INSECT IDENTIFICATION

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Arleen Shepherd
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1 INSECT IDENTIFICATION Chewing Insects - At or above the soil surface, the larvae of various moths do their damage by chewing the sides of blades or chewing entire plants off at the crown. See examples listed below: Armyworm Blister Beetle Cabbage Worm Carrot Weevil Corn Earworm Diamondback Fall Armyworm Flea Beetle Webworm Grasshopper Pepper Weevil Pickle Worm Squash Vine Borer Tomato Tomato Pinworm Underground root chewing insects include species that subsist entirely on plant tissue for development, such as root weevils and root maggots, and those that feed on a combination of soil organic matter and roots (most white grubs). See examples below: Pillbug Grub Root Maggot Root Weevils White Grub Wireworm

2 INSECT IDENTIFICATION Sucking Insects- These insects do their damage by sucking and extracting fluids, removing cell contents (e.g., thrips) or sap (e.g., aphids, leafhoppers, scale, etc..) and thereby weaken the plants. Some of these sucking insects inject salivary fluids into plants. This secretion may (1) kill plants, as evidenced by armored scale feeding, (2) cause galls to form, as in the case of gall aphids, or (3) kill portions of a leaf, as seen in leafhopper "burn". Sucking insects tend to ingest more water and sugars than amino acids. Sucking insects balance their nutrition by excreting the excess sugar-water as honeydew and supports the growth of sooty mold. Honeydew lures nuisance stinging wasps and ants, which protect the sucking aphids from predators and parasites. See examples of sucking insects below: Aphids Leaf-footed Bug Leafhopper Lacebug Scale Squash Bug Stink Bug Two Spotted Mite Thrip Whitefly Identifying Insects: Remember that the mere presence of an insect pest does not imply that an insect treatment is needed. It is normal to have a few insects and some insects may be beneficial or non-damaging. BENEFICIAL INSECTS Assassin Bug Bigeyed Bug Jumping Celer Crab Gray Dotted Ground Beetle Honey Bee Lacewing Ladybird Beetle Long Jawed Pirate Bug Parasitic Wasp Preying Mantis Ridge Face Crab

Do some detective work and attempt to identify the insects by using the chart below1 Note: The "solutions box " below

Problem How to identify the problem Solutions Ants Aphids * Mounds can be unsightly in lawns, can enter homes Bifenthrin

Deltamethrin Nest outside, but often enter homes. * Harvester ants: ¼ to ½" brown or red.

Bifenthrin * Can be green, yellow, brown, red or black. Cyfluthrin * Wooly aphids are covered in cottony-wax substance.

Armyworms * Tan, green, or black about 1" to 1½" long. Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) * Usually feed at night.

Problem How to identify the problem Solutions Boxelder Bugs Suck sap from leaves and new growth of boxelder or ash.

Deltamethrin ` Bagworms * Form spindle-shape cocoons on cedars, arborvitae, Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) and firs.

3 Do some detective work and attempt to identify the insects by using the chart below1 Note: The "solutions box " below reflects the active ingredient and not the Brand or Trade name. Problem How to identify the problem Solutions Ants Aphids * Mounds can be unsightly in lawns, can enter homes Bifenthrin and become nuisance. Cyfluthrin * Pavement Ants: small 1/8" brown or black. Deltamethrin Nest outside, but often enter homes. * Harvester ants: ¼ to ½" brown or red. * Carpenter ants: ¼ to ½" black, can damage wood * Often in mass groups, slow-moving. Bifenthrin * Can be green, yellow, brown, red or black. Cyfluthrin * Wooly aphids are covered in cottony-wax substance. Deltamethrin * Leaves below insects often have sticky honeydew and sooty mold. Armyworms * Tan, green, or black about 1" to 1½" long. Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) * Usually feed at night. Deltamethrin * Voracious eaters of turfgrass and grains. Problem How to identify the problem Solutions Boxelder Bugs Suck sap from leaves and new growth of boxelder or ash. In the fall, the bugs cluster in masses on tree trunks and crawl on walls and porches and enter into homes. Deltamethrin ` Bagworms * Form spindle-shape cocoons on cedars, arborvitae, Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) and firs. * Hide in cocoons during the day and feed at night. * Contact sprays will not permeate the bag. Brown Dog Ticks * '1/8" long and uniformly red-brown with tiny pits Deltamethrin scattered over the back. * Found in the outdoors. Can infest homes if picked up by host animals. Chinch Bugs * Turfgrass pest, active during hot, dry conditions. * Damage appears as irregular brown-straw patches. * Gray black with white wings, about 1/8" long.

Problem Cockroaches How to identify the problem * Medium to large, broad insects with long antennae. Deltamethrin Dust * Nocturnal, run rapidly when disturbed.

Deltamethrin * Prefer shelter in cracks and crevices and invade homes seeking moisture.

Earwigs like moist cool conditions in crawl spaces under houseplant pots. * Can damage houseplants and infest food areas.

Lamba-cythalothrin * Colonies are made up of a queen ant, winged males and females (virgin queens), workers, and brood Spinosad (which is made up of eggs,

* Fleas are external, blood-sucking parasites of dogs Deltamethrin and other animals, including humans.

About 40-50 eggs per day are layed and then fall off the animal.

4 Problem Cockroaches How to identify the problem * Medium to large, broad insects with long antennae. Deltamethrin Dust * Nocturnal, run rapidly when disturbed. Deltamethrin Gel * Prefer warm, damp locations. Solutions Crickets * Crickets are usually active at night. Deltamethrin * Prefer shelter in cracks and crevices and invade homes seeking moisture. Earwigs *Narrow ½" to ¾" in length, brown to black in color with pinchers at their tail end. * Nocturnal, but attracted to light. Earwigs like moist cool conditions in crawl spaces under houseplant pots. * Can damage houseplants and infest food areas. Deltamethrin Fire Ants Fleas Grasshoppers * Imported fire ants are 1/8" to 1/4" in length and are Deltamethrin reddish brown to black. Lamba-cythalothrin * Colonies are made up of a queen ant, winged males and females (virgin queens), workers, and brood Spinosad (which is made up of eggs, larvae, and pupae). * Live in colonies which may have up to 200,000 ants. * Fleas are external, blood-sucking parasites of dogs Deltamethrin and other animals, including humans. * Bites are painful, cause local itching and discomfort. * Once the adult flea lands on a host animal, egg production begins hours later. About eggs per day are layed and then fall off the animal. * Voracious feeders causing damage to ornamental Deltamethrin plants, vegetables, and turfgrass. * Best controlled when young, adults are difficult to kill. Grubs Japanese Beetle * C-shaped, cream-colored bodies; three pairs of Imidacloprid short legs behind reddish-brown head; 1/4" to 1" in length * Soil-active insects feeding on crowns, roots, and underground stems. * ½" long, metallic green with copper wings. Deltamethrin * Larva are root feeding grubs that damage lawns, Cypermethrin perennials, and vegetables. * Damaged leaves often have lacy appearance. Also feed on flowers and plants in the rose family.

Problem How to identify the problem Solutions Leafminer * Insect is larval stage of a variety of flies and beetles.

* Common to hollies, boxwood, lilacs, roses, and many perennials. Mealybugs * Common to houseplants and outdoor plants.

surface attaches to stems. Look for sticky "honeydew" on lower leaves.

Bifenthrin * Usually spend lifecycle within a short distance of the Cyfluthrin breeding ground.

* Hide in grass and shrubs during the day, usually feed at dusk or dawn. * Pillbugs feed on young plants and their roots.

Cypermethrin Scale Scorpions Silverfish * Adults form hard, waxy cuticle resembling a blister, Deltamethrin resistant to

Cypermethrin brown to black. They invade homes in search of moisture.

5 Problem How to identify the problem Solutions Leafminer * Insect is larval stage of a variety of flies and beetles. Deltamethrin * Feeds between the upper and lower layers of leaf, Cypermethrin creating tunnels throughout the leaf. * Common to hollies, boxwood, lilacs, roses, and many perennials. Mealybugs * Common to houseplants and outdoor plants. Deltamethrin * Adults create a cottony, waxy coating protecting them Cypermethrin from contact sprays often where leaf surface attaches to stems. Look for sticky "honeydew" on lower leaves. Mosquitoes Pillbugs (Sowbugs) * Breed in standing water, pounds, puddles. Bifenthrin * Usually spend lifecycle within a short distance of the Cyfluthrin breeding ground. Deltamethrin * Nuisance pests and disease carriers. * Hide in grass and shrubs during the day, usually feed at dusk or dawn. * Pillbugs feed on young plants and their roots. Apply Deltamethrin control after planting and again when damage appears. Cypermethrin Scale Scorpions Silverfish * Adults form hard, waxy cuticle resembling a blister, Deltamethrin resistant to contact sprays. Cypermethrin * Common to houseplants and outside ornamentals. * Look for honeydew on leaves. * Control in juvenile "crawler" stages. * Scorpions range in size from 1" to 5", depending Cyfluthrin on the species, with colors ranging from yellowish- Cypermethrin brown to black. They invade homes in search of moisture. Deltamethrin * Normally found outdoors and search for food at night. * Found under the bark of trees, under loose stones or in moist areas under boards or debris. * Small wingless insects. Deltamethrin * Found in dark, damp, and warm places throughout homes. Cypermethrin Sod Webworms * White to brownish gray moths fly erratically a short Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) distance when disturbed. * Larvae feed on grass blades during mid-summer. * Damage first appears as small, irregular "scalped" patches, merging into large brown areas.

Problem s How to identify the problem * All shades, sizes, and colors.

Cypermethrin * Some spiders pose biting risk to humans.

dead spots and blotches on flowers, "pollen- Cypermethrin spills" on African Violets petals,

* Feed on buds and blossoms of plants like roses and African Violets.

6 Problem s How to identify the problem * All shades, sizes, and colors. Deltamethrin * Most are beneficial feeding on insects. Cypermethrin * Some spiders pose biting risk to humans. Solutions Thrips Wasps * Tiny, elongated insects are rarely seen, but signs Deltamethrin include dead spots and blotches on flowers, "pollen- Cypermethrin spills" on African Violets petals, stippled leaves on woody landscape plants. * Feed on buds and blossoms of plants like roses and African Violets. * Stinging insects that build nests. Cypermethrin * Control should occur at dusk or dark. Resmethrin Tetramethrin + Sumithrin Whiteflies * Tiny snow-white insects. Deltamethrin * Three common species, the greenhouse, sweet potato, Cypermethrin and banded wing. * Attach a wide range of plants.

INSECTS AND PESTS OF AFRICAN VIOLETS By Mary Lou Harden

INSECTS AND PESTS OF AFRICAN VIOLETS By Mary Lou Harden I. Insect and mite pests. Many different pests attack African violets. Some feed on the roots, some on the foliage, and others on the blooms. II.