Good and Bad BugsGood and Bad Bugsin Your Gardenin Your Garden

Thomas J. WeisslingThomas J. Weissling

Assistant Professor of EntomologyAssistant Professor of EntomologyUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Florida

Fort Lauderdale Research Fort Lauderdale Research

More than 1 million species of More than 1 million species of insects world-wideinsects world-wide

Over 13,000 species of Over 13,000 species of insects known from Floridainsects known from Florida

New species appear almost daily due toNew species appear almost daily due toshipments of plants and other materialsshipments of plants and other materials

into Florida from abroadinto Florida from abroad

Beneficial or not considered to be pests

(> 99%)

Less than 1%Less than 1%Considered Considered to be peststo be pests

Of all insect species in the world

Pests can be separated by the typePests can be separated by the typeof mouthparts they possess which of mouthparts they possess which

dictates they type of damage they do.dictates they type of damage they do.

Most common typeMost common typeof mouthpart isof mouthpart ischewing.chewing.

Tear off pieces ofTear off pieces oftissue and eat it.tissue and eat it.

Typical damage inflicted on plants by Typical damage inflicted on plants by pests with chewing mouthpartspests with chewing mouthparts

Another common type of mouthpart isAnother common type of mouthpart ispiercing/suckingpiercing/sucking

(This is a good bug)

Typical damage inflicted on plants by Typical damage inflicted on plants by pests with sucking mouthpartspests with sucking mouthparts

Some common yard and garden pestSome common yard and garden pestwith piercing/sucking mouthpartswith piercing/sucking mouthparts

Aphids

Aphids

Some ThingsSome ThingsThat EatThat EatAphidsAphids

(Good Bugs)(Good Bugs)

Aphid MummiesAphid Mummies

Whitefly AdultWhitefly Adult

UF - IFAS

Whitefly NymphsWhitefly Nymphs

UF - IFAS

A few good bugs that eat whitefliesA few good bugs that eat whiteflies

Scale InsectsScale Insects

Armored Scales: Florida Red Scale

UF - IFAS

Cycad Scale

Soft Scale: Green ScaleSoft Scale: Green Scale

UF - IFAS

Soft Scales: Hemispherical ScaleSoft Scales: Hemispherical Scale

Scale predatorsScale predatorsand parasitesand parasites

MealybugsMealybugs

UF - IFAS

Twospotted Spider Mite

UF - IFAS

Spider-Mite Webbing

UF - IFAS

Predatory Mite

Chinch BugsChinch Bugs

Some common yard and garden pestSome common yard and garden pestwith chewing mouthpartswith chewing mouthparts

Oleander Caterpillar, Oleander Caterpillar, Syntomeida epilaisSyntomeida epilais

BagwormBagworm

Io Moth CaterpillarIo Moth Caterpillar

UF - IFAS

Saddleback CaterpillarSaddleback Caterpillar

UF - IFAS

Eastern Lubber Eastern Lubber GrasshopperGrasshopper

UF - IFAS

Bad Bug….Bad Bug….Very, veryVery, verybad bugbad bug

Palm Leaf SkeletonizerPalm Leaf Skeletonizer

Garden SlugGarden Slug

White GrubsWhite Grubs

Mole CricketsMole Crickets

Mole Cricket DamageMole Cricket Damage

Tropical Sod WebwormTropical Sod Webworm

Red ImportedRed ImportedFire AntFire Ant

Probably the mosthated insect in theentire state.

The QueenThe Queen

Phorid FlyPhorid Fly

Imported fromImported fromBrazilBrazil

Phorid FlyPhorid Flyegg hatchesegg hatchesand migratesand migratesto and feedsto and feedson ants headon ants headwhich leads which leads to….to….

SpidersSpiders

Most are beneficial...Most are beneficial...

a few are poisonousa few are poisonous

Southern Black WidowSouthern Black Widow

UF - IFAS

Red Widow Red Widow SpiderSpider

UF - IFAS

Brown Widow SpiderBrown Widow Spider

UF - IFAS

Author: Tom Weissling, University of Florida

Photos: University of Florida University of California

Entomology And Nematology Department

Copyright University of Florida 2000

For more detailed information see the Featured Creatures WWW site

at http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/