Speaker: Molly Keck, Integrated Pest Management Program Specialist

My Educational Programs / Sessions @ Nursery/Landscape EXPO

TDA CEU Session: Bugs and Fuzz: Identifying Pests and What are Not
Wednesday, August 9 -- 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
This presentation will cover common insect pests of landscape plants, differentiating between chewing, sucking and rasping damaging insects. Often damage is noticed, while insects are never found, so understanding who causes certain damage can be just as important as identifying the actual insect. In addition, many diseases are thought to be insect damage and are mistreated. Integrated pest management practices for these common landscape pests will also be discussed. Molly Keck is an Integrated Pest Management Program Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Bexar County, TX (San Antonio, TX). Molly graduated from Texas A&M University in and holds a Bachelors (2003) and Masters (2005) degree in Entomology. She is a Board Certified Entomologist specializing in Urban/Industry Entomology. Molly has been working for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service since 2005. As a program specialist in IPM, her responsibilities include providing adult and youth educational programs. She works with the pest management, landscape and professionals providing CEU courses, identifying insects, and other support of the industry. Molly provides Master Gardener and Master Naturalists trainings and various educational seminars to the public, garden clubs, and other professional groups on entomology and pest management. In addition, she performs research projects on fire ants, bed bugs, termites, and other urban and landscape pests. Molly is also active in and serves on the board and various committees for entomological professional organizations and societies such as Entomological Society of America, Southwestern Branch of Entomological Society of America and National Conference of Urban Entomology. - What is insect damage - What is not insect damage - Identifying insects - Managing insects.