an introduction to garden pests and insects

8/13/2019 An Introduction to Garden Pests and Insects

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3/40

ASSASSIN BUGS,Zelusspp. and others

Description Picture Prey attacked

similar in appearance toleaffooted bugs

often brightly colored sucking mouthparts

feed on:

body fluids (extracted by

sucking mouthparts)

caterpillars

and other insects

BIG-EYED BUG, Geocoris spp.


conspicuous large eyes

are characteristic

feed on:

insect eggs

other soft-

bodied insects


4/40


5/40

HONEY BEE,Apis melliferaLinnaeus


orange and

black

well known

insect

about 1/2

inch long

feed on:

pollen and nectarimportant as a

pollinator rather than as

predator

LACEWINGS, several species


adults have four large glossy

net-veined wings

wings are held together over the

thin body

nearly one inch long

larvae are called aphidlions

larvae are elongate and flattened

widest at the middle with

hooked mandibles

active on long legs small white eggs are laid singly

on stalks

feed on:

aphids

and other soft-

bodied insects


6/40

MINUTE PIRATE BUGS, Oriusspp.


generally black with

some white markings

small, about 1/8 inch

feed on:

insect eggs

other soft-

bodied insects

LADYBIRD BEETLES, several species


well known insects usually under 1/4 inch

hemispherical shaped beetles

often reddish with black spots or

black with reddish spots

color varies within and between

species

small forms are not often recognized

as ladybird beetles

antennae are clubbed

larvae are elongate and flattened

grubs

active and move about freely

Adults and larvae

feed on:

aphids

and other small

insects


7/40

PARASITIC WASPS, several species


large group of

diverse insects

color and sizevaries

microscopic to

over an inch long

black andyellow are

common colors

seldom seen

feed on:

caterpillars

grubs

other pests areattacked

important as parasites

of many pests

help to control many

pestspupae of a small

braconid are found on

the surface of

hornworms

PREDATORY WASPS, several species


generally 1/4

inch or more in

length

many speciesthat vary in size,

color and shape

many are

brightly colored

may be robustor have thread

"waists"

all have four

wings

most are capableof stinging

may collect large

numbers of insects

to provision their

nests

some aid inpollination


8/40


9/40

SPIDERS, several species

Description Prey attacked

piders have:

ght legs

wo body regions

o wings

any species are nocturnal

icroscopic to over 3 inches long

Spiders feed on:

general insects

other arthropods

all spiders are beneficial

striped lynx spider celer crab spider winter spider star bellied orb weaver

gray dotted spiderblack and white jumping spider long jawed orb weaver ridge faced crab spider


10/40

BEET ARMYWORM, Spodoptera exigua

Description Picture Damage

adults have forewings which are mottled

grayish-brown and have an expanse of about

1 1/4 inches

hind wings are silver white with a darker

front margin bright green with dark lateral stripes, thelarvae are about 1 1/4 inches long

larvae may

defoliate plants


11/40

BLISTER BEETLES,Epicautaand others


all adults are long

and slender with

distinct body divisions

may be black, grayor striped

larvae are not

damaging to

vegetables

adults feed on

the foliage of

host plants


12/40

CABBAGE LOOPER, Trichopulsia ni


moths light grayish-brown

moths with a small, lighter colored

spot near the center of each

forewing

moths have a wingspread ofabout 1 1/2 inches

light-green caterpillars with a

few white or pale yellow stripes

larvae travel with a

characteristic looping motion

voracious feeders, which

can strip foliage from

infested plants in a short

time

a virus often affectsindividuals especially in

high population

GRASSHOPPERS, several species


many species feed on

crops

highly variable in size

and color

long straight wings

lay tent-like over the

back

most grasshoppers

overwinter in the egg

stage

nymphs common

early in the year

may be attracted to

gardens during dry

weather

nymphs have short

wing pads

foliage is eaten

may completelystrip foliage


13/40


14/40


15/40

CORN EARWORM,Heliothis zea

(Also know as bollworm and tomato fruitworm)


front wings which are a light

grayish-brown, marked with

dark-gray to olive-green irregular

lines

fore wings haves a darker

band near the tip

hind wings are light in color

with slightly wavy dark bands,

especially near the extremities 1 1/2-inch wing expanse

larvae vary from light green or

pink to brown or nearly black

alternating longitudinal darkand lgiht stripes mark its body

larvae vary from light green or

pink to brown or nearly black

coloration is so variable that it

is not dependable for

identification

short microspines (visible

through a hand lens) on the skin

feeding habits are useful

identifying characteristics

newly hatched larvae

begin feeding on the plant

where eggs were laid on

corn silk

larvae burrow into and eat

the developing grains

may feed in whorls of

young corn plants, but

usually is not an economicthreat there

larvae are cannibalistic

and usually only one larva

grows in each ear


16/40

DIAMONDBACK MOTH,Plutella xylostella


adults are grayish

moths, about 1/3 inch

long

males have the

wings with a row of

three diamond-shaped

yellow spots where

they meet down the

middle of the back

folded wings flare

outward and upwardtoward their tips

hind wings have afringe of long hairs

larvae, which rarely

exceed 1/3 inch, are

pale yellowish-green

with fine, scattered,

erect black hairs over

the body

they wiggle actively

when disturbed

pupa is in a gauzy

sack so thin and

loosely spun that it

hardly conceals the

pupa about 3/8 inch

long

larvae feed

on the

underside of

leaves, leaving

shothole type

damage

usually, outerleaves are

attacked


17/40


18/40

FALL ARMYWORM, Spodoptera frugiperda


adult moths are about 3/4 inch

long and 1 1/2 inches

across outspread wings

male forewings are gray and

have irregular white spot near the

tip

female forewings usually are

duller than those of the male

hind wings of both sexes havea pinkish-white luster, bordered

by a smoky-brown band

newly hatched larva has a jet-

black head and light body,

turning darker when about 3 days

old

fully grown larva is 1 1/3

inches and varies from light-

green to almost black

front of head is marked with a

prominent inverted Y, but this

character is not always reliable

identification

larvae have three yellowish-

white lines down the back from

head to tail

on each side next to each outer

dorsal line is a wider dark stripe

below which is an equally wide,

wavy, yellow stripe, splotched

with red

Photo credit: W. L. Sterling, Department ofEntomology, Texas A&M University

tiny larva begins

feeding on its egg shell

immediately after

hatching, but

soon attacks plants

near the soil surface

larvae grow rapidly

and within 2 or 3 days

begin devouring plants frequently doconsiderable damage to

corn ears, similar to that

caused by corn

earworms


19/40

FLEA BEETLES

tobacco fleabeetle,Epitrix hirtipennis

eggplant fleabeetle,E. fusculaCrotch,

potato fleabeetle,E. cucumerisand other species


adults are

approximately 1/16

inch long

some are entirelyblack, others brown-

black with faint,

lighter markings

larvae are small,slender and white

with a black band and

3 pairs of legs

plant foliage

has numerous,

very small,

rounded or

irregular holes

holes eatenthrough or into

the leaf leaves look

like they were

peppered with

fine shot

leaves may

wilt and turn

brown

may kill or

stunt the plant


20/40

GARDEN WEBWORM,Achyra rantalis


buff moths with

shadings and

irregular markings of

light and dark gray

wingspread isabout 3/4 inch

generally, night

active

attracted to lights

often found in

fields during the day,with darting short

flights

larvae about 1 inchlong

yellowish or pale

to dark greenish with

a light stripe down

the back

three dark spotsform a triangle on the

side of each segment

larvae feed

primarily on the

underside of leaves

skeletonizing

leaves

spin webs and

draw leaves within

the web for food


21/40

CABBAGEWORM,Pieris rapae


white butterflies

which have a few

black spots on the

front wings and black

to gray wing tips

hind wings have asingle spot at the front

edge

travel like typical

caterpillars without a

looping motion

larvae are dark-

green caterpillars up

to 2 inches long

attack is

similar to and

easily confused

with the cabbage

looper

relatedspecies,

including the

great southernwhite, may also

be pests


22/40

PEPPER WEEVIL,Anthonomus eugenii


adults are black

weevils with a sparse

covering of tan-to-gray

hairs

about 1/8 inch long

larvae are white

grubs with brown

heads

tunnels

damage the

seeds area of

pepper pods


23/40


24/40

PICKLEWORM,Diaphania nitidalis


moths have dark-

brown wing margins

merging into lighter

areas toward the

center, with the

abdomen tip tufted

with hairs

larvae -- bright

green and black-dotted do not exceed 3/4

inch long

larvae feed

on blossoms

and vines and

mine into the

underside of

fruits


25/40

SALTMARSH CATERPILLAR,Estigmene acrea


adults are white moths

with wings freckled with

black spots

in females, wings areyellow on the underside

males have hind wings,

yellow above and below

full grown, larvae are up to

2 inches long covered with dense hairs

ranging from yellowish to

brown and nearly black

larvae are present in large

numbers and migrate

similar to armyworms

strip foliage from plants


26/40

SERPENTINE LEAFMINER,Liriomyza brassicaeand others


adults are small

flies which are 1/8

inch long

yellow and blackthorax and a black

head

adults fly quickly

for short distances

when disturbed

maggot is 1/8inch long white,

legless and wedge-

shaped

pupae are light

brown, oval and

ringed with ridges

maggots eat leaf

tissue between the

upper and lower

surfaces

leave slender,

white winding

trails through the

leaf's interior

leaves,

especially peppers,are weakened


27/40

SQUASH VINE BORER,Melittia satyriniformis

and related species


adult moth is

one of the "clear

wing" types

because the hind

wings lack scales

a 1 1/2-inch

wing expanse

metallic green-

black colors

hind wings

fringed with black

and orange hairs

and similar colors

on the abdomen

moths are day

fliers

larvae are white,

heavy-bodied and

over 1 inch longwhen full grown

larvae bore into

vines

appear more likea grub than a

caterpillar

infested vines

may be totally

destroyed much variationexists in the

susceptibility of

squash and

pumpkin varieties

hubbard squash ishighly susceptible


28/40

TOBACCO HORNWORM,Manduca sextaand the TOMATO HORNWORM,M.

quinquemaculata


adults are large,

fast-flying hawk moths

sometimes mistaken

for hummingbirds,

with a 5-inch

winspread

large larvae are

similar with seven

diagonal light stripes

on the tobaccohornworm

eight curved stripeson the tomato

hornworm

larvae feed

voraciously on

tomato and

pepper foliage


29/40

TOMATO PINWORM,Keiferia lycopersicella


adults are gray

moths 1/4 inch

long

larvae are light

orange at first

become purplish

black with

maturity and

larve up to 1/4

inch

larval feeding is

similar to leafminer

damage to plants

larvae later

invade stems and

fruits

invaded fruit are

useless for canning

purposes


30/40

SUCKING INSECTS

INSECTS AND MITES THAT SUCK THE JUICES FROM FOLIAGE, FRUITS, STEMS AND ROOTS,

CAUSING DISCOLORATION, STUNTING DEFORMED FRUIT AND OTHER DAMAGE

TWOSPOTTED MITE, Tetranychus urticae,

also Tetranychus mariana, Oligonychusspp. and others


twospotted mite is green

with a dark spot on each

side

other mites are carmine

red nymphs resemble adults

and may be yellowish

about 1/60 of an inch orless

usually webbing is

present

often on the underside of

the leaves

mites pierce leaves and

suck plant sap plants lose color and

fade grom green to yellow

may appear reddish in

later stages

"bronzeing" of the leaf

is characteristic

APHIDS


small, sluggish, soft-bodiedinsects

often called plant lice

winged and wingless forms ofadults

immatures are smaller and

wingless most species give birth to livingyoung and build up very rapidly

several species

attack various crops

sucking plant sap

causing stunting,

and leaf curling

leaving honeydewdeposits


31/40

GABBAGE APHIDS


small, sluggish, soft-

bodied insects

often called plant lice

winged and wingless

forms of adults

immatures are smaller and

wingless

most species give birth toliving young and build up

very rapidly

several species

attack various

crops

sucking plant

sap

causing

stunting, and leaf

curling

leavinghoneydew

deposits

LEAFFOOTED BUGS,Leptoglossusspp.


large bugs about

3/4 inch long

generally gray-colored with a white

line across the back

hind legs

expanded with

jagged edges

all stages may be

present together

sometimes

typical sucking

insect damage tomatoes may be

pockmarked or

misshapen

beans and peas

may be discolored

or taste bad


32/40

LEAFHOPPERS

GARDEN LEAFHOPPER or BEAN LEAFHOPPER,Empoasca solana

ASTER LEAFHOPPER,Macrosteles fascifrons

POTATO LEAFHOPPER,Empoasca fabaePOTATO LEAFHOPPER,Empoasca abrupta

BEET LEAFHOPPER, Circulifer tenellus


typically green

or pale green

may be brown or

even brightly

colored

aster leafhopperis brownish gray

with 6 spots on the

head

wedge shaped

adults and

immatures

1/6 to 1/4 inch

long

feeding causes

curled leaves,

stunted growth, or

dwarfing of plants aster leafhopper

transmits aster

yellows disease

beet leafhopper

may transmit curly

top disease

FLOWER THRIPS,Frankliniella occidentalisand ONION THRIPS, Thrips tabaci


slender, spindle-shaped

insects

adults are unusually

under 1/16 inch long

usually very active

four slender wings are

fringed with hairs

larvae resemble adults

without wings

feed on plant tissue

rasp leaf surfaces and

suck juices

heavily damaged plants

appear silvery or gray

plants may be distorted

especially seedlings


33/40

SHARPSHOOTERS,Homalodiscaspp.

and Oncopmetopiaspp.


large 1/4 inch

leafhoppers

blue, yellow andwhite patches on the

wings

very active

circle plant stemsto avoid humans

very capable and

direct fliers

a wide variety

of plants are

attacked

suck plant

juices

seldom

abundant enough

to cause damage

migrate freely

into gardens

SWEETPOTATO WHITEFLY,Bemisia tabaci

and GREENHOUSE WHITEFLY, Trialeuroides vaporariorum


adults - about 1/16 inch in

length

four wings along dorsal partof the body

covered with white waxy

powder

nymphs - light green, oval,flattened and about the size of a

pinhead

attached to leaf surfaces until

they mature

last instar more elevated and

slightly segmented

feed by suckingplant juices

heavy feedingcauses mottled leaves

may cause

yellowing or death

excreted honeydew

may conver lower

leaves

black sooty mold

may grow on

honeydew


34/40

SQUASH BUG,Anasa tristis


adults are brownish

gray to dark gray bugs

about 5/8 inch long

nymphs have a

green abdomen with

crimson head, thorax,

legs and antennae

later become

grayish-white with

nearly black legs and

antennae well camouflaged

attacked plant

stems often are

enlarged but later

wither and die

can become

numerous on

squash and

pumpkins

STINK BUGS

Green Stink Bug,Nezara viridula


large bugs up to 3/4inch long

generally green or

brown in color

sucking mouthparts

appear to be five

sided

wings of adults

overlap

typical sucking insect

damage

tomatoes may be

pockmarked or misshapen

beans and peas may bediscolored or taste bad


35/40

GRANULATE CUTWORM,Feltia subterranea


larvae have a rough skin with

many bluntly conical granules of

varying sizes

brownish with darker granules

cutworms cut plants at, or

slightly below, the ground

level

feed on roots and

underground stems

may be difficult to control

because they remain in the

soil

attacks and damages

many different vegetables

MOLE CRICKETS


mole crickets are

about 1 1/2 inches

long

golden to

chocolate brown

and covered with

fine velvety hairs strong, heavily

sclerotized front

legs are adapted for

digging

make small

winding borrows of

loosened soil on the

surface

almost all

vegetable crops may

be damaged by these

pests

feed at or slightly

below the soil

surface on roots,tubers and stems

also attack

strawberries and

other fruit which

contacts the soil


36/40

PILLBUGS AND SOWBUGS, several species


not insects but

crustaceans

size about 3/8 to

3/4 inch longwhen full grown

seven pair of

legs, prominent

antennae and two

tail-like

appendages

some are

capable of rolling

up into a ball

sowbugs and

pillbugs are mainly

nuisance pests

occasionallydamage roots,

seedlings, foliage

and fruit which

contact the soil

seldom damaging

under field

conditions

can cause severedamage in

greenhouses


37/40

CORN ROOTWORM,Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi


also called the

spotted cucumber

beetle

adult is about

1/4 inch long,

greenish yellow

with 12 black spots

on its back

adults have ablack head and

relatively long

dark antennae

larvae are long

and slender and are

about 1/2 inch long

when full grown

white to

yellowish, with a

distinct brown

head

brown patch on

top of the last

abdominal

segment

known to feed on

more than 200

different plant

species including

many crops

adults are general

foliage feeders

often occur in

large numbers damage appears

as irregular holes in

leaves, and

damaged growing

tips

may cause

considerable leaf

damage

occasionally

seedlings aregirdled at or near

ground level

larvae feed on

plant roots and bore

into germinating

seed

may infest large

roots and

underground stems

larval damage

wilts and stuntsplants or stand loss


38/40

SWEETPOTATO WEEVIL, Cylas formicarius elegantulus


adults are about 1/4

inch long and ant-like

in appearance

head, snout andwings are a dark

metallic blue and

thorax and legs are

bright red-orange

larvae are legless

grubs almost 1/2 inch

long when full grown

white with brownheads

larvae tunnel

through tubers,

causing

discoloration

impart a bitter

taste to the tuber

infested sweet

potatoes are unfit

for human

consumption


39/40

WHITE GRUBS,Pyllophagaspp.


adults are May or

June beetles

robust

range in size

from 1/2 to 1 inch

in length

vary from lightbrown to almost

black

larvae are white

with brown heads

C-shaped with

three pair of legs

hind part of body

appears dark

because soil shows

through the body

nearly 100

species may

damage vegetables

grubs feed on

roots and other

underground plant

parts

many vegetables

may be attacked

most severeinfestations occur

on crops following

grass


40/40

WIREWORMS, several species


damaging species

generally are 1/4 to

1/2 inches long

cylindrical and

elongate in shape

smooth, shiny andhard-bodied

color varies from

yellow andbrownish

larvae of click

beetles

may cause severe

damage to

vegetables

bore into large

roots, stems and

tubers

yield and quality

may be reduced

wirewormsattack virtually

every vegetable

crop damage to

planted seeds and

roots

may result in

poor stands or

complete loss

crop rotation

may help control

them

an introduction to garden pests and insects

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