Insect Pests of Strawberries in Ohio

OAR DC I Res. Bui. 1122 Price $1.50 Insect Pests of Strawberries ---- in Ohio Cooperative Extension Service The Ohio State University Insect IPests of Stra,Nberries Fig. 1: Adult strawberry rootworm. Fig. 2: Strawberry leaf roller moth. Fig.3: Exposed larva of strawberry leaf roller. Fig . 4: Wasp-Ii ke, strawberry Fig. 5: Sawfly larva on strawberry leaf. Fig. 6: Two-spotted spider mites with eggs. sawfly adult. Fig. 7: Cyclamen mite, healthy and dam Fig. 8: Strawberry weevil on flower petal. Fig. 9: Damage caused by strawberry weevil, aged plant. drawn by F. E. Wood, University of Mary land. 7/80-5M All educational programs and activities conducted by the Ohio Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, acts of May 8 Cooperative Extension Service and the Ohio Agricultural Research and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of and Development Center are available to all potential clientele on a Agriculture. Roy M. Kottman, Director of the Cooperative Extension nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national ori Service, The Ohio State University. gin, sex , or religious affiliation. 2 CONTENTS Introduction . 4 Relative Importance of Insects, Mites and Slugs . 4 Field Key for Identification of Insects and Other Pests Attacking Strawberries . 5 Insects and Mites Attacking Foliage . 6 Strawberry Leaf Roller . 6 Oblique-banded Leaf Roller . 7 Blueberry Leaf Roller ..................... .. .. .... .... ... 8 Strawberry Rootworm . 8 Grape Colaspis . 8 Strawberry Sawflies .. ... ..... ...... .. .. .. .. .. .......... 9 Strawberry Whitefly . 9 Two-Spotted Spider Mite .... ............ ................ 9 Cyclamen Mite ....................................•....... 9 Pests Attacking Buds and Fruits ..... .. ... .... .............. 10 Strawberry Weevil (Clipper) .. ... ....... ......... ... .... 10 Tarnished Plant Bug . ... ..... ... ......... ... ....... ... 10 AUTHORS Cutworms and Armyworms . ..... .. ...... .... ... .. .. .. .. 11 Roger N. Williams Green Fruitworms .... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ........ 11 Associate Professor Strawberry Bug ....... .. .................. .......... .. 11 Roy W. Rings Strawberry Sap Beetle ... .. ..... .................. .. ... 12 Professor Emeritus Ground Beetles . ... ... ..... ... .. .. ..... .. .... .. ... .... 12 Slugs ........................ ... .... ... ... ...... .. .... 12 Department of Entomology Ohio Agricultural Research Insects Attacking Stems and Crowns . .. .. .... .. .. ..... 13 and Development Center, Wooster Meadow Spittlebug .. .. ..... .... ..... ...... ..... .. .. 13 Strawberry Crown Borer ................................... 13 Strawberry Crown-miner .. ...... .. ................. .. 13 Strawberry Aphids ............ .... .. ... ... .. .. .... .... 14 Insects Attacking Roots .. ...... .... .......... .. .... .. ...... 15 White Grubs .. ... ...... .. .............. ... .......... ... ... 15 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Strawberry Root Aphids ............. .......... .. ...... 15 The authors express appreciation to Glenn L. Berkey, Research Strawberry Root Weevils .. .. ... ... ... .. .. ............ 16 Center Photographer, who prepared most of the photographs used in this bulletin, and to other institutions for permission to use illustra tive materia I. Most of the drawings were prepared by R. W. Rings. The Outlook .. .... .. ... .... .. ..... .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... 17 late R. B. Neiswander is hereby honored for his pioneering studies of strawberry pests in Ohio. Literature Cited . .......... .. ............ ................ 18 3 INSECT AND MITE PESTS OF STRAWBERRIES IN OHIO Strawberry growers, Extension specialists and others RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF INSECTS, interested in the production of strawberries will find this publication helpful in recognizing insect, slug and MITES AND SLUGS mite problems. With this knowledge there will be grea The majority of the insect, mite and slug pests re ter opportunity of maximizing yields. The sooner a ported in this bulletin are native to the United States. problem can be identified and control measures under Before strawberries were grown commercially, most of taken, the better the economic prospects. After a pest these pests fed upon and bred in cinquefoil (Potentila), that is causing plant injury is identified, either by the American wood strawberry (Fragaria americana) and presence of one or more life stages or by its characteris the Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana). tic injury, then proper control measures can be selected and applied. Because chemical control re When new pests of strawberries were imported from commendations change from year to year, growers other countries, populations rapidly built up and seri should obtain current information from the county ag ous damage to strawberry plantings resulted; e.g., the ricultural agent, Extension specialist or the Research strawberry leaf roller, which was introduced from Center. Europe to the United States in about 1866. Control mea Strawberries are native to most regions of the temp sures have been developed and many native parasites erate zone. However, the large-fruited, productive var now attack this species. As a result, it is much less ieties now cultivated have been developed from a important now than it was in the mid 40's and early 50's. chance crossing of two species, both native to the Americas. A Chilean species (Fragaria chiloensis) was Until recently, the most serious pests of strawberries introduced into France in 1712. Later it became estab were the strawberry leaf roller, the strawberry root lished in English gardens, where North American worm, the strawberry crown borer, white grubs, the species (Fragaria virginiana) was being grown. It is quite meadow spittlebug and the two-spotted spider mite. probable that a chance crossing of these two species in With modern innovations SlJCh as virus free stock, England marked the beginning of commercial varieties chemical weed control and disease resistant varieties, presently used in the United States. some growers now harvest the same fields for several Strawberries are among the most important fruit years. These changes have also caused changes in the crops grown in Ohio and are exceeded in total value insect pest complex. In the past few years, strawberry only by apples (4). The dollar value per acre of straw weevil (clipper), strawberry sap beetle and tarnished berries exceeds all fruit crops. The most recent figures plant bug have been on the increase. Where plantings available indicate that more than 1,500 acres of straw are maintained over relatively long periods of time, the berries were harvested in Ohio in 1978. Strawberries cyclamen mite can be a problem of increasing concern. enjoy the prestige of being the most important of the home garden fruit crops. The identification of virus diseases as the cause of The farm value of strawberries in Ohio in 1978 ex "running out" and the close association of aphids with ceeded $3.8 million. Because of the importance of the virus transmission have increased the importance of strawberry industry in Ohio agriculture, it is approp this group of insects. Aphids injure plants in three riate that attention be given to the important insect and ways: (1) by sucking sap from the plant, (2) by injecting other pests that attack this crop. These pests can cause toxic materials into the plant and thereby causing serious economic loss by markedly reducing crop yields stunting or deformation of tissues, or (3) by acting as and affecting quality. carriers of viruses. 4 Fl ELD KEY FOR 5. Small, moderately deep holes in berries accom panied by slimy trails on berries or leaves. Elon IDENTIFICATION OF INSECT, gated slimy animals without a shell. MITE AND SLUG (Figure 35) Slugs PESTS ATTACKING STRAWBERRIES 6. Small, relatively shallow holes eaten directly into berries. Similar to slug damage but holes much A. Chewing insects that eat holes in leaves or eat large smaller in diameter with no slime trail. portions of leaves: (Figure 33) Strawberry sap beetle 1. Leaflets folded or rolled together. Small greenish 7. Berries deformed, irregular or button-shaped, or bronze caterpillars (l/z inch long) feed within the with seeds grouped apically. rolled portion. (Figure 31 and Figure 32) (Figure 10) Strawberry leaf roller Tarnished plant bug 2. Small holes eaten in leaves. Shiny, oval beetles, 1/s inch long, with four dark blotches on wing covers. Active only at night. (Figure 13 and Figure 1) Strawberry rootwonn D. Insects attacking stems and crowns: 3. Small holes eaten in leaves. Yellowish-brown bee 1 White, frothy masses covering small, green insects tles, 3/16 inch long, with brown legs and that suck sap from stems, flower clusters or leaflets. yellowish-brown antennae. Active during day. Active from bloom to late June. (Figure 14) Grape colaspis (Figure 36) Meadow spittlebug 4. Large portions ofleaves eaten by green larvae with 2. Plants stunted and small grubs in crown of plants. black eye spots on each side of head. Feed mostly Larvae are white, legless grubs about 1/5 inch long. at night. (Figure 24) Strawberry crown borer (Figure 5) Strawberry sawflies 3. Pale yellowish or whitish aphids, without wings, on 5. Large portions of leaves eaten by light or' dark the underside of strawberry leaves, usually with green caterpillars with prominent, white longitud their slender beaks inserted in leaf tissue. Winged inal stripes (l/z to ll/z inches long). forms have a dark thorax and head and a light (Figure 21) Green fruitworms

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