In 2022, I worked Dr. Larson (UK Entomology Professor) and Carl Harper (Uk Entomology staff, Office of the State Entomologist) to develop the 4-H KY Keepers programs. KY Keepers are a group of 4-Hers from around the state who work to monitor invasive pests. KY Keepers focus their efforts on the Spongy Moth. The Spongy Moth is an invasive insect that is already established in the northeastern United States, where it has defoliated an estimated 95 million acres over the last century and caused about $35 million dollars in damage annually. Although this pest is not considered established in Kentucky, it thrives in nearby states, and individual moths are sometimes captured here. This places Kentucky on the forefront of the battle against this pest. 

While state and federal agencies work together to monitor this pest every year, more trapping is needed to provide a complete picture. Thanks to new technology which allows individuals to digitally mark and monitor traps using a customized cell phone app (developed by Carl Harper), 4-H agents and their youth can join the battle and learn about invasive species and scientific monitoring programs in the process. During the pilot year of the program (2022) 13 county 4-H programs participated; in 2023, 24 counties participated. At the end of the summer, the participants will collect their traps and return them to the Office of the State Entomologist for screening, and we will learn together if they caught any Spongy Moths. Last year, KY Keepers captured Spongy Moths in several places, including Campbellsville, KY, where they were not expected, which shows the value of this program. 

In 2023, we also expanded the KY Keepers project by adding additional invasive pests (including imported fire ants and spotted lanternfly) to the monitoring system and to offer incentives (in the form of 4-H KY Keeper gear) to participating 4-H programs.