The ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic (PIDC) is raising its fees for diagnostic services this growing season. The new fees will go into effect on April 1.
 
The new fee structure for samples mailed or delivered to the clinic will be:

• Plant problem diagnosis - $20
• Household & miscellaneous insect ID - $10
• Plant / weed ID - $10
• Mushroom ID - $10

The PIDC provides comprehensive, timely and accurate diagnoses and management suggestions for plant problems such as plant diseases, herbicide damage, and insect injury. We also identify and provide management information for household pests, incidental insects, plants and mushrooms.
 
How to submit a sample:
 
Plant samples should consist of the entire plant when possible, or at least a representative sample. Wrap the plant material in a dry paper towel or newspaper. Place loosely in a plastic bag and ship in a sturdy box. Insects should be shipped in a container that will prevent crushing in the mail, a pill bottle or vial of some sort. Soft bodied insects, like caterpillars, ship better if preserved in hand sanitizer.
 
If a sample is too large, (e.g., a tree) a photo can be useful for problem diagnosis. Send photos by mail or send a digital image by e-mail to the clinic. If further sample material is need, the staff will let you know.
 
Please see our website for more details on how to submit samples: http://clinic.ipm.iastate.edu
 
Our contact information is as follows:
 
Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic
327 Bessey Hall
Ames, IA 50011
(515) 294-0581;
sickplant@iastate.edu or insects@iastate.edu
 
Commonly used forms
 
For plant problem diagnosis ($20 fee)

• Plant disease form: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PD31.pdf
• Insect Information: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/IC449.pdf
• Herbicide Injury: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/AG146.pdf

For household insect identification ($10 fee)

• Insect Information: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/IC449.pdf

For plant or mushroom identification ($10 fee)

• Plant Information: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/SP258.pdf