Graduate student Zoë York researches the benefits of flowering shrubs on our campus trees
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 18, 2025)—Urban trees do so much more than make our campus look beautiful. They filter the air, cool the ground, and improve our mental well-being. But many of the trees at the University of Kentucky are under attack from an invasive pest. Graduate student Zoë York, a senior technician in the Wilson Urban Landscape Entomology Laboratory, is researching how planting the right plants in the right places might be key to protecting city trees and making our shared green spaces healthier.
Calico scale (Eulecanium cerasorum), an invasive sap sucking insect, has infested most of the honey locust trees on campus. Some of the worst damage is visible along S Limestone near the hospitals. But these infestations aren’t random; they’re directly linked to urban conditions that weaken our trees and favor pests.
