insect identification guide - the college of agricultural
TRANSCRIPT
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How to use this bookletGo to the tab that best exemplifies the damage observed on ornamental plants or turfgrass. Some insects are not easily seen. Sometimes a magnifying glass or a microscope is needed. The type of damage caused can provide evidence of the culprit. Not all insects cause damage and many benefit your garden. You will find many of these insects in the beneficial insects section of this book.
KeySize of the insect:
Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM)Before choosing a course of action about an insect in the garden, remember the four principles of IPM: • Monitor the garden • Identify the insect or problem • Evaluate the situation and predict the impact of the damage, if any • Make a decision about the best course of action and choose your control methods
Consult your county Extension agent and state pest control handbook regarding the choice of control methods. Always follow pesticide labels and use proper precautions before handling pesticides.
needs magnification to be observed
1/8” to 1/2” long
1/2” long or more
authors: Skaku Nair, Kris Braman and Ellen Bauske photographs: Bugwood.org
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Pest insects o
f orn
amen
tal plan
ts
needs magnification to be observed
1/8” to 1/2” long
1/2” long or more
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Some insects, especially those that cause chewing damage to plants, are beautiful additions to the garden at later stages in their life. Take a look at the caterpillars and see what they become before you decide to take action.
Pretty or pest?
D. C
appa
ert
S. M
cKee
ver
P. W
irtz
D. C
appa
ert
S. K
atov
ich
C.T
. Bry
son
Cabbage butterfly larva
Tiger swallowtail larva
Monarch butterfly larva
Cabbage butterfly
Tiger swallowtail butterfly
Monarch butterfly
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Chewingdamage
Ch
ewin
g d
amag
e
CLUESM
. Zu
bri
kG
. Cso
ka
S. K
ato
vich
D
ow
Gar
den
s A
rch
ive
Scraped or chewed leaves or flowers. Frass and webbing.
Examples
possible culprits
6
Beetles
L.S.
Dal
en
Flea beetles (adults)
Land
esfo
rstp
räsi
dium
Sac
hsen
Flea beetles (larvae)D
. Cap
paer
t
Japanese beetles (adults)
J. N
. Del
l
Tortoise beetle
P. W
esto
n
Viburnum leaf beetle (adult)
M. Z
ubrik
Viburnum leaf beetle (larvae)
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Caterpillars
C. E
vans
Azalea caterpillar
E.R.
Day
Bagworm
D. C
appa
ert
Tent caterpillar
G. L
enha
rd
Yellownecked caterpillar
M. Z
ubrik
Fall webworm
R. F
. Bill
ings
Oak leaf caterpillar
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Grasshoppers & Sawflies
R. O
tten
s
American grasshopper
D. R
iley
Differential grasshopperB.
Kun
kel
Bristly roseslug sawfly (larva)
J. A
. Wei
dhas
s
Roseslug sawfly (larva)
G.J
. Len
hard
Redheaded pine sawfly (larvae)
L. G
rane
y
Oak sawfly (larva)
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Diebackdamage
Dieb
ack dam
age
CLUESL.
L. H
ych
ePA
Dep
t.C
on
serv
. Nat
. Res
. Fo
rest
J. O
’Bri
enJ.
So
lom
on
Unusual wilting, drying or death of a branch or twig on an otherwise healthy plant.
Examples
possible culprits
10
ScalesArmored Scales
Soft Scales
A.J
. Boo
ne
Lecanium scale
J.A
. Wei
dhas
s
Wax scale
Cle
mso
n U
niv.
-USD
A C
oop.
Ext.
Euonymus scale
Cle
mso
n U
niv.
-USD
A C
oop.
Ext.
Tea scale
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DiebackdamageMORE CLUES
Pa. D
ept.
of
Co
nse
rvat
ion
& N
atu
ral R
eso
urc
es –
Fo
rest
ry A
rch
ive
J. R
. Bak
er /
S.B
. Bam
bar
a
In addition to unusual wilting or drying, look for frass in branch crotches or frass ‘toothpicks.’
Examples
possible culprits
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Borers
D. C
appa
ert
Emerald ash borer (adult)
D. C
appa
ert
Emerald ash borer (larva)D
. Cap
paer
t
Flat-headed apple tree borer (adult)
B.W
. Kau
ffm
an
Flat-headed apple tree borer (larva)
D. C
appa
ert
Goldenrod locust borer
J. H
ulcr
Granulate ambrosia beetle
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Distortiondamage
Disto
rtion
dam
age
R. F
. Bill
ing
s
INR
A-B
ord
eau
x
S. K
ato
vich
S. K
inel
ski
Abnormally shaped or colored deformation of plant parts. Some of these can also be symptoms of plant diseases.
Galls
CLUES
possible culprits
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Insects & mites that make galls
W. C
rans
haw
Adelgid
S. M
cKee
ver
Cynipid wasp
T. W
oott
en
Eriophyid mite (adult)
S.P.
van
Vuu
ren
Psyllid
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Leaf mines
S.K
. Bra
man
Azalea leaf damage
M. D
reili
ng
Azalea leaf miner (moth) G
. Cso
ka
Holly leaf damage
J. B
aker
Holly leaf miner (fly)
J. B
aker
Boxwood leaf damage
J. B
aker
Boxwood leaf miner (fly)
Culprits
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Stipplingdamage
Stipp
ling
dam
age
S. N
air
W. C
ran
shaw
W. C
ran
shaw
Cle
mso
n U
niv
.-U
SDA
Co
op
.Ext
.
Chlorotic spots. Also look for frass, cast skins and webbing.
Examples
CLUES
possible culprits
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Lace bugs
MitesJ.
Bak
er
Azalea lace bug
J. B
aker
Hawthorn lace bugJ.
A. W
eidh
ass
Southern red mites and eggs
F. P
eairs
Two-spotted spider mite
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Pest insects of turfgrass
While visual evidence of insect damage to turfgrass is often seen above ground, damage can be caused by insects that live either above ground or below ground. Proceed to the tabbed section that best exemplifies observable damage.
SamplingSeveral techniques are used to confirm the presence of insects in turgrass.
Sampling method key
Flotation sampling
Soap flush sampling
Soil sampling
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Aboveground pests
Ab
ove g
rou
nd
CLUESS.
K. B
ram
an
S.K
. Bra
man
S.K
. Bra
man
Chewed or shredded leaves, leaves with shot-holes, cut stems, abnormal yellowing or drying of leaves. Also look for frass, webbing or spittle-like substance on leaves.
Examples of damage
possible culprits
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Chewing pests
Nor
th C
arol
ina
Fore
st S
ervi
ce
Armyworm (larva)
N. W
right
Armyworm adult (moth)S.
K.B
ram
an
Fall armyworm (larva)
B.R.
Wis
eman
Fall armyworm adult (moth)
J. B
erge
r
Billbug adult
J. L
awre
nce
Sod webworm adult (moth)
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Chewing pests
R.J.
Rey
nold
s To
bacc
o C
ompa
ny
Variegated cutworm (larva)
I. K
imbe
r
Variegated cutworm adult (moth)
A. S
isso
n
Black cutworm (larva)
A. S
isso
n
Black cutworm adult (moth)
W. C
rans
haw
Bronzed cutworm (larva)
A. S
isso
n
Bronzed cutworm adult (moth)
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Sucking pests
S..K
. Bra
man
Chinch bug (adults)
S..K
. Bra
man
Chinch bug (nymphs)J.
N. D
ell
Spittle bug (adult)
S.K
. Bra
man
Spittle bug (nymph)
25
Below ground pests
Belo
w g
rou
nd
CLUESPh
oto
Cre
dit
Pho
to C
red
it
Pho
to C
red
itS.
K. B
ram
an
Abnormal yellow, brown, wilted or dried up patches of turfgrass.
Examples of damage
possible culprits
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Possible culprits
W. C
rans
haw
Billbug (larva) U
GA
Arc
hive
Mole crickets
Cle
mso
n U
niv.
– U
SDA
Coo
p. E
xt.
Mole crickets
D. C
appa
ert
May-June beetle (grubs)
T.S.
Pric
e
May-June beetle (adults)
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Beneficial insects in the landscape
Beneficial insects include predators and parasitoids. They prey on pest insects or use them as hosts for the parasitoids’ young. Such insects are beneficial because they remove pests from the environment.
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PredatorsPred
ators
C.M
. Abr
aham
Predators prey on pest insects. Predators are generally larger, faster and stronger than their prey and often capture and eat many individuals during their life cycle.
Example
predators
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Beetles
J. B
erge
r
Ground beetle
Cle
mso
n U
niv.
-USD
A C
oop.
Ext.
Lady beetle larvae, eggs and adult J.
Yus
choc
k
Rove beetle
S. M
cKee
ver
Tiger beetle
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Dragonflies
D. C
appa
ert
Dragonfly
G. B
ram
an
Dragonfly
Damselflies
J.N
. Del
l
Damselfly
G. B
ram
an
Damselfly
32
Flies
D. C
appa
ert
Long-legged fly
E.L.
Man
igau
lt
Robber flyS.
Elli
s
Syrphid fly (adult)
A.N
. Spa
rks
Jr.
Syrphid fly (larva) with aphid prey
33
Lacewings
J. B
erge
r
Brown lacewing
C. M
oore
head
Dusty wing
W. C
rans
haw
Lacewing larva
F. P
eairs
Green lacewing
W. C
rans
haw
Lacewing eggs
34
Mantids
W.C
rans
haw
Praying mantid adult
W.C
rans
haw
Praying mantid egg case
WaspsC
.M.A
brah
am
Paper wasp
S.El
lis
Sphecid wasp
35
Spiders & Mites
D. C
appa
ert
Flower spider
R. O
tten
s
Green lynx spider
D. C
appa
ert
Zipper spider
D. C
appa
ert
Spiny orb weaver
C. R
ay
Predatory mite
C. R
ay
Predatory mite
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True bugs
W.C
rans
haw
Assassin bug
B.H
igbe
e
Big-eyed bugF.
E.Fr
ench
Predatory stink bug
H.A
.Pas
e III
Wheel bug
W.B
eck
Damsel bug
J. R
uber
son
Minute pirate bug
37
ParasitoidsParasito
ids
Parasitoids are insects that live and develop as parasites on other insects (hosts) and eventually kill them. Parasitoids usually complete their development on a single individual host.
Parasitoids at work
S.K
. Bra
man
Azalea lace bug egg parasitoid
D. C
appa
ert
Mummified (top) and healthy aphids
S.K
. Bra
man
Parasitized lace bug egg with exit hole
W. C
rans
haw
Parasitoid larva inside mummified aphid
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Parasitoids at work
F.St
arr
& K
.Sta
rr
Parasitized stink bug with egg parasitoids
P.J.
Pugl
iese
Parasitized caterpillar
K.C
ham
berla
in
Parasitized caterpillar with eggs
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Flies & Wasps
S. M
cKee
ver
Tachinid fly
R.O
tten
s
Tachinid fly
S. B
auer
R. R
yan
Braconid wasp Eulophid wasp
R. R
yan
USD
A A
RS P
hoto
Uni
t
Ichneumonid wasp Pteromalid wasp
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Useful termsBugs “True bugs” are insects belonging to the suborder Heteroptera, under order Hemiptera. Sometimes “bugs” is misused as a generic term for insects.
Cast skinsDried skins left by immature insects after they molt.
Chlorotic spotsPale yellow, green or white spots on leaves caused when sucking pests draw out plant sap.
Frass Insect fecal matter.
Larva(e)Immature insects that do not resemble the adult(s).
Nymph(s)Immature insects that resemble the adult.
PredatorInsects or other organisms that prey on other insects. Predators are generally larger, faster and stronger than their prey and often capture and eat many individuals during their life cycle.
ParasitoidsInsects that live and develop as parasites on other insects (hosts) and eventually kill them. Parasitoids usually complete their development on a single individual host.
Flotation samplingMethod to sample turf insects (e.g., chinch bugs), done by inserting one end of a hollow, cylindrical container into the turfgrass and filling it with water. Insects, if present, will float to the top and can be counted.
Soap flush samplingMethod to sample turf insects (e.g., sod webworms and other caterpillars), done by drenching a unit area of turfgrass (e.g., 2’ x 2’) with soapy water (2 fl. oz. liquid dish detergent in 1 gal. water). Caterpillars, if present, get irritated by the soap and crawl to the surface, and can be counted and identified.
Soil samplingMethod to sample soil-dwelling insects (e.g., white grubs and bill bug grubs), done by digging about 6 inches deep into a unit area of soil (e.g., 1’ x 1’), at several points over the turfgrass. Grubs, if present, will be exposed and can be counted.
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This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Award No. 2009-41530-05560.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. Cooperative Extension, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability.
The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action.
Bulletin 1409 August 2012