A new invasive insect has been found in Michigan. This insect could do damage to some of Michigan's leafy green crops. The swede midge has been found in five organic farm fields in Sanilac County in Michigan's Thumb. Swede midge attacks cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts and collards. The tiny midge lays eggs on the stalks of the vegetables. Larvae emerge from the eggs and feed on the stalks and tops of the vegetables. This kills the growing tips of the plants and leaves the plants open to bacterial infections that cause rot. The damaged vegetables are then unmarketable. According to Jennifer Holton, communication director for Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan grew 77 million pounds of cabbage in 2013. The cabbage crop was worth $11 million dollars. MSU will begin to develop a monitoring program to get a grasp on the size of the problem. MSU will also be developing control recommendations and educating growers on the control methods. For now, Holton recommends farmers use clean transplants and rotate fields to non-cruciferous crops every two to three years.

MLive Chief Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa has been forecasting Michigan weather for more than 25 years. He's been chief meteorologist at three television news stations in Michigan, and he's an avid gardener and hunter. Email him at mtorregr@mlive.com and find him on Facebook at facebook.com/mark.torregrossa and Twitter @weathermanmark