In 2022, a partnership between Extension and the Office of the State Entomologist was formed to build a citizen science project focused on monitoring for invasive species. This effort includes me, Blake Newton (Entomology Youth Extension Specialist), and Carl Harper (Office of the State Entomologist). The project is known as “Kentucky Keepers”. Last year we piloted the project with 4-H youth volunteers, Master Gardeners, and Master Naturalists. This year, professional arborists and regular citizens were also brought in to be a part of the project, expanding its reach. 

In 2023, over 50 counties are now being monitored for spongy moth and spotted lanternfly. These two insects were chosen because they are not established in Kentucky but pose multi-billion-dollar threats to Kentucky wood product industries and discovering them in the state would cause restrictive quarantines, further harming Kentucky businesses such as nurseries, loggers, hay production, and transportation.  Over 500 spongy moth pheromone traps have been deployed by Kentucky Keepers, which provides a value of over $12,000 to the Office of the State Entomologist that they would otherwise have to pay to contracted trap setters.