ONLY THE YOUNG DIE GOOD AND OTHER THINGS TO REMEMBER FOR GOOD MANAGEMENT OF LANDSCAPE INSECTS by Vivienne E. Harris, Ph.D. and Jim Moll
HOW TO CATCH EM YOUNG young individuals or young populations Be vigilant. Use your eyes. Get in the habit of checking your plants. Know what normal looks like. Learn the key pest(s) each for each plant http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/scout/key.pdf
OLEANDER CATERPILLARS GOT FAT ON THIS POOR OLEANDER BUSH Eileen Buss
Oleander Caterpillar Syntomedia epilais
OLEANDER CATERPILLARS ON MANDEVILLA Joanne East
OLEANDER CATERPILLARS: First Instars and Empty Eggshells It s when they are this tiny or just a bit bigger that you should try to kill them whether you use a regular insecticide, horticultural spray oil, a blast from the hose, or just your squashing fingers. Eileen Buss
These azalea caterpillars are too big to control!
Azalea caterpillars So are these and these Azalea Caterpillars
Ideally, aim to kill them when they re tiny like these.
TOMATO HORNWORM
CANNA LEAFROLLERS Long before the canna is damaged to this extent, look for the beginnings of a roll at the edge of a leaf or for the central whorled leaf not unfurling properly. This damage was caused before this tiny guy was laid as an egg, but that s the size larva you should look for
CANNA LEAFROLLER Find it and squish it! x Joanne East
What Do You Think? Too Early or Too Late to Spray?
Too late! Caterpillar already inside of ear Protected from sprays Corn Ear Worm
First Signs of Damage
TIME YOUR CONTROL AT THESE YOUNG BEETLE GRUBS
INSTEAD OF THESE LATE INSTAR BEETLE GRUBS
SOOTY MOLD Usually this is when a homeowner notices a problem with the plant! Photo by Dan Culbert
SEVERAL TYPES OF INSECTS PRODUCE HONEYDEW APHIDS SOFT SCALES IMMATURE WHITEFLIES MEALYBUGS LEAFHOPPERS And honeydew build-up results in SOOTY MOLD, a sticky, sugary, nutritious substance that the mold grows on
ADULT WHITEFLIES AND EGGS
COMMON HOST PLANTS FOR WHITEFLIES POINSETTIA HIBISCUS MANDEVILLA ALLAMANDA CREPE MYRTLE GARDENIA SWEET VIBURNUM TOMATOES, MELONS & MANY OTHER FRUITS & VEGETABLES
UF/IFAS Whitefly Damage
Whiteflies a closer look These are the immature and damaging (plant feeding) stage
Asian Cycad Scale
Scales on cycad
CYCAD SCALE Joanne East
Eileen Buss Camellia Leaf with Tea Scale
Tea Scales UF/IFAS
TESTING FOR LIVING SCALES BY FLICKING WITH FINGERNAIL Joanne East
Mealybugs: closely related to scales but they move around more than scales UF/IFAS
MEALYBUGS: Adult Females With Egg Sacs and Immatures Mealybug nymph Smaller nymph
CURLING, CUPPING, PUCKERING? Most probably insect-caused (but could be a virus or herbicide damage)
PUCKERING FROM APHID FEEDING
APHIDS ATTACK MANY TYPES OF PLANTS Some do a lot of damage. Some transmit plant viruses. Some don t do much damage before aphid parasites and predators move in on them.
MOVING AWAY FROM THE HOMOPTERA (aphids, whiteflies, scales, mealybugs) TO SOME OTHER ORDERS OF INSECTS
CHILLI THRIPS 100 recorded hosts from about 40 different families including ornamentals and vegetables
CHILLI THRIPS DAMAGE Photo MREC UF/IFAS Photo Dan Culbert
CHILLI THRIPS Chilli thrips are difficult for most people to see because Pale colored First and second instar larvae and the pupae are 0.37-0.39, 0.68-0.71 and 0.78-0.80 mm, respectively Photo MREC UF/IFAS
Azalea Lace Bug Damage UF - IFAS
AZALEA LEAVES DAMAGED BY AZALEA LACE BUGS
AZALEA LACE BUG NYMPHS & EXCREMENT Note spines on nymphs Joanne East
LACE BUG ADULT, NYMPH & EXCREMENT
SPIDER MITES TWOSPOTTED SPIDER MITE IS PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON SPIDER MITE AND THE MOST PESTIFEROUS. ATTACKS MANY ORNAMENTAL PLANTS BOTH IN PRODUCTION AND IN THE LANDSCAPE.
TWOSPOTTED SPIDER MITE UF/IFAS
Twospotted Spider Mite Webbing UF - IFAS
Rose When you see webbing without even hunting for it, serious damage has already been done. Twospotted spider mite damage Palm
EARLY SIGNS OF SPIDER MITES Slight stippling Foliage plants like palms, Spathyphyllum and Dieffenbachia will show a slight change in leaf color even when the population is still small Turn the leaves over and look for mites. Tap suspect leaves onto white paper Look for dry specks (excrement) cast skins, or the mites themselves.
STIPLING DAMAGE FROM SPIDER MITE FEEDING
Here s a familiar big guy of the insect world Too big to control with insecticides
anne East 1 st Instar Lubbers
Joanne East
HOW TO CATCH EM YOUNG young individuals or young populations Be vigilant. Use your eyes. Get in the habit of checking your plants. Know what normal looks like. Learn the key pest(s) each for each plant http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/scout/key.pdf
REMEMBER when it comes to insect pests ONLY THE YOUNG DIE GOOD!
Dedicated Dr. Vivienne Harris Pasco County Urban Horticulture Extension Agent (2000-2004) June 23, 1941 - August 14, 2004
THE END THANK YOU