Identifying Insects Page 1 Publication DENTIFYING NSECTS Number I I 31-110C Author: Cindy Fake, Horticulture and Small Farms Advisor, Placer & Nevada Counties (2004, updated 2011) True Bugs: Order Hemiptera
Natural Enemies
Minute Pirate Bug Big-eyed Bug Damsel Bug Rough Stink Bug Assassin Bug ACTUAL SIZE: 1/16 to 1/8” ACTUAL SIZE: 3/16” ACTUAL SIZE: 3/8 to 1/2” ACTUAL SIZE: 5/8” ACTUAL SIZE: 3/4 to 1” Feeds on aphids, mites, Feeds on flea beetles, Feeds on aphids, Feeds on wide variety Feeds on most insect thrips, psyllids, & insect aphids, other small mites,leafhoppers, small of insects. species. eggs. insects & eggs, mites. bugs, and caterpillars. Pests
Lygus Bug Harlequin Bug Stink Bug Squash Bug ACTUAL SIZE: 1/4-3/8 ” ACTUAL SIZE: 1/4-3/8” ACTUAL SIZE: 1/2” ACTUAL SIZE: 3/4” Pest of tree Pest of vegetables, Pest of vegetables, Pest of all cucurbits fruit,strawberries, esp. Brassica family stone & pome fruit. Beetles: Order Coleoptera Natural Enemies Pests
Mealy Bug Destroyer Lady Beetle Soldier Beetle Cucumber Beetle Flea Beetle ACTUAL SIZE: 1/16” ACTUAL SIZE: 1/4 to 3/8” ACTUAL SIZE: 1/2 to 3/4” ACTUAL SIZE: 1/8-3/16” ACTUAL SIZE: 1/16-1/8” Feeds on aphids and Feeds on aphids, mites, Feeds on aphids, eggs Pest of cucurbits & other Leaf pest on ornamen- mealybugs. thrips, and mealy bugs. and larvae of beetles, vegetables, stone fruit tals and vegetables, moths, and butterflies. especially eggplant.
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Placer County WEB SITE: ceplacernevada.ucdavis.edu Nevada County
11477 E Avenue (Bldg 306, DeWitt Center) The University of California, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University 255 So Auburn (Veterans Memorial Bldg) policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, Auburn, California 95603 medical condition (cancer-related), ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status Grass Valley, California 95945 as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran. Inquiries regarding the University’s (530) 889-7385 nondiscrimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action Director, University of California, (530) 273-4563 Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1111 Franklin, 6th Floor, Oakland, California 94607-5200. (510) UFAXNIVERSITY (530) 889 OF-7397 CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION 987-0096. PLACER & NEVADAFAX (530 C OUNTIES273-4769 United States Department of Agriculture, University of California, Placer and Nevada Counties E-Mail: [email protected] cooperating. E-Mail: [email protected] Identifying Insects Page 2 Flies: Order Diptera (2 wings)
Natural Enemies Pests
Olive Fruit Fly Carrot Fly Apple Maggot Fly ACTUAL SIZE: 1/8-3/16” ACTUAL SIZE: 1/8 to 3/16” ACTUAL SIZE: 1/4” Syrphid Fly Tachinid Fly Pest of olive fruit, Pest of carrots, parsley, Pest of apple fruit. ACTUAL SIZE: 3/8 to 1/2” ACTUAL SIZE: 1/8 to 1” difficult to detect on celery, turnips. Feeds on aphids. Feeds on caterpillars, fruit until ripening. beetles & insect larvae. Spotted Wing Drosophila ACTUAL SIZE: 1/16” Pest of cherries, berries, figs, stonefruit. Attacks healthy ripening fruit as well as overripe and rotting fruit. Must be treated before it lays eggs. Wasps: Order Hymenoptera Lacewings & Snakeflies: Order Neuroptera
Natural Enemies Natural Enemies
Braconid Wasps Ichneumonid Wasps Green Lacewing Snakefly ACTUAL SIZE: 1/16 to 1/8” ACTUAL SIZE: 1/4 to 1” ACTUAL SIZE: 1/2 to 1” ACTUAL SIZE: 1/2 to 1” Inserts egg in insect Feed on beetles, leaf- Larvae and adults of Adults and larvae feed body, wasp larva kills hoppers, aphids, cater- some species feed on on insect eggs, mites, host. Attacks aphids, pillars, true bugs and insect eggs, mites, aphids, and other soft whiteflies, beetle larvae, whiteflies. thrips, aphids, mealy- bodied insects. and caterpillars. bugs, whiteflies, and leafhoppers.
“Insects are not going to inherit the earth. They own it now. So we might as well make peace with the landlord." -T. Eisner
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PLACER & NEVADA COUNTIES