Transcript Insect Identification

Insect Identification
Introduction to Horticulture CDE
Brandon Smith
Aphid
 Soft bodied insects
 In adult form they have
transparent wings
 Throughout life cycle they
gradually change in size
 Numerous generations per
year
 Tubelike mouthpartssucking insect
 Injuries include loss of
plant vigor
 Stunted growth
 Deformed buds and
flowers
 Curled foliage
 Secretion of honeydew
attracts ants and provides
environment for sooty
mold
 Vector diseases
Aphid
Stages of development in
aphids
Aphids found
feeding on plant
Aphid
Top: Close up of adult aphid and
nymphal aphids.
Bottom: Adult aphid.
Bagworms
 Common pest of landscape
 Hatch in mid-summer
plants
Prefer juniper, arborvitae,
spruce, and pine
Hard to spot early on
Difficult to treat when they
reach the bag stage
Adult female remains
caterpillar and doesn’t
leave bag
 Can defoliate branches
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causing dieback
 Treatment levels
considered at 20 or more
bagworms on a plant
Bagworms
Bagworms are easily
identified in the bag stage,
but control becomes difficult
other than by manual
removal
Caterpillar
emerging from bag.
If bag is present
treat as bagworm,
otherwise identify
as caterpillar in
contest.
Bagworms
Dissected view of bag.
Fairly typical damage to affected
plant. Plant will more than likely
die.
Caterpillars
 Caterpillars are the larval
stage of many moths and
butterflies
 Long, fleshy, soft bodied
with three or more pairs of
legs
 Well developed toothed
jaws, chewing insect
 Different caterpillars feed
on different plant parts
 Affected areas:
 Roots
 Stems
 Foliage
 Fruit
 Flowers/buds
 Injury includes:
 Tears
 Tunnels
 Ragged holes
Caterpillars
Caterpillars are larval stages of moths and
butterflies.
There are numerous species of caterpillars.
Identification should be based on long, soft
bodies, with no discernible bag.
Caterpillars
The life cycle of armyworms.
Japanese beetle
 Characterized by hardened
 One generation per year
wings that meet in a
straight line down thorax
and abdomen
 Folded second pair of
transparent wings
underneath
 Complete change from
wormlike larvae to
immobile pupa to winged
adult
 Chewing insect
 Larva feed on roots, stems,
foliage, buds, seeds, fruits,
or woody tissue
 White grub in ground from
August until May
 Emerge as adult beetle
Japanese beetle
Adult stage of
Japanese
beetles
Typical damage.
Japanese beetle
Typical timetable for
development and
emergence through the
year.
Physiological
development of the
Japanese beetle.
Lacebug
 Numerous species in NC
 Azaleas in hot and sunny
 Azalea lace bug is most
locations generally have
higher populations and
damage
 Treatment considered
based on amount of
aesthetic appearance
damage tolerated
common
 Feed on specific host plant,
or those closely related
 Injury includes:
 Blotched or spotty
appearance on upper side
of leaves
 Premature leaf drop
Lacebug
Top left and right: Lacebugs can come
in various sizes and species, but all
exhibit the transparency in the wings.
(close up photographs)
What the typical infestation may
look like. Lacebugs are tiny
winged insects that can be
difficult to see.
Lacebug
Development of lacebugs.
Example of damage by
lacebugs.
Mealybugs
 Small, oval insect
 Injury includes:
 Resembles small bit of wax
 Stunted growth
or wool
 Soft bodied, covered with
white powder and cottony
fibers
 Gradual change through
development
 Numerous generations per
year
 Yellow growth (chlorosis)
 Wilted growth
 Deformed growth
 Also transmit disease
agents
 Similar damage in aphids
and scale insects
Mealybugs
Mealybugs have a white, cottony
appearance, and can be spotted
on plants easily if there is enough
contrast. However, can be
confused on some plants.
Mealybugs
Scale
 Small, oval shaped insect
 Adult males resemble tiny
 Resembles reptile scales
flies with a singular pair of
wings
 Gradual change through
development
 Adult males do not have
mouthparts or feed
 Nymphs and adult females
are sucking insects
 Easily mistaken for a part
of plant
 Can be soft bodied or be
armored with crusty shell
 Adult females are wingless
and stationary
Scale
Scales can be oval
shaped or slightly
elongated.
Scales can secrete
honeydew that attracts
ants and can create
favorable conditions for
sooty mold.
Scale
Elongated scales.
Bottom: Development of
scales.
Spider mites
 Numerous species
 Can kill woody plants, if
 Arachnids rather than
given enough time
 Dry conditions favor spider
mites
 Two spotted spider mites
are most important
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insects (related to spiders)
Range in color from red
and yellow to green and
brown
Extract sap from cells
Causes speckled
appearance
Can kill herbaceous plants
quickly if left unchecked
 Attacks wide range of hosts
 Vegetables
 Shrubs
 Evergreens (spruce spider
mite)
 Turfgrass (clover spider mite)
Spider mites
Spider mites are related to
spiders, ticks, and other
arachnids. Small webs can
be made by spider mites.
Spider mites
Two spotted spider mite and Life
cycle.
Thrips
 Thin, tiny insects
 Injury includes:
 Four narrow fringed wings
 Discoloration
as adults
 Gradual change in
development
 Rasping insects
 Attack surface tissue of:
 Distorted flowers
 Tender buds
 Flowers
 Fruits
 leaves
 Buds gray or speckled
 Fruits and foliage with
speckling
 May attack every type of
agricultural crop
Thrips
Thrips have a distinct body shape in
adult stages.
Thrips
Various species of thrips.
Whether there is 1 or more
than 1, the term “thrips” is
always used, not thrip.
White fly
 Tiny, soft bodied insects
 Sucking insects
 Covered in white, waxy
 Secrete honeydew
powder
 Adults have two pairs of
wings, look like tiny white
moths
 Gradual change throughout
development
 Numerous generations per
year
 Attack outdoor crops in
South as well as greenhouse
crops (poinsettias)
White fly
Top left: Close up of a whitefly.
Top right: Numerous whiteflies
infect a plant.
Bottom left: Signs of whitefly
infestation.
White fly
Top left: White fly damage on
poinsettia.
Bottom right: Development of whitefly.
References
 US EPA Agricultural Pest Control – Plants Manual
 North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association Certified
Plant Professional Study Guide. By: Dr. Barbara Fair.