Insect Pests Diagnostics

Stacey Jones

Area Specialized Agent (Central Region)

Commercial Greenhouse and Nursery

What is an Insect?

Insect Orders

Complete Metamorphosis

Incomplete Metamorphosis

Complete Metamorphosis

List of Orders

• Coleoptera-Beetles

• Lepidoptera- Butterflies and Moths

• Hymenoptera-Ants, Bees, Wasps

• Diptera-Flies

BUTTERFLY OR MOTH

Chewing Mouthparts

• Two mandibles

Exception: Bees

Chewing Mouthpart Damage Leaves

• Defoliation

– Caterpillars

– Beetles (adult and larvae)

– Grasshopper

Chewing Mouthpart Damage Leaves

• Shotholes

– Caterpillars

– Beetles (adult and larvae)

– Grasshopper

• Margin notching

– Caterpillars

– Beetles (adult and larvae)

– Grasshopper

Chewing Mouthpart Damage Leaves

• Skeletonization

– Caterpillars

– Beetles (adult and larvae)

Chewing Mouthpart Damage Leaves

• Leaf Roller

– Caterpillar

Chewing Mouthpart Damage Leaves

• Leaf mining

– Caterpillars

– Fly larvae

Chewing Mouthpart Damage Leaves

Is it a Beetle or Caterpillar?

• Silk

Is it a Beetle or Caterpillar?

• Frass

Is it a Beetle or Caterpillar?

• Protective cases

Is it a Beetle or Caterpillar?

• Silk

• Frass

Beetles

• Hard elytra

• Line down the back

• Larvae no prolegs

• Branch/Trunk Dieback

– Beetle larvae

Chewing Mouthpart Damage Branches and Trunk

• Shoot dieback

– Caterpillars

– Beetles (adult and larvae)

– Cicadas

Chewing Mouthpart Damage Branches

• Girdlers

– Mesquite Girdler

Chewing Mouthpart Damage Branches and Trunk

• Exit Holes

– Beetle (adult and larvae)

Chewing Mouthpart Damage Branches and Trunk

Borer Eggs

• Eggs laid on or below the surface

• Tiny larvae bore into the wood

Flat Headed Borers

• Metallic Wood Boring Beetle

• Meandering galleries

• D shaped exit holes

• Fine saw dust

Round Headed Borer• Longhorned Beetle

• Tunnels into heartwood

• Round exit holes

• Course saw dust

Chewing Mouthpart DamageRoots

• Root feeding

– Scarab Beetle larvae

Incomplete Metamorphosis

List of Orders

• Hemiptera-True bugs

• Homoptera-Aphids, Whitefly, Hoppers, Cicadas

• Orthoptera- Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids

• Thysanoptera-Thrips

• Blattodea-Roaches

• Mantodea-Mantids

• Isoptera-Termites

• Odonata-Dragonflies and Damselflies

Sucking Mouthparts

• Homoptera and Hemiptera have probiscis

• Rest in this group have chewing mouthparts

True Bug Wings

• Half leathery/ half membranous

http://schmidling.com/lfbug1.jpg

Main Pests

1. True bugs

2. Aphids

3. Whitefly

4. Thrips

1

2

3

4

Main Pests

1. Scale insects

2. Mealybugs

3. Leafhopper

4. Spider mites

4

3

2

1

Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Stippling

– Aphids

– Whitefly

– Thrips

– Leafhopper

– Spider mites

Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Yellowing

– Aphids

– Whitefly

– Thrips

– Leafhopper

– Spider mites

Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Streaking- Thrips

Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Cupping

– Aphids

– Whitefly

– Thrips

– Leafhopper

– Spider mites

Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Fecal Spots

– Lacebugs

– Thrips

– Leafhoppers

Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Honeydew

– Aphids

– Whitefly

– Scale/Mealybugs

Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Sooty mold

– Aphids

– Whitefly

– Scale/Mealybugs

Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Exoskeletons

– Aphids

– Whitefly

– Leafhopper

Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• White wax

– Soft Scale

– Mealybugs

Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Brown Scabs

– Armored Scale

Sucking Mouthpart Damage

• Webbing

– Spider mites

Disease Vectors

– Aphids

– Whitefly

– Thrips

– Leafhopper

Miscellaneous Damage

Egg Laying

• Leafhoopers

• Cicadas

Galls

• Egg laying

• Saliva injection

Not a Pest

• Leaf Cutter Bee

Not Insect Damage

• Wood Pecker

Questions?

Stacey Jones

704-920-3310

stacey_ jones@ncsu.edu