapause, allowing it to migrate north from Gulf Coast states. This moth has been reported in all U.S. states east of the Rockies and has become a significant pest in other parts of the world. Fall armyworm larvae cause severe defoliation to a variety of plants, especially grasses, and fruit damage to crops like sweet corn, tomatoes, and peppers. Management strategies include using pheromone traps for monitoring, scouting for eggs and larvae, and promoting biological controls. Insecticides are also used, though resistance issues can arise. Effective control requires timely interventions based on thresholds to mitigate economic impact.

Minute pirate bugs, particularly Orius insidiosus, are vital biological control agents for managing herbivorous insect pests. These small, predatory insects prey on a range of soft-bodied pests including thrips, mites, and aphids, making them crucial for natural pest suppression in a variety of agricultural settings. Orius are especially attracted to flowering plants, which makes landscape-level strategies like farmscaping—such as planting hedgerows, insectary plants, and cover crops—highly effective in boosting their populations. Producers and homeowners can protect and encourage these beneficial insects by minimizing broad-spectrum pesticide use and integrating pest management practices that support their habitat, thereby leveraging their natural predatory capabilities to reduce pest densities and enhance the health of crop plants.

The kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria) is an invasive pest from Asia and first appeared in the U.S. in 2009 near Atlanta, Georgia. It has since spread to 18 additional states and the District of Columbia, threatening soybean crops. Recognizable by their mottled dark green and brown coloration, adult kudzu bugs are shield bugs that exude a pungent defensive substance when disturbed. Adults and nymphs feed on plant phloem, causing both direct and indirect damage to plants. Despite initial concerns, populations only occasionally reach damaging levels, but monitoring and management remain crucial. The kudzu bug has two generations per year, with adults emerging from overwintering in early spring. Management includes chemical control with pyrethroids and neonicotinoids, biological control with parasitoid wasps and the fungus Beauveria bassiana, and cultural control by reducing kudzu patches. Here we detail the bug's distribution, life cycle, pest status, and management strategies, highlighting the importance of ongoing vigilance and integrating management tactics.

Sugarcane beetle is a sporadic but serious pest of several crops in Virginia. Although an occasional pest, outbreaks can lead to substantial losses in crops and property damage. It can cause significant damage to corn, sugarcane, rice, sweetpotato, and turfgrass, and has also been reported on strawberry, cotton, rose, and wild grasses. Populations in southern states may flare to levels that become a nuisance as it gathers at light sources. Its life cycle spans one generation per year, with adults becoming active in late spring. These beetles primarily feed on plant roots and management involves cultural practices and chemical control, focusing on targeting adult beetles to reduce crop damage. Further research is needed to develop effective pest management strategies that rely less on chemical control tactics.