Researchers from WSU’s Northwest Research Extension Center briefed the Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 13 about emerging pest species of concern to local agriculture and thanked the board for continued support.

The presentation listed several insects the researchers are monitoring, including the yellow-legged hornet, corn earworm, southern green stink bug, lily leaf beetle, beet leafhopper and Colorado potato beetle. Extension staff said these pests are among those they are trapping and studying to inform local growers and to support regional pest-management planning.

Commissioners and county staff thanked the Extension team for its work. One presenter noted that in nearly two decades of local Extension work they see new pest pressures every few years and emphasized the value of local monitoring and collaboration between researchers, growers and the county.

The briefing was informational; no formal action was taken.