Transcript Pest Management Update

Pest Management Update
Anita Neal
UF/IFAS SLC Extension
A New Exotic Soft Scale Insect on Croton in South Florida
(Hemiptera: Coccoidea:Coccidae)
• This is an undescribed species in an
undescribed genus of unknown origin.
Currently, efforts are being made to
describe this new scale insect.
Adult and immatures of this new
scale insect on croton
Croton Scale
FLORIDA
DISTRIBUTION:
Broward, Duval,
Indian River, Lee,
Miami-Dade,
Monroe, Orange,
Palm Beach,
Pinellas, Putnam,
and St. Lucie
counties.
Male
Adult female, adult male and immatures of this new scale insect on croton
Homeowner Controls
• Bayer Advanced Garden Power Force
Multi-Insect Killer – Cyfluthrin
• Bayer Advanced Garden 2-in-1 Systemic
Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendon Care –
Dysulfoton
• Bayer Advanced Garden Tree & Shrub
Insect Control – Imidacloprid
• M-pede & Safer’s Soap – Potassium Salts
• Spectracide Rose & Flower Insect Spray Pyrethroid
Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, Xyleborus glabratus
Eichhoff (Scolytinae:Curculionidae)
Lateral view
• The redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus
glabratus Eichhoff, was first detected in
Georgia 2002 and in Florida in 2005.
• This ambrosia beetle introduces an
unspecified vascular fungus (Ophiostoma
sp.) into its host causing infected redbays
to wilt and die within a few weeks or
months.
String of compacted
ambrosia beetle
sawdust on redbay
Dorsal view
Redbay Ambrosia Beetle
• As the female redbay ambrosia beetle
bores tunnels into the wood, she lays her
eggs in galleries. These eggs hatch and
the larvae feed on the fungus, pupate and
change into adults.
• Only one female beetle is needed to
establish a new population. Unmated
females lay eggs that hatch as males,
while mated females lay eggs that hatch
as females. Multiple generations are
produced per year.
• Only the female beetles are able to fly and
initiate attacks on a new host of trees
• Do Not transport Firewood from Infested
areas
Detected in
Vero Beach
on an
Avocado tree
Redbay Ambrosia Beetle
Laurel Wilt Fungus
• Potential problem for avocados
• Most ambrosia beetles attack trees and shrubs
that are stressed, dying, or dead. Plant stress
may be the result of drought, flooding, freezing
temperature damage, wind damage, or very poor
cultural practices. In contrast, some ambrosia
beetles, the redbay ambrosia beetle included,
attack healthy trees. More importantly, the laurel
wilt fungus that accompanies this beetle often
causes tree death.
A bore-hole from a redbay ambrosia beetle
surrounded by dried sap (white-crystal-like)
from an avocado stem and wilted leaves of
laurel-wilt-infected avocado tree
Laurel Wilt
• Laurel wilt causes the leaves of affected trees to
droop and take on a reddish or purplish
discoloration. Wilted foliage may occur in only part
of the crown at first, but typically the entire crown
eventually wilts and reddens.
• In redbay, the leaves eventually turn brown and
remain on the tree for up to a year or more.
• Limited experience with laurel wilt in avocado
suggests that this host may drop its leaves relatively
soon after wilting.
• Removal of bark from wilted trees reveals a black to
brown discoloration in the sapwood. This is the best
diagnostic feature of laurel wilt in the field. The
extent of this discoloration, which runs in streaks
parallel to the grain of the wood, will vary depending
on how long the tree has been infected
What You Can Do
• Avoid long distance transport of firewood in
general. A county-level distribution map is
periodically updated on the following website:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/foresthealth/laurelwilt/dist_m
ap.shtml
• Whenever possible, leave dead and dying redbay
wood (and wood from other laurel family hosts) on
site instead of transporting it. If the wood must be
transported, dispose of it as close to the source as
possible
• Urban and rural residents and commercial growers
should be on the look-out for redbay and other host
trees (including avocado) showing signs of rapid
wilting and dark sapwood discoloration. Report new
finds to the Florida Division of Plant Industry
(http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/) or Division of
Forestry
• Treat at the root flare with propiconazole (Alamo) &
Thiabendazole (Arbotect) as macroinfusion
(innoculated)
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/foresthealth/laurelwilt/index.
shtml
Emerald Ash Borer
• Emerald Ash borer is an exotic beetle that
was discovered in southeastern Michigan
near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The
adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but
cause little damage. The larvae (the
immature stage) feed on the inner bark of
ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to
transport water and nutrients.
• It only attacks Ash trees, Fraxinus sp.
Emerald Ash Borer
• The adult beetles are metallic green and
about 1/2-inch long.
• Adults leave a D-shaped exit hole in the
back when they emerge in spring.
• Woodpeckers like EAB larvae; heavy
woodpecker damage on ash trees may
be a sign of infestation.
• Firewood cannot be moved in many
areas of Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Maryland because of the EAB quarantine
• It probably came from Asia in wood
packing material
• More information:
http://www.emeraldashborer.info/
Potato Cyst Nematodes
• Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) is a serious pest of
potatoes world-wide and is subject to stringent
quarantine and/or regulatory procedures wherever
it occurs. PCN can be a devastating pest of
potatoes in temperate regions if not controlled.
• It is in 65 countries, intro into US from WWI
equipment returning from the war (NY).
• Spread by tubers and soil residue
• Potential into Florida through potato seeds (Minn.,
Maine and South Dakota)
• Above ground symptoms
• Chlorosis
• Stunting of growth
• Incipient wilting
Sabal Palm Decline
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Texas Phoenix Palm Decline (TPPD)
Disease is caused by a phytoplasm
Noticed winter/spring 2008 – Manatee Co.
The earliest symptom is a discoloration of
the lower (oldest) leaves of the palms.
• Discoloration begins at the tips of the
leaflets.
• Then reproductive parts of the plant will
die, resulting in dropping of fruits and
flowers
• In Phoenix palms the spear leaf dies, in
Sabals it may not.
Sabal Palm Decline
• Red coloration on dead leaves
• The bud will be loose
• The insect vector, probably a planthopper
or leafhopper is unknown. It could be the
same leafhopper that vectors lethal yellow.
• Homeowners who suspect TPPD should
contact their local UF/IFAS County
Extension Office.
• The sampling process is at
http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/pdfs/LY-TPPDTrunk-Sampling.pdf
• Samples can be sent to the Fort
Lauderdale Research and Education
Center
The Unlucky Side of Lucky Bamboo
• Aka ‘Belgian evergreen’; Host name :
Dracaena sanderiana
• Extremely popular in Asian theme
interior decorating
• Plant is very hardy for interiorscaping
applications
• Large volume imported from China
over last several years
• Pathogen probably introduced in this
time frame
Unlucky Bamboo
• Fungal pathogen – Colletotrichum dracaenophilum
• Water-splashed conidial inoculum
• Geographic range – China, Bulgaria-2007 (PD
92:173), Dominican Republic and Florida-2008
• Symptoms are relatively mild at first and apparently
can remain static for some time. Look for slightly
raised brown patches on the stem, surrounded by a
maroon-colored border
Advanced Symptoms of C.
dracaenophilum
Consequences - Significance
• Another example of the international
phytosanitary system being overwhelmed
by volume
• Commodity is treated much like a product
for consumption; a potted plant, not
outplanted into environment much
• What is host range of C. dracaenophilum?
• Probably much too late for any meaningful
regulatory response
• Maintain vigilance to avoid any more
introductions, stop further spread
Recent Thrips Records of Interest
Submitted to the Division of Plant Industry
• Common name, the weeping fig thrips.
• Primary host, Ficus benjamina.
• Heavy infestations frequently reported.
Rolls leaf edges into ‘galls’ followed by leaf
drop.
• Predators: Androthrips ramachandrai
(Phlaeothripidae), Montandoniola
moraguesi (Anthocoridae).
Holopothrips tabebuia Cabrera & Segarra
• Recently described, formerly referred to as
Holopothrips cf. inquilinus (Bournier).
• Primary host, Tabebuia spp.
• Also makes leaf roll galls similar to
Gynaikothrips spp.
• Has same predators as Gynaikothrips spp.
Tabebuia Damage
Notice the severe leaflet
curling and galling caused
by Holopothrips tabebuia
Holopothrips tabebuia
These make protective galls in
which they lay eggs where the
larvae live and feed.
Liothrips spp.
• Liothrips varicornis Hood
• Hibiscus thrips
• Liothrips floridensis (Watson)
• Found on camphor
• Large thrips with bright red larvae.
Echinothrips americanus Morgan
• Seems more abundant than
usual this year.
• On a number of ornamentals
including Dieffenbachia,
Poinsettia, Spathoglottis, and
Syngonium.
Selenothrips rubrocinctus
(Giard)
• Always one of the most frequently
submitted thrips. Red-Banded Thrip
• Has wide host range, including native
plants.
Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood
• Most frequently submitted thrips overall.
• Distribution (27 counties) and host range
continue to expand.
• Significant new agricultural hosts:
• Strawberries (Jim Price)
• Blueberries (Lance Osborne)
Frankliniella spp.
• F. bispinosa (Morgan) continues to be the
most frequently submitted flower thrips
from a wide variety of hosts.
• F. occidentalis (Pergande) is submitted
about as frequently as F. bispinosa, also
from a wide variety of hosts.