Insect & Plant Testing
We are now accepting insect and plant samples
at our office on Middletown
Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.
Appointments preferred.
INSECT SAMPLES:
Cost: $7.00 per sample
- Collect ten or more insects if
possible.
- If insects are found on a plant,
submit the plant material as it may be imperative to identifying the
insect.
- Live insects should be put in a
sealed container. The interior of the container should be dry to help
prevent the insect from decomposing.
- If you want to kill an insect the
best way to do it is by keeping it in the freezer overnight.
- Fresh samples are best! To keep
sample fresh, keep them in the freezer until you bring them in.
- Do NOT place insects or ticks on
sticky tape!
TICK SAMPLES:
Upstate Medical provides free identification and testing.
Tick Submission - Community-Engaged Tick Surveillance
PLANT SAMPLES:
Cost: $7.00 per sample
Small Plants
- The whole plant should be
submitted.
- Do NOT pull the plant, rather dig
it up to preserve the roots.
- Enclose the roots and the attached
soil in a plastic bag firmly fastened around the lower stem of the plant.
Be
careful not to damage the lower stem of the plant when fastening the bag!
- Put the whole plant in an unsealed
plastic bag.
Leaves, Twigs,
Branches, or Stems
- Select samples from areas of the
plant that are just starting to show symptoms.
- Areas that are completely dead
often contain secondary organisms that may hinder detection of the
primary pathogen.
- Wrap the sample loosely in an
unsealed plastic bag. Put that bag into another bag and seal the outer
bag.
- Pack roots separate from branches,
shoots, or foliage.
- It is important that you try to
collect the sample prior to any pesticide applications - once pesticides
have been applied it may be difficult to obtain an accurate diagnosis.
Turfgrass
- Submit a turf sample that is 12
inches by 12 inches square and 1 - 2 inches deep.
- Take a sample from an area of the
lawn that is showing symptoms but is not completely dead.
- Half the sample should show the
injury, and half the sample should look healthy.
For more information, contact the
Garden
Helpline
at (845) 343-0664 or email mghelpline@cornell.edu.
Commercial growers, please contact your
commodity representative by calling (845) 344-1234.
Last updated April 26, 2023