Insect Pests Diagnostics

Stacey Jones Area Specialized Agent (Central Region) Commercial Greenhouse and Nursery What is an Insect? Insect Orders Complete Metamorphosis

Incomplete Metamorphosis Complete Metamorphosis List of Orders

• Coleoptera-Beetles • Lepidoptera- Butterflies and Moths • Hymenoptera-Ants, Bees, Wasps • Diptera-Flies BUTTERFLY OR MOTH Chewing Mouthparts

• Two mandibles

Exception: Bees Chewing Mouthpart Damage Leaves

• Defoliation – Caterpillars – Beetles (adult and larvae) – Grasshopper Chewing Mouthpart Damage Leaves • Shotholes – Caterpillars – Beetles (adult and larvae) – Grasshopper Chewing Mouthpart Damage Leaves • Margin notching – Caterpillars – Beetles (adult and larvae) – Grasshopper Chewing Mouthpart Damage Leaves • Skeletonization – Caterpillars – Beetles (adult and larvae) Chewing Mouthpart Damage Leaves • Leaf Roller – Caterpillar Chewing Mouthpart Damage Leaves • Leaf mining – Caterpillars – Fly larvae Is it a Beetle or Caterpillar?

• Silk Is it a Beetle or Caterpillar?

• Frass Is it a Beetle or Caterpillar?

• Protective cases Is it a Beetle or Caterpillar?

• Silk • Frass Beetles

• Hard elytra • Line down the back • Larvae no prolegs Chewing Mouthpart Damage Branches and Trunk • Branch/Trunk Dieback – Beetle larvae Chewing Mouthpart Damage Branches • Shoot dieback – Caterpillars – Beetles (adult and larvae) – Cicadas Chewing Mouthpart Damage Branches and Trunk • Girdlers – Mesquite Girdler Chewing Mouthpart Damage Branches and Trunk • Exit Holes – Beetle (adult and larvae) Borer Eggs

• Eggs laid on or below the surface • Tiny larvae bore into the wood Flat Headed Borers • Metallic Wood Boring Beetle • Meandering galleries • D shaped exit holes • Fine saw dust Round Headed Borer • Longhorned Beetle • Tunnels into heartwood • Round exit holes • Course saw dust Chewing Mouthpart Damage Roots • Root feeding – Scarab Beetle larvae Incomplete Metamorphosis List of Orders

• Hemiptera-True bugs • Homoptera-Aphids, Whitefly, Hoppers, Cicadas • Orthoptera- Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids • Thysanoptera-Thrips • Blattodea-Roaches • Mantodea-Mantids • Isoptera-Termites • Odonata-Dragonflies and Damselflies Sucking Mouthparts

• Homoptera and Hemiptera have probiscis

• Rest in this group have chewing mouthparts True Bug Wings

• Half leathery/ half membranous

http://schmidling.com/lfbug1.jpg Main Pests

1. True bugs 2. Aphids 1 3. Whitefly 4. Thrips 4

2

3 Main Pests

1. Scale insects 2. Mealybugs

3. Leafhopper 1

4. Spider mites 3

2 4 Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Stippling – Aphids – Whitefly – Thrips – Leafhopper – Spider mites Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Yellowing – Aphids – Whitefly – Thrips – Leafhopper – Spider mites Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Streaking- Thrips Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Cupping – Aphids – Whitefly – Thrips – Leafhopper – Spider mites Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Fecal Spots – Lacebugs – Thrips – Leafhoppers Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Honeydew – Aphids – Whitefly – Scale/Mealybugs Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Sooty mold – Aphids – Whitefly – Scale/Mealybugs Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Exoskeletons – Aphids – Whitefly – Leafhopper Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• White wax – Soft Scale – Mealybugs Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Brown Scabs – Armored Scale Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Webbing – Spider mites Disease Vectors

– Aphids – Whitefly – Thrips – Leafhopper Miscellaneous Damage Egg Laying

• Leafhoopers • Cicadas Galls

• Egg laying • Saliva injection Not a Pest

• Leaf Cutter Bee Not Insect Damage

• Wood Pecker Questions?

Stacey Jones 704-920-3310 stacey_ [email protected]