Invasive Insectsof Concernto Georgia

Front Cover: Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis). Photo credit Melody Keena, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org.

Citation:

Moss, E.J., G.K. Douce, J.H. LaForest, D.J. Moorhead, C.T. Bargeron, M.D. Toews, 2016. Invasive Species of Concern to Georgia. The University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, Tifton, GA. BW-2016-01. 36 p.

All images can be found in the Bugwood Image Database System at http://images.bugwood.org.

Why are these insects of concern to Georgia?

These insects are invasive species and have the potential to create significant damage through direct losses to agronomic crops, forests, our landscape, structures, aquatic environments or environmental damage through wide-spread plant mortality. The presence of these pests may also result in quarantines that restrict the import and export of commodities.

What is an invasive species?

An invasive species is any species (including its seeds, eggs, spores, or other propagative material) that is not native to an ecosystem, and lives free from natural predators, parasites, or competitors. As a result, they can develop large populations very rapidly, and their introduction does or is likely to cause harm to the economy, environment or human health. Native insects can be pests, but the introduction of exotic insect species has the potential to cause greater damage due to a lack of effective biological control agents and a lack of resistance in our native plants. Invasive species can out-compete, displace or kill native species and disrupt vital ecosystem functions such as wildlife food and habitat, water flow, nutrient cycling or soil decomposition. This brochure provides information about non-native insect species that are thought to be of concern to GA: some are already causing significant damage, others are established but not widely distributed, and some are potential serious pests not yet established in GA.

Where do these invasive insects come from?

Most are native to other continents but a few are native to the Southwestern U.S., Mexico or Central America and have become established in the Southeast. Invasive insects are frequently introduced accidentally as “hitch-hikers” in contaminated freight or the movement of contaminated wood products (including shipping pallets and firewood), host plants or food products.

Why don’t our native plants have resistance to these exotic insects?

Plants develop resistance to native insects through interaction over many generations. Plants with resistance survive to pass their resistive characteristics on to the next generation. Over time the plant species develops a set of effective defenses that allows it to survive attack. When a new insect is introduced, the defenses of the plant species are not prepared to counter its attacks and significant losses often occur.

What type of damage do these invasive insects cause?

Different insects cause different types of damage which can stress or even kill plants by either directly damaging them or by weakening them, making them susceptible to other stress factors.

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The type of damage inflicted is an important identification tool. Leaf-feeding insects may defoliate plants once or many times. Wood-boring insects kill by disabling the plant’s ability to take up or transport water and nutrients, or can structurally damage the plant. Many insects damage the fruit or seeds of plants or are noxious to humans or domestic or wild animals. Many times, the only recourse in the face of infestation is whole tree removal, as in the case of Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) eradication programs.

Are all exotic species invasive?

No, actually only a small percentage of introduced species ever become invasive. However, it is nearly impossible to predict which species will become invasive and new species are being introduced every day. Some species can be present for many years before they exhibit invasive characteristics, perhaps going through a “lag phase” in which their populations grow slowly or adapt to the environment. At some point the population may reach a size where it is able to explode and become invasive.

Are all of these invasive insects here now?

A number of the species listed in this publication are not known to be established in the U.S. To date, 13 of the species listed here have been detected in Georgia.

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How do we know an insect will be a problem here if it isn’t currently?

We don’t, however, with our favorable climate and an abundance of potential hosts, many non-native organisms could become established and thrive in Georgia. Since it is difficult to predict the extent of potential damage until after an introduction has occurred, caution is advocated to prevent an introduction in the first place, if possible. Additionally, if a population of exotic organisms becomes established, we encourage the implementation of management plans to limit the spread and impact of that organism while the population is small and limited in geographical scope.

What can I do to fight these invasive insects?

The most important thing we can do to help fight invasive species is to prevent introduction and establishment in the first place! There are some very basic measures one can follow to prevent the spread of invasive pests locally.

If you engage in recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, camping and boating, you could be inadvertently transporting invasive species. Invasive organisms often hide in or on items needed for outdoor activities, such as firewood, waders, boats, ATVs and camping equipment. Cleaning your equipment before visiting another area, and purchasing local firewood (from the same county or within fifty miles from where you will burn it) helps to minimize transport. Many parks, camps and boat ramps sell firewood and/or have wader wash stations. If you do not burn all of your locally-purchased firewood, leave it behind for the next camper or angler. Don’t take it home, as you could be taking home unwanted pests. Even if firewood looks “clean” and healthy and is properly dried, it can still have tiny invasive insect eggs, microscopic fungal spores, or even larvae living in the wood.

Invasive organisms can be easily transported on other forest products including living plants or fresh fruit or recently-killed plant material including lumber and wooden packing material. These products should be treated with the same precautions as

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firewood, and their long-range movement should be avoided. It is recommended that you purchase only local, certified pest-free nursery stock.

It is important to educate yourself and keep up-to-date on the status of the pests listed in this publication, among others. Resources with information on what to look for and how to control exotic species are available through your local extension office and many websites:

http://www.bugwood.org http://www.invasive.org http://www.forestpests.org http://www.pestalert.org http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health http://pest.ceris.purdue.edu/ http://www.dontmovefirewood.org/

Rapidly identifying new introductions and reporting any occurrences to your local County Extension Agent or Forestry Commission Office may help to minimize the introduction, spread and impact of invasive species. So spread the word: tell your neighbors if you see invasive species on their property. Volunteer with natural resources agencies to control invasive species. It is more effective and economical to control small infestations than well-established, rapidly spreading infestations.

Throughout this publication, there are words in bold. These terms are defined in a glossary on the last page.

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Oak splendor beetle - Agrilus biguttatus

Oak splendor beetle is native to Asia and it has not yet been found in North America. The beetle is a strong flier, able to travel several miles in search of a suitable host. It is readily moved in wood products such as firewood and other materials with attached bark. Oak is the primary host but chestnut and beech are also susceptible. This beetle may have one generation a year in warm climates, but a two-year cycle is more common. Adult females feed on oak foliage before depositing clusters of 5 to 6 eggs in bark crevices. The south side of large oaks (diameter at breast height of 11 to 15 inches) is preferred. Larvae feed in the cambium, creating frass-filled “zig-zag” galleries. Mature larvae are creamy white, legless grubs around 1 to 1¾ inches in length. The first thoracic segment is wider than the other body segments. Two hornlike projections (urogomphi) are found on the last abdominal segment. Pupation occurs in the bark, and over-wintering can occur in both the larval and pupal stages. Adult oak splendor beetles emerge from May to June, leaving D-shaped exit holes. Adults are attractive, metallic green, slender insects about ⅓ to ½ inch in length. The end third of each wing cover has a distinct white mark on the interior edge. Damage typically results in dieback, epicormic branching, crown thinning and tree mortality.

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Page 5Order: Coleoptera Family: Buprestidae

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Emerald ash borer (EAB) - Agrilus planipennis

EAB is known to be established in 25 states (including Georgia) and two Canadian provinces. It probably arrived in the U.S. on solid wood packing material from its native Asia. Introduction pathways include movement of infested live ash trees, limbs, firewood, logs, and untreated ash lumber. Hosts include all ash species, but green ash, white ash, and black ash are more susceptible than Asian varieties. This pest has also been found attacking fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus). Females lay eggs two weeks after emergence. During this time, adults feed on ash leaves, creating irregular notches. Eggs are initially light yellow, turning to brownish-yellow before hatching. Eggs hatch in 1 to 2 weeks, and the tiny, cream-colored larvae chew through the bark into the cambium and sapwood where they grow to 1 to 1¼ inches long with flat, broad, segmented bodies as they feed, creating S-shaped frass-packed tunnels. Adults begin emerging in mid-June, leaving D- shaped emergence holes 0.1 to 0.2 inch in diameter. Adults are small, brassy-green, metallic wood-boring beetles measuring ⅓ to ½ inch in length. Symptoms include vertical splits in the bark resulting from the host forming callus tissue in response to larval feeding, general yellowing and thinning of foliage, crown dieback, epicormic branching and woodpecker activity. After 1 to 2 years of infestation, the bark often falls off in pieces, exposing the insect galleries as the host dies. The life cycle of EAB in North America takes between 1 and 2 years depending on the climate.

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Page 6 Order: Coleoptera Family: Buprestidae

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European Oak Borer - Agrilus sulcicollis

The European oak borer targets oaks (Quercus spp.), but has also been found in species of hornbeams (Carpinus spp.), chestnuts (Castanea spp.) and beaches (Fagus spp.) in its native Europe. Its range covers nearly all of Europe, from Scandinavia to Italy and Spain to Russia. It was first reported in North America from Ontario, Canada, in 2008. Further surveys in 2009 revealed its presence in parts of Michigan and New York. Adult beetles are approximately ¼ inch in length and variable in color (metallic bronze, green, violet or blue). Only blue adults have been found in the U.S. Females lay eggs singly on the bark surface or in bark cracks on the trunk and branches of host trees, commonly on sun-exposed portions. Larva(e) feed on and overwinter in the cambium layers, pupating in May and June. Adults emerge and fly from May to July, leaving small D-shaped emergence holes in host bark and feeding on host foliage. The species has a one-year life cycle in central Europe, but may take two years further north in Scandinavia. Oak trees stressed by drought are particularly susceptible to this pest. Oak-dominated stands in the southern Appalachian Mountains are at considerable risk for establishment.

Page 7Order: Coleoptera Family: Buprestidae

Asian (ALB) & Citrus (CLHB) Longhorned Beetle - Anoplophora glabripennis & A. chinensis

Both ALB and CLHB are native to Asia. ALB was introduced to the U.S. by solid wood packing material and live plant material from China, while CLHB found its way in nursery stock. Domestic movement of infested tree-based materials like live trees, logs and firewood can easily spread these insects. These are especially dangerous invasive species because they are polyphagus. ALB is known to attack and kill healthy and stressed maple (Acer spp.), birch (Betula spp.), buckeye and horsechestnut (Aesculus spp.), elm (Ulmus spp.) and willow (Salix spp.) trees. Although CLHB is primarily a pest of citrus in China, its potential U.S. host species list is similar to that of ALB. Adult ALB females chew round oviposition holes in host bark; those of CLHB are T-shaped and located at the base of the host tree. ALB larvae hatch in 1 to 2 weeks, while CLHB larvae may take 1 to 3 weeks. Larvae of both species are pale yellow to white legless grubs that can grow 2 inches in length. They develop amber heads and black mouthparts as they mature, feeding by chewing galleries first in the inner bark and then the sapwood of the host tree, where they pupate. Adults emerge from spring to late summer through many large oval to round holes all over the host tree. ALB adults usually emerge later in the summer. Exit holes, along with larval galleries, disrupt a host tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, causing yellowing or drooping leaves. Other signs of infestation includes sawdust-like frass and sap oozing around exit holes. Adults are 1 to 1½ inches long, shiny-black with white spots, bluish-white legs and black-and-white banded antennae that are 1 to 2 times body length. Males are typically smaller than females in both species and have longer antennae relative to body length. Also, the elytra of females does not cover the entire abdomen. ALB and CLHB are very similar in appearance, but CLHB has bumps (granulae) at the base of its elytra. Both species have one generation per year.

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Page 8 Order: Coleoptera Family: Cerambycidae

Mediterranean pine engraver - Orthotomicus erosus

This beetle is native to Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa and China, and has been introduced to southern Africa and South America. In 2004 it was discovered that it had established in California. Like other wood-boring beetles, this beetle is associated with wood packaging. Adults are approximately � ⁄ � � inch in length and reddish-brown. They can be distinguished from other small bark beetles by their sloped, slightly curved inward hind end that is surrounded by four pairs of spines on both sides. The second spine is the broadest, and male spines are more pronounced. Parent beetles create nuptial and egg galleries beneath host bark and females lay between 26 and 75 eggs in one or more galleries. Larvae are white to cream-colored legless grubs up to � ⁄ � inch long. In California, the species has been observed overwintering as larvae, pupae and adults beneath bark. Overwintered adults emerge in late February, leaving a small round exit hole � ⁄ � � inch in diameter, flying until October or November. In Israel, adults may require a period of feeding before breeding, and may re-infest the same host from which they emerged. The species has two generations per year in Turkey, France and Morocco; 3 to 4 in South Africa; and 3 to 5 in Israel. In California, the number of generations per year is still unknown. Although it is generally considered a secondary pests of pines that are stressed by other factors, this beetle may be especially detrimental to at least 11 North American pine species, since it has already been found infesting eastern white, Scots, shortleaf and slash; potential hosts include pitch, longleaf, loblolly and Virginia pines.

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Page 9Order: Coleoptera Family: Curculionidae

Walnut Twig Beetle – Pityophthorus juglandis

The walnut twig beetle does not cause significant branch mortality by itself, but rather by association with a newly identified fungal pathogen (Geosmithia morbida) that causes thousand cankers disease (TCD). The beetle is thought to be native to Arizona, California and New Mexico, but has invaded Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington where eastern black walnut has been widely planted. In 2010, the beetle and TCD was found in Knoxville, Tennessee. Since then, TCD has been found in other eastern states where black walnut is native, including Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Maryland and North Carolina. Adult beetles are very small ( � ⁄ � � inch), reddish-brown, typical-looking bark beetles with 4 to 6 concentric ridges on the upper surface of the pronotum (the shield-like cover behind and over the head). Larvae are white, C-shaped, and inhabit the sapwood, creating galleries. Adult beetles carry the fungal spores into the host when boring to construct egg galleries. Once established, the fungus creates small cankers that spread and gradually come together or merge to cut through the bark all the way around entire branches or even the stem. Since the beetle attacks all over the tree, the fungus also has multiple entry points, allowing for many cankers to develop. Hence the name “thousand cankers disease.” The host, unable to conduct water and nutrients, gradually dies. Three major symptoms are branch mortality, numerous small cankers on branches and the bole, and evidence of the beetles. The earliest symptom is yellowing foliage, rapidly turning brown as branches die. Cankers are generally not visible on the outside of the bark, but there may be a dark amber to black stain or cracking of the bark above a canker.

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Page 10 Order: Coleoptera Family: Curculionidae

Pine shoot beetles - Tomicus spp.

There are several Tomicus species that feed on various conifers. Many are familiar with Tomicus piniperda, the common pine shoot beetle that was initially found near Cleveland, Ohio, in 1992. Two other species, T. minor and T. destruens, are not known to be present in the U.S. Probable introduction pathways include unprocessed logs, firewood, tree trimmings, and lumber with the bark still attached. Pines are the most common host for T. piniperda, although fir, larch or Douglas-fir are also susceptible. T. minor has also been reported on larch. Both T. piniperda and T. minor have only one generation per year. For T. destruens, 2 to 3 overlapping generations per year are suspected, however, current theories suggest that multiple broods may result from mated females attacking multiple trees. After mating, females construct galleries within the inner bark and outer sapwood, where they lay pearly white eggs. After hatching, larvae construct feeding galleries. Larvae are white, C-shaped, legless grubs with an amber colored head capsule which may be as long as ⅛ inch when mature. Pupation can occur in cells at the end of the larval galleries or in the bark. Pupae are white with some adult features including immature wings. Adults are dark brown, elongate ( � ⁄ � � inch in length), and the species is distinguishable by features on the ends of the wing covers. The head is visible when viewed from above and has six-segmented red-yellow antennal clubs. Adults feed by boring into tender pine shoots. Attacks may be substantial on susceptible trees. Signs include reddish brown boring dust on the bark surface of trees and conspicuous pitch (sap or resin) tubes on relatively vigorous trees. Host symptoms commonly involve reddening or browning of shoots. Blue stain fungi or other vascular wilts are commonly associated with these beetles.

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Page 11Order: Coleoptera Family: Curculionidae

Redbay ambrosia beetle - Xyleborus glabratus

This beetle is native to Asia and was first discovered in the U.S. in 2002. It was most likely introduced in solid wood packing materials. By 2005, it was found to be consistently associated with redbay mortality in an expanded area of coastal South Carolina and Georgia, and continues to expand in Florida and coastal areas across the Southeast. Female ambrosia beetles carry and introduce fungal spores (species-specific) that they store in a specialized sac above the mandibles (mouthparts) into sapwood wood as they bore through it. This fungus is “farmed” by the beetles and is used by the developing larvae as a food source. As the introduced fungus spreads through the tree it can clog the water and nutrient conducting tissues and lead to branch, limb or tree mortality. Native U.S. ambrosia beetles normally attack dying or weakened trees. The introduced redbay ambrosia beetle attacks healthy trees in the Lauraceae (laurel) family, which in the southeastern U.S. includes redbay, Asian spicebush, sassafras, threatened and endangered pondspice and pondberry, and avocados. The fungus carried by and associated with the redbay ambrosia beetle was identified as Raffaelea lauricola, a virulent plant pathogen new to the U.S. that causes laurel wilt disease and tree mortality. Larvae are white, C-shaped, legless grubs with an amber colored head capsule. Adults are minute ( � ⁄ � � inch long), slender, and brown-black in color. Upon emergence, only the females seek a new host. Attacks are made evident by pinhole-sized holes in the bark associated with either sap flow or light-colored boring dust. Laurel wilt has killed thousands of redbays and is a threat to the U.S. avocado industry.

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Page 12 Order: Coleoptera Family: Curculionidae

Asian tiger mosquito - Aedes albopictus

A native to Southeastern Asia, this mosquito was first documented in Texas in 1985 and has since spread throughout the southern and southeastern U.S. It breeds in standing water that collects in outdoor containers such as water barrels, leaves, flowerpot saucers and tires. Georgia was the first state to report it in every county during the 1990s. This mosquito is the number-one pest species in Georgia outside of coastal areas, because it is a potential vector of more than 30 viruses, including eastern equine encephalitis and LaCrosse encephalitis viruses. It has also been implicated in the transmission of dengue and Chikungunya viruses. Adult mosquitoes are medium-sized and have distinctive shiny black scales with silver white scales on the mouthparts and legs. The back is black with a white stripe down the center and the abdomen narrows into a point. Males are 20% smaller than females, on average, and feed on nectar. A. albopictus is active throughout the year in tropical and subtropical regions, but can overwinter in the egg stage in temperate climates. Black, oval-shaped 0.5 mm eggs are laid singly in water-holding containers such as those described above. They can remain viable for up to one year under dry conditions. Larvae emerge after rainfall raises the water level in the containers, submerging the eggs one or more times. Larval development is temperature dependent, and larvae develop through 4 instars, pupating after 5 to 10 days. Each pupal stage lasts 2 days. The life cycle from egg to adult requires as little as 8 to 10 days and adult mosquitoes live for another 2 to 4 weeks.

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Page 13Order: Diptera Family: Culicidae

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) – Drosophila suzukii

SWD is native to Southeast Asia. It was first detected in the western U.S. in 2008 and by 2011 it had been detected in the northeastern U.S. It has since been detected in several southeastern states, including Georgia. Unlike other fruit flies that colonize overripe or rotten fruit, SWD can lay eggs in immature, ripe and otherwise marketable fruit. SWD seems to prefer blackberries and fall raspberries, late blueberries and day-neutral strawberries, peaches, nectarines and hardy kiwi. Wild hosts include raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, elderberry, pokeberry, dogwood, viburnum, bush honeysuckle and common buckthorn; it has also been found in cull (unmarketable) muskmelons and cantaloupes. In its native range, SWD has been observed feeding on oak sap and depositing eggs in certain species of flowers; adults may subsist on honeydew excreted by piercing/sucking insects. Not only does SWD do direct damage to fruit, it also allows entry for fungal fruit rot organisms. SWD prefers a moderate climate with high humidity, and adults live for up to two months during the growing season. Females lay 100 to 600 eggs during this time, and larval development is very dependent upon temperature. Larvae feed in fruit for 3 to 13 days and pupation lasts 3 to 15 days, either inside the fruit or on the ground. Females can lay eggs within two days of emergence. Adult males have a spot on each wing (hence “spotted wing”), but it can be faint or missing; a better identifying feature of males is the presence of two black patches of hairs (called sex combs) on each front leg. Females have a larger saw-like ovipositor than other fruit fly species. One generation can be completed in 10 to 20 days, but populations decrease markedly during colder weather months. This allows early season crops to escape damage. It is estimated that 8 or 9 generations per year is plausible in the Mid-Atlantic region.

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Page 14 Order: Diptera Family: Drosophilidae Page 15Order: Diptera Family: Muscidae

Bermudagrass stem maggot - Atherigona reversura

The Bermudagrass stem maggot is native to south Asia, extending from Japan westward to Pakistan and Oman. It was first discovered in the U.S. in Georgia in 2010, and since has become a pest for cattlemen and hay producers across the Southeast. Its main hosts are bermudagrass and stargrass (Cynodon spp.), but there still remains much research to be conducted on the biology and life cycle of this pest. The adult fly is small and yellow with dark eyes. It lays its eggs on the bermudagrass stem near a node. After hatching, the ⅛-inch long, yellowish maggot larvae burrow into the shoots and feed, causing the top 2 to 3 leaves above the feeding site to wither and die. The chlorotic (yellowing) dead leaves give affected fields a frosted appearance. By the time the plant shows symptoms, the maggots have often pupated. The plant may grow a new shoot from a lower node, which may be attacked by later generations of Bermudagrass stem maggot. Depending on plant vigor and site characteristics (e.g., soil and moisture conditions), yield may be minimally impacted. With heavy infestations, regrowth after cutting damaged tops can be slowed considerably, and damage in finer-stemmed cultivars of Bermudagrass can decrease yield by 50%. Livestock grazing can help keep fly eggs and maggot populations controlled. The fly has a life cycle that usually lasts about three weeks, but it can be as short as 12 days.

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Page 16 Order: Hemiptera Family: Adelgidae

Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) - Adelges tsugae

HWA is native to Japan and possibly China. It was first observed in the eastern U.S. in 1951 near Richmond, Virginia. Now it is found in the east from northern Georgia to southern New England, following the backbone of the Appalachian Mountains. Movement of live infested hemlocks as well as wind, birds, and mammals disperse it on a local scale. HWA is an aphidlike insect that poses a serious threat to all Tsuga species including eastern hemlock and Carolina hemlock, as well as ornamental hemlocks. Adult size varies from � ⁄ � � to ⅛ inch in length with piercing/sucking mouthparts. HWA is parthenogenetic, meaning all are female, with each adult producing 50 to 300 eggs in a lifetime. Adults produce white woolly wax to protect eggs, which is the foremost sign of infestation‒ white cottony tufts on the undersides of needles. There are two generations a year, the winter generation going dormant for hot summer months and the spring generation overlapping with it in mid to late spring. The unique feeding behavior of HWA is especially detrimental to its hosts in that it does not feed on nutrients in sap, but rather on stored starches which the tree needs to survive the winter. Needle loss and twig desiccation (excessive drying) caused by feeding hinders shoot growth; twig dieback, defoliation, and host death usually follow within 4 to 6 years of infestation. Severe infestations can eliminate the hemlock component from forest stands.

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Sugarcane aphid - Melanaphis sacchari

The sugarcane aphid has been a pest of sugarcane and sorghum in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Far East, and parts of Central and South America. Infestations in the U.S. appear to have originated in Hawaii, with the aphid being a sporadic pest of sugarcane in Louisiana since 1999. It was first discovered that the pest was making a shift to plants in the genus Sorghum in Texas in 2013. By the end of 2014, it had spread throughout the southeastern U.S. Adults are light yellow to gray with black cornicles (backward-pointing tubes, or “tailpipes,” or “stove pipes,” on the hind end), feet and antennae; they may or may not be winged, depending on environmental conditions. Females give birth to 30 to 60 live young each. Nymphs mature in about five days and live for four weeks. As aphids, these insects suck sap from their hosts starting at the bottom and working their way to the top, expelling sticky honeydew, which supports sooty mold development. Host symptoms include reddening or purple leaf discoloration, chlorosis (yellowing), dead tissue, stunting, delay in flowering, and poor grain fill. Symptoms are exacerbated by drought. Injury to seedlings results in inconsistent heading, which allows sorghum midge populations to finish the job. Population explosion of sugarcane aphid is dependent upon temperature and plant development stage. As many as 30,000 aphids can attack a single plant at peak infestation. However, these populations decline quickly in 2 to 3 weeks as the host declines.

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Page 17Order: Hemiptera Family: Aphididae

Scale insects

Scale insects are typically overlooked until tree or shrub branches begin to thin, yellow and die. Upon closer inspection, branches and stems will exhibit a coating of scales. The insects may or may not produce honeydew, which is a distinguishing characteristic that can aid in identification. After going through a crawler phase, when the insects are most transferrable by wind, scales typically spend most of their lives on the same part of the plant, feeding in an immobile state. Armored scales develop a waxy covering out of which the adult male crawls to mate; females produce 100+ eggs each. Soft scales lack a waxy shell and typically their crawlers move directly to leaves where they settle to feed for the summer, secreting honeydew. This often causes sooty mold to develop on host stem and branches, giving them a black tinge. Soft scales overwinter on twigs and bark where they remain as they mature, the males flying to mate with wingless females, which can produce 1,000+ eggs. Besides crawlers being transported locally by wind, these insects can be moved long distances inadvertently by birds and by moving infested plant material.

Crape myrtle bark scale - Eriococcus lagerstroemia A native to Japan and China, this scale was mistaken for azalea bark scale when first discovered in the U.S. A honeydew-secreting scale, it is only found on crape myrtle and pomegranate. Adult females are felt-like white to grey encrustations that when crushed, exude pinkish “blood.” This is a defining characteristic that can help distinguish the crape myrtle bark scale from the common crape myrtle aphid. These insects have been identified in Georgia.

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Page 18 Order: Hemiptera Family: Eriococcidae

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Production, MAFP, Bugwood.org

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Page 19Order: Hemiptera Family: Coccidae & Diaspididae

Azalea bark scale - Eriococcus azaleaThis honeydew-exuding scale is primarily a pest of azaleas and rhododendrons in Georgia, although it has been reported on hawthorn, poplar, willow, and ornamental cherry trees. Adult females are bright red and covered in crystalline rods. They produce a tough, pear-shaped egg sac containing reddish-purple eggs. First and second instars are purple or red. This species has one generation in the north U.S. and two in the south U.S. Crawlers settle in branch or leaf axils.

Japanese wax scale - Ceroplastes japonicusJapanese wax scale is a honeydew-exuding Asian soft scale that has been found in Europe, but is not known to occur in the U.S. Hosts include maple, boxwood, citrus, hawthorn, euonymus, fig, holly, apple, stone fruits, pear, willow, and elm. Males are not known to exist for this species. The female lays eggs starting in May, each laying up to 1,700 eggs. Only one generation per year has been observed.

Arrowhead scale - Unaspis yanonensisArrowhead scale is native to China but has spread to Japan, France and Italy. It is not known to occur in the U.S. Hosts include all citrus, especially oranges, but also a wide range of other crops, including bananas, coconuts, guavas, hibiscus, jackfruits, kumquats, and pineapples. Eggs are orange-yellow, oval and smooth. In citrus producing areas of the U.S., egg laying occurs from February to March. Crawlers are oval, flat and pale-yellow with purple eyes. Pupae are orange-yellow with dark purple-brown eyes, with visible immature antennae, legs, and wings. Winged males are � ⁄ � � inch long, orange-yellow, and have deep dark brownish-purple eyes with a light brown band across the thorax. The abdomen narrows at the end with a sharp style. Female scale covers are mussel-shaped, slightly convex, and blackish-brown with a paler margin. Male scale covers are smaller, oval and white. There are 2 to 4 annual generations, and development is strongly influenced by air temperature.

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Kudzu bug - Megacopta cribraria

Kudzu bugs, also referred to as bean plataspids, lablab bugs, or globular stink bugs, are native to Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Kudzu bug was first discovered in Georgia in 2009. It has now spread through 13 southeastern states. Adults are nuisance pests, seeking out shelter in colder months in homes and other structures. The bugs feed on kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata), but can be destructive to legumes (Fabaceae), especially soybean plants, feeding on leaves, stems and flowers. Adults are ⅛ to ¼ inch long, light brown to olive color with numerous dark punctations and live 23 to 77 days. The scutellum (shieldlike end plate on the back side of the thorax) is characteristic of other shield-back bugs and covers the forewings and most of the abdomen. This plataspid is unique in that it has a flattened hind end while more common shield-back bugs have a triangular-shaped scutellum. The female can lay anywhere from 20 to 40 pale salmon-colored eggs in a horizontal fashion. The eggs rest upon dark capsules full of bacteria that the immature insects consume while developing. Nymphs go through five instars, each taking 2 to 56 days to develop. They are hairy and tend to be pale orange, olive green or light brown. In its native habitat, the kudzu bug has up to three generations. Insects colonize from April to July, forming large mating aggregations, and are present until October; in warmer climates, they may be active all year.

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Page 21Order: Hemiptera Family: PentatomidaePage 20 Order: Hemiptera Family: Pentatomidae

Brown marmorated stinkbug - Halyomorpha halys

BMSB is native to Asia. It was first positively identified in Pennsylvania in 2010, and has since been found in 37 other states in both western and the eastern states, including Georgia. Hosts include maple, serviceberry, birch, butterfly bush, pepper, pecan, catalpa, hackberry, redbud, citrus, dogwood, cucumber, fig, sunflower, honeysuckle, tomato, apple, plum, pear, rose, lilac, linden, viburnum and grape. Adults emerge from overwintering in April, breed and the female lays egg masses with about 25 eggs each. Eggs are � ⁄ � � inch, pale green and laid from June to August. Nymphs do not have developed wings. All instars have deep red eyes. Size ranges from ⅛ to ¾ inch as the insect grows and molts. Nymphs are first red, turning almost black, and then finally become brown as adults. Adults have the typical “shield” shape of other stink bugs, almost as wide as they are long. Injuries caused by feeding produce small dead areas on the outer surface of fruits and leaves. Cat-facing (scarring and/or cavities near the blossom end of the fruit) is common on fruits such as apple and peach, while other plants may have roughly-circular stippled areas about ⅛ inch wide. Only one annual generation has been observed in the Mid-Atlantic; however, there are likely multiple generations as it spreads south. Adults begin seeking overwintering sites at the end of September and become a nuisance as large numbers congregate and invade buildings.

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Pink hibiscus mealybug - Maconellicoccus hirsutus

The pink hibiscus mealybug is established in most tropical areas of the world including Africa, India, Australia and Asia. It is a serious pest in Hawaii and the Caribbean, and has been found on mainland U.S. in southern California, Georgia and Florida. Movement of infested plants and fruits as well as dispersal by wind, birds, and wildlife are major pathways for this pest. More than 200 species of trees, plants, and shrubs are known hosts; including beans, chrysanthemum, citrus, coconut, coffee, cotton, corn, croton, cucumber, grape, guava, hibiscus, peanut, pumpkin, rose and mulberry. Eggs are pink, minute and contained in an egg sack of white wax, visible in clusters on the twigs, branches or bark. Newly-hatched nymphs are called crawlers. Both males and females have active nymph stages in which they are wingless. The males go through an inactive stage in which they develop wing buds within a cocoon of mealy wax. Adults are approximately ⅛ inch long; when squished, the bodily fluid is reddish. Female bodies are pink, wingless, and covered by a mass of white mealy wax just like the nymphs, while males have a pair of wings, two long waxy tails and can fly. Reproduction continues through parthenogenesis if there are no males. Although the pink hibiscus mealybug usually completes its entire cycle in 23 to 30 days, under optimum conditions, 15 generations a year are possible. While nymphs feed, they inject a toxic saliva that results in malformed leaf and shoot growth, shriveled fruit, poor fruit set and occasionally death. Infested fruits may be entirely covered with the white waxy coating of the mealybug. Sooty mold may develop on honeydew secretions of the mealybug.

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Page 22 Order: Hemiptera Family: Pseudococcidae

Tawny crazy ant - Nylanderia fulva

Formerly called the Raspberry crazy ant, little is known about the biology of this pest, which is native to South America. It is part of a group of so-called “crazy” ants due to its quick and erratic movements. This ant is a serious pest to residents, businesses, companion animals and livestock in Georgia and other states. It does not have a stinger, but worker ants have an acidopore (conical structure with a small terminal opening) at the end of the abdomen that excretes defense chemicals. When the tawny crazy ant bites, it causes a minute, short-lasting pain. In Colombia, where this ant is a serious pest and has ousted all other ant species, it has been known to cause small livestock such as chickens to die of asphyxia (suffocation), as well as causing native grasslands to dry out by aggravating sucking insect pests which they farm for their honeydew. This ant has even been reported to accumulate in electrical equipment, causing short circuits and clogging switching mechanisms. N. fulva has been known to kill honey bee larvae and use the hives as their nest. Adult ants are approximately ⅛ inch long and reddish-brown, with smooth, glossy bodies covered with short fuzzy hairs. They may have loosely-defined foraging trails extending hundreds of meters from several interconnected nests, which are found in leaf litter, soil and rotten logs, as well as under potted plants and along underground electrical conduits.

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Page 23Order: Hymenoptera Family: Formicidae

Sirex woodwasp - Sirex noctilio

Sirex woodwasp is native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, but has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and South Africa as well as Indiana and New York. The most common method of introduction to the U.S. has been solid wood packing material as well as untreated, dried logs and saw timber. It attacks a wide variety of pines including Monterey, loblolly, slash and shortleaf. The female drills into the wood to deposit white, soft, smooth, elongate eggs as well as a toxic mucous and fungal Amylostereum areolatum spores, which causes white rot. The mucus prevents formation of anti-fungal toxins, allowing the fungus to proliferate and causing the host’s wood to dry out, killing the tree in a few months. Larvae are creamy white and legless with a distinctive dark spine at the rear of the abdomen. The frass-filled larval galleries become “horseshoe”-shaped (or U-shaped) as the larvae tunnel toward the heartwood, then turn back toward the sapwood. Larvae feed on the fungus, which converts wood cellulose into a more easily digestible form. Pupae formed in the outer layers of the sapwood are initially creamy-white, gradually assuming the color of the adults. Robust, 1 to 1½ inch long adults emerge in July, leaving large round holes. Females have dark metallic blue/black bodies with orange legs; male head and thorax are metallic blue, with an orange and black abdomen. Sirex woodwasp is expected to complete one annual generation in most of the U.S. The most important host symptom is the progressive and irreversible chlorosis (yellowing) in the crown, followed by a sudden wilting of foliage, heavy needle fall, and finally death and decay. Initially, it is important to inspect the surface of the stem for resin drops released after eggs are laid. Narrow bands of brownish fungal stain in the outer sapwood can be noted in infested trees. In general, Sirex woodwasp attacks living pines, while native woodwasps attack only dead, weakened, or dying trees.

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Page 24 Order: Hymenoptera Family: Siricidae

Pine-tree lappet - Dendrolimus pini

This pine moth is a European native, but is also established in the western part of Asia. It has not been detected in North America. The most likely method of introduction would be eggs and pupae hidden in the bark crevasses of unprocessed logs. Hosts are a wide range of conifers including fir, cedar, juniper, spruce, pine, Douglas-fir and larch. From late-June through August, female moths lay eggs in groups of about 100. Females do not fly until after they have laid some of their eggs. The pinhead-sized ( � ⁄ � � inch) eggs are blue-green when first deposited and later turn gray. Eggs hatch in about 14 days. Caterpillars first feed on egg shells, then on needles. First instar larvae can be dispersed by wind or crawl significant distances to reach new host trees. One larva may consume up to 1,000 needles. When no needles are present, the bark of young shoots is attacked. Mature larvae are 2 to 3 inches long with soft gray to brownish hairs. Identifying features of the caterpillar include thick bands of steel blue and black hairs on the thorax and a black mark flanked by irregular white lines on the abdominal segments. After the first frost, caterpillars move to the litter on the forest floor to overwinter. The following spring, they return to the canopy to resume feeding. Yellow-brown to black cocoons marked with steel blue hairs are formed in bark crevices as well as on needles and branches starting in June. Adults emerge in roughly 4 weeks. Identifying features of the 2 to 3½ inch-long moth include gray-brown to brown forewings with a reddish brown lateral band and an irregular dark brown to black stripe along the edges. Hind wings are reddish brown to gray brown. Males are usually darker than females.

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Page 25Order: Lepidoptera Family: Lasiocampidae

Siberian silk moth - Dendrolimus sibiricus

The Siberian silk moth is a major pest of more than 20 species of firs, pines, larch and hemlocks. It is native to Northern Asia, and is not known to be in North America. Eggs and larvae may be especially problematic as hitchhikers in packing material, although any life stage can be found in plant material. Development usually lasts two years but it may vary from 1 to 3 years depending on temperature. Adults fly from the end of May to the middle of July. Immediately after mating, females lay eggs on the needles, mainly in the lower crown, but also on the ground. Newly-laid eggs are light green, becoming creamy white and then darker and spotted over their 13 to 15 day development period. The black to dark brown caterpillar has numerous spots and long hairs with the second and third segments crossed by blue-black stripes. Larvae feed until late autumn and spend the first winter in forest litter. In spring, after snow melt, caterpillars climb up to the crown and feed for the entire summer before returning to the forest litter for their second winter. In spring they begin to feed intensively. Pupation occurs between May and June in cocoons made from crude webbing which are located in crowns, on branches, or stems. The pupa is brown and 1¼ inches long. Adult moths vary in color from light yellowish-brown or light grey to dark brown or almost black, with a wingspan ranging from 1½ to 3 inches and a body length of 1¼ inches. Front wings are distinctively marked with two characteristic zig-zagging dark stripes and a white spot in the center.

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European gypsy moth - Lymantria dispar

This insect, native to Europe, was accidentally introduced into New England in the late 1800s during an attempt to rear an alternative silk producing insect. Its current U.S. range extends from Maine in New England, south along the eastern seaboard to North Carolina and west across Pennsylvania and West Virginia into Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Spread occurs as a result of both natural flight of the moth and the attachment and transport of egg masses on vehicles and firewood. Gypsy moth is known to feed on over 300 trees and shrubs. Its favored hosts include oak, apple, alder, basswood, birch, poplar, sweetgum, willow, and hawthorn. Less favored host species include hickory, maple, cherry, cottonwood, elm, blackgum, larch, sassafras, and hornbeam. Some mortality even occurs in white pine. Many other plants may be fed upon. The gypsy moth has one generation per year. From June to mid-July, the female attaches velvety buff-colored egg masses to sheltered places on outdoor objects. These tough, cemented masses may contain up to 1,000 eggs and are embedded with female abdominal hairs that may act as an allergen. The eggs hatch in April or May. Young larvae chew small holes in leaves, while older larvae consume entire leaves except for the larger veins and the midribs. The whole tree may be defoliated, resulting in reduced growth and loss of vigor, as well as reduced aesthetic, recreational, and wildlife values. If total defoliation is experienced over several years, mortality may result. The older caterpillars are 1½ to 2½ inches long and easy to identify by the tufts of hair on each segment with a pattern of blue and red dots on their backs. The gypsy moth pupates in dark brown pupal cases located in sheltered locations. Male gypsy moths have a 1½ inch wingspread with light tan to brown wings marked with wavy dark bands across the forewing. Females are white, flightless and larger than males, with a wingspread of 2½ inches. There is also an Asian strain of the gypsy moth that was identified in 1991. The Asian gypsy moth has a much broader host range and the females are active fliers, factors that would allow this moth to spread much faster than the European strain and be even more damaging.

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Page 27Order: Lepidoptera Family: Lymantriidae

Old world bollworm - Helicoverpa armigera

Old world bollworm is a native of Europe and Asia. Although it was detected in Florida in 2015, it is not known to be established in North America. Possible routes for introduction include imported cuttings, fruits, vegetables, and flowers as well as hitchhiking on aircraft. This species is a general feeder and is highly resistant to pesticides. Hosts include a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, weeds, ornamental plants, and flowers. A partial list includes pine, larch, crab apple, artichoke, barley, carrot, coffee, mango, alfalfa, cotton, tobacco, tomatoes, okra, onion, peppers, leek, clover, potatoes, wheat, maize, flax, soybean, sorghum, rice, millet, strawberry, chickpeas, crucifers, legumes, cucurbits, Prunus spp., citrus, Amaranthus spp., and sow thistle. In summer, a life cycle can be completed in 5 to 7 weeks. Subsequent generations feed on other plantings of the same crop or on other hosts. One female moth may lay up to 1,500 eggs in her life span. The dome-like eggs have a ribbed surface and are pearly white when laid, but change to brown as they develop. The young caterpillars are predominantly green but the colors vary through development. When mature, larvae may be up to 2 inches long and usually have striped patterns over a base color ranging from light green to brown to black. Distinct hairs are visible when held up to the light. Larval development takes 2 to 3 weeks before pupation occurs in the soil. The reddish- brown pupa stays in the soil for 10 to 14 days when not overwintering. Adults have light fawn forewings with a kidney-shaped spot in the middle. Hindwings are grey to grey-brown. Both wings have a broad dark band on the outer third of the wing but the band on the hindwing has a pale patch in the middle of it. When resting, the wings are held roof-like over the body.

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Page 28 Order: Lepidoptera Family: Noctuidae

Egyptian cottonworm - Spodoptera littoralis

Egyptian cottonworm is a native of Africa. It has been intercepted at U.S. ports, but is not known to be established in North America. Host plants include okra, onion, pigweed, peanut, cabbage, cauliflower, pepper, citrus, taro, tea, cucurbits, carrot, fig, geranium, soybean, cotton, sunflower, tomato, lettuce, apple, alfalfa, tobacco, avocado, pine, pea, poplar, plum, pear, oak, potato, eggplant, spinach, clover, wheat, and corn. Adult females lay their whitish-yellow eggs in masses on the lower surfaces of young leaves with hair scales from their abdomen. The hairless larvae are blackish-grey to dark green, eventually becoming reddish-brown or whitish-yellow as they mature. Dark and light longitudinal bands and two dark semi-lunar spots on their back help to identify this caterpillar. Larvae begin feeding on the underside of leaves, but move to the upper surface as they mature. Feeding may also occur on fruits, pods, and stems of plants such as corn. When fully grown, they can be 1½ to 1¾ inches in length. It pupates a half inch below the surface of the soil in a clay cocoon. When the pupae form, they are green with a reddish color on the abdomen but they rapidly turn dark reddish-brown. The gray-brown adult is marked by grey to reddish-brown forewings with paler lines along the veins. The hindwings are an iridescent grayish-white with grey margins and usually lack darker veins. The adults generally fly a few hours before midnight. In Egypt, seven overlapping generations have been observed on cotton.

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Page 29Order: Lepidoptera Family: Noctuidae

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Light brown apple moth (LBAM) – Epiphyas postvittana

LBAM is a leafroller native to Australia. It has been intercepted in Hawaii and California ports, primarily in international strawberry shipments. In 2007 it was found in California, but was subsequently eradicated. An infestation in Oregon is currently under an eradication program. LBAM is considered a serious threat because it has a broad range of plant hosts, including landscape trees, ornamental shrubs, fruit and certain vegetable crops. It is known to feed on 250 plant species in over 50 families, preferring plants in the aster (Asteraceae), legume (Fabaceae), knotweed (Polygonaceae), and rose (Rosaceae) families. It has been reported as a pest on many fruit crops and may also infest oak, willow, poplar, cottonwood, alder, pine, eucalyptus, rose, camellia, jasmine, chrysanthemum, clover, plantain, and many other plants. It is unknown what new hosts it may find in California. Moths are approximately � ⁄ � � to � ⁄ � inches long and generally pale yellowish-brown with darker brown markings on the forewings, although coloring may vary. Larvae are green caterpillars just over ½ inch long, and may be confused with other species, so testing is needed to confirm if a caterpillar is LBAM (adult moths are more distinguishable from other species). Young larvae form webbed shelters near the midrib beneath leaves, where they feed. Older larvae web leaves or fruits together, feeding within them. Damage results from defoliation or direct feeding on fruits and vegetables. Damaged fruit is also susceptible to mold pathogens. LBAM thrives in warmer climates and colder temperatures slow larval development (which may take from 3 to 8 weeks), so it may experience anywhere from 2 to 4 generations a year.

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Page 30 Order: Lepidoptera Family: Torticidae

False codling moth - Thaumatotibia leucotreta

False codling moth is a native of Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa. It is not known to be established in North America. The main method of introduction is larvae on fruits, pods, or flowers. There are more than 70 potential U.S. hosts including: okra, mallow, acacia, pineapple, pepper, tea, pecan, citrus, coffee, persimmon, fig, cotton, hibiscus, walnut, macadamia, mango, banana, olive, avocado, bean, yellowwood, apricot, plum, guava, pomegranate, oak, sorghum, and grape. Complete life cycle may take 30 to 174 days, with development time being highly temperature-dependent. In the warmer climates of South Africa, it can have up to five generations per year. A female moth can lay up to 400 flattened, oval, pinhead-sized eggs, usually placed singly. Young caterpillars are yellowish-white with dark spots. Larvae can grow to be ½ inch in length and are bright red or pink with a yellow-brown head. On citrus, young larvae mine into the fruit, causing premature ripening. External indications may be seen as scarring on the fruit. On cotton it first mines the boll wall, but later moves to the seeds, where few feeding indications can be seen. When mature, the larva descends to the ground on a silken thread and spins a tough silken cocoon in the soil and duff. Males and female adults have distinctly different wing patterns. The wingspan ranges from ½ to ¾ inch. Both genders have patterns on the forewing of grey, brown, black and orange-brown markings, but the male’s hindwing is slightly reduced with a circular pocket of fine hair-like black scales overlaid with broad whitish scales in the anal angle (see red arrow in image).

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Page 31Order: Lepidoptera Family: Tortricidae

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T.M. Gilligan & M.E. Epstein, TortAl: Tortricids of Agricultural Importance, USDA APHIS ITP, Bugwood.org

Glossary

Callus tissue - Special tissue produced by a tree to cover and protect woundsCambium - Layer of cells beneath the bark that give rise to xylem (tissue that conduct water and nutrients up from roots) and phloem (tissue that conducts sugars downward from leaves)Canker - Defined area of diseased plant tissue (lesion)Emergence/Emerging/Emerge/Emerged - Refers to adults coming out of their pupation siteEpicormic - Branches sprouting from the trunk or base of a tree. Also called suckers or water sproutsFrass - Insect “poop.” Wood borer frass resembles sawdust. Foliage feeding insect frass often looks like dark brown pelletsHoneydew - Sticky secretions from sap-sucking insectsInstar - Developmental stage of insects between each molt, until sexual maturity is reachedLarva(e)/Larval - Immature form of an insect (e.g., caterpillars, maggots and grubs) that does not resemble the adultMolt - The process that an insect goes through to move from one life stage to the nextNode - Part of a plant stem from which leaves or buds originateNymph - Immature form of an insect that resembles the adultOviposition - Egg-laying. Ovipositor refers to the structure of the insect that lays eggsParthenogenesis/Parthenogenetic - Asexual reproduction from unfertilized eggs, or the ability to reproduce asexually from unfertilized eggsPathogen - Infectious agent that causes disease or illnessPunctation - Studded with or denoting tiny holesPupa(e)/Pupal/Pupation - A stage that some insects go through as they transition from larva to adult, or referring to this stageSapwood - Soft outer layers of recently-formed wood in trees containing functioning vascular tissueScutellum - Shieldlike end plate on the back side of the thorax of an insectShoots - New seasonal growth that includes leaves and budsThorax/Thoracic - Area between an insect’s head and abdomen, or referring to this areaVascular - Referring to conducting tissues

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Selected References

Invasive.orgUniversity of GeorgiaCenter for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Healthhttp://www.invasive.org/ - January 2016

Phytosanitary Alert SystemNorth American Plant Protection Organizationhttp://www.pestalert.org/ - January 2016

USDA APHIS PPQhttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/ - January 2016

Pest TrackerNational Agricultural Pest Information Systemhttp://pest.ceris.purdue.edu/ - January 2016

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www.gainvasives.org

June 2016