MADRID -- A vegetable pest education event is set for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 14 at the Madrid Community Building, 1835 S.H. 345. Pre-registration is highly recommended with Cooperative Extension, especially for those interested in N.Y.S. D.E.C. certified applicator credits.

Market vegetable growers, gardeners, and others involved with growing vegetable crops in northern New York are invited to learn about several new insect pests.

Growers and gardeners need to know about them before this season, since some of the pests attack crops early, are spreading, and may not be familiar to many people yet. Pest control also poses new difficulties, since these insects may have limited control options. Growers using organic methods with these crops will need to be alert for these new pests especially. In an effort to help control the spread of these new pests, market growers and gardeners of onion and cabbage family crops and sweet corn are encouraged to attend.

Presentations will cover pest identification, biology and management, with emphasis on potential damage to crops, detection locations known, and control methods possible at for:

Leek Moth: -- a small moth with several generations per year whose caterpillars damage all onion (allium) family crops such as onions, garlic, leeks, chives, etc., by boring into the leaves of the plants and eating them from the inside.

Swede Midge: -- a small fly with several generations per year whose larvae damage all cabbage (brassica/crucifer) family crops such as cabbage, broccoli, radish, Brussels sprouts, turnip, cauliflower, etc., by ruining their growing points.

Western Bean Cutworm: -- a moth whose caterpillars damage both sweet and field corn by boring into corn ears more so than other corn pests. It can also damage dry beans and has recently been found just north, south, and west of St. Lawrence County.

This training event will also feature a discussion on common onion thrips, which can also damage onion crops.

Pre-registration has been extended to Wednesday, April 13 and is strongly encouraged, especially for those interested in applicator recertification credits.

For details, directions, and pre-registration, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County at 379-9192, or sfv1@cornell.edu.