Objectives To identify pests associated with common plants and crops. To analyze the characteristics associated with common pests of plants. To identify the uses and types of pesticides.

Main Menu Introduction to Insects Pesticides Integrated Pest Management Sucking Insects Insects A-L Insects M-S Insects T-Z

Pests Are any life forms competing for resources Are plants or animals detrimental to humans or human concerns Are an organism which pose a threat to other organisms’ health Are parasites: organism which lives on or inside another organism obtains nutrients from host detriment to the host

Pests Can be any of the following: insects vertebrates nematodes weeds pathogens fungal bacterial viral

Insects Are members of the arthropoda phylum Damage lawns, crops and other plants by feeding off roots, leaves and fruits Can spread disease among plants

Insects Are members of the class Insecta class characteristics include: three pairs of legs three body segments two pairs of wings (typically) one pair of antennae one pair of eyes examples include: ants, bees, beetles, butterflies, crickets, fleas, flies, moths

Insects Are not always considered pests insect pollinators are essential to plant growth and reproduction other insects serve as predators and help control harmful insects Fun Fact: A predator can be any organism which preys on other organisms.

Insects Can be divided into categories based on mouthparts: chewing insects cause damage to plants by chewing foliage examples include caterpillars, beetles and grasshoppers sucking insects have mouthparts designed to pierce and suck examples include aphids, leafhoppers and mites

Insects

External Structure of Insects Consists of the head, thorax and abdomen the head includes eyes, antennae and mouthparts the thorax includes legs and wings the adult abdomen has no legs or wings

External Structure of Insects

External Structure of Insects

External Structure of Insects

Complete Metamorphosis Consists of four stages: egg female lays egg larva worm-shaped eating and growing stage Definition: Metamorphosis is the transformation of an organism from larva to adult stage.

Complete Metamorphosis Consists of four stages: pupa develops into adult while in a cocoon grows wings and legs adult breaks out of cocoon has identifiable insect features Definition: Cocoons are silky envelopes spun by the larvae of some insects to cover itself during metamorphosis.

Complete Metamorphosis

Incomplete Metamorphosis Consists of three stages: egg female lays hundreds of eggs eggs are white or yellow eggs hatch within 20 days nymph is the growing stage looks similar to adult insects

Incomplete Metamorphosis Consists of three stages: adult has developed all identifiable insect features adults mate, females lay eggs, and the entire process repeats

Incomplete Metamorphosis

Vertebrate Pests Possess a spinal column composed of segmented bones known as vertebrae Includes: birds deer raccoons rodents

Nematodes Are very small roundworms Consists of two types: may be parasitic or beneficial Consists of two types: ectoparasitic live outside plants and move between roots endoparasitic live inside plant tissues

Nematodes Are important decomposers in soil Damage vascular tissue of plants, preventing nutrient dissemination Create wounds, causing susceptibility to other diseases May cause: leaves to turn yellow plants to wilt bare patches of grass abundance of weeds

Weeds Compete with desirable plants for nutrients, water and sunlight Have one of three life cycles: annual perennial biennial

Pesticides Reduce, prevent, repel or eliminate pests Control pests in landscapes, gardens, field crops and homes Protect plants, animals and humans

Pesticides Are classified by type: algaecides anti-microbial avicides control algae anti-microbial control bacteria and microorganisms avicides control birds fungicides kill fungi herbicides kill weeds

Pesticides Are classified by type: insecticides molluscicides kill insects and other athropods molluscicides kill snails and slugs nematacides kill nematodes repellents repel pests including insects and birds rodenticides control rodents

Categories of Pesticides Include: biopesticides chemical pesticides

Biopesticides Are derived from animals, plants, bacteria and minerals Are divided into the following categories: microbial plant-incorporated protectants biochemical

Microbial Biopesticide Use a bacterium, fungus lines or protozoan as an active ingredient Control many different pests Bacillus thuringiensis commonly used microbial pesticide kills various species of mosquitoes, fungus gnats and blackflies has no negative effect on non-target organisms

Plant-Incorporated Protectants Are produced by plants with added genetic material scientists introduce certain genes into plant’s genetic make-up engineered plant produces pesticidal proteins, controlling pests Bacillus thuringiensisis is the most common plant-incorporated protectant

Biochemical Pesticides Are natural substances, controlling pests through non-toxic mechanisms Affect a specific pest and do not harm other organisms Are effective in small quantities Include: insect sex pheromones, which interfere with mating scented traps

Chemical Pesticides Are agents designed to prevent, repel or eliminate pests Are categorized as organophospate pesticides, carbamate pesticides, organochlorine insecticides and pyrethroid pesticides organophospate pesticides attack the nervous system can be highly poisonous are usually insecticides

Chemical Pesticides Are categorized as organophospate pesticides, carbamate pesticides, organochlorine insecticides and pyrethroid pesticides carbamate pesticides attack the nervous system organochlorine insecticides often used in the past have been removed from the market due to health and environmental effects

Chemical Pesticides Are categorized as organophospate pesticides, carbamate pesticides, organochlorine insecticides and pyrethroid pesticides pyrethroid pesticides toxic to the environment synthetic versions of the natural pesticide pyrethrin

Integrated Pest Management Is a strategy to control pests uses most economical process and presents least amount of possible hazards to humans and environment Used in agricultural crops, landscapes, lawns and home gardens

Integrated Pest Management Follows a four step approach: setting action thresholds monitoring and identifying pests pest prevention pest control

Action Thresholds Are levels of pest infestation at which pest prevention and control must be taken Examples: health hazard to plants economic threat

Monitoring & Identifying Pests Provides individuals with knowledge about insects one can identify an insect as either a pest or a beneficial Reduces the chance of using pesticides when unnecessary

Pest Prevention Utilizes cultural methods such as: Is cost effective crop rotation planting pest-resistant varieties Is cost effective Has little or no effect on environment

Pest Control Is based on effectiveness and risk Include: highly selective chemicals targeted spraying broadcast spraying

Techniques of Pest Control Biological controls pest control which is non-toxic to plants, humans and wildlife use beneficial insects to control pests example: introducing ladybugs to control aphid populations

Techniques of Pest Control Cultural controls simple to use and inexpensive Include: mulching crop rotation planting time irrigation Definition: Crop rotation is the practice of growing different crops on the same land over a period of several growing seasons; aids in insect control and preservation of soil quality.

Techniques of Pest Control Mechanical controls use physical methods, such as insect and animal traps, to reduce weeds and control pests by spreading less seeds are less effective and impractical on a large scale

Techniques of Pest Control Chemical controls use biological, natural and synthetic pesticides to control pests can be harmful to environment if not applied correctly

Techniques of Pest Control Host-plant resistance use plant varieties resistant to attack of pests and diseases plant breeders breed plants for certain traits making the plant resistant

Techniques of Pest Control Regulatory controls contain and eliminate pests already established in limited areas prevent introduction of pests from foreign countries restrict entry of any infested goods

Aphid Characteristics: green, yellow, red, pink or black in color young have wings, mature are wingless produce toxic saliva referred to as honeydew presence can go unnoticed feed primarily on garden plants

Aphid Effects on plants: Prevention methods: distorts leaves curling discoloration leaves may fall off stunts plant growth may cause death Prevention methods: monitor nitrogen fertilizer use allow beneficial insects to control

Aphid Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: insecticide soaps neem oil narrow range oils highly-refined petroleum oils sprayed on surface of plants Life cycle: incomplete Economic impact: destruction of vegetative parts

Armored Scale Characteristics: mostly flat exoskeleton females have rounder exoskeletons than males colors of armored scales include: gray orange red tan white Definition : Exoskeleton is a exterior protective structure for insects.

Armored Scale Effects on plants: may cause discolored spots on skin of fruits and vegetables condition of fruit is usually not damaged

Armored Scale Prevention methods: provide protection from dust allow beneficial insects to provide control lacewings pirate bugs thrips wasps

Armored Scale Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: biorational pesticides, relatively non-toxic with few ecological side-effects Life cycle: incomplete Economic impact: destruction of vegetative parts

Chinch Bug Characteristics: Effects on plants: straw like mouthparts long or short wings black bodies three-sixteenths of an inch long Effects on plants: feeds on sap of grass plants can be a major pest on home lawns prefer open, sunny areas

Chinch Bug Prevention methods: Treatment methods: deep, weekly watering, especially through summer Treatment methods: in many cases pesticide is not necessary

Chinch Bug Life cycle: Economic impact: incomplete destruction by removal of plant fluids clogs vascular system causing it to turn yellow

Lace Bug Characteristics: adult is approximately one-eighth inch long light-colored body clear wings

Lace Bug Effects on plants: Prevention methods: yellow and brown spots on top of leaves severely injured leaves drop from plant Prevention methods: allow natural predators, such as ladybirds and green lacewings, to provide control plant resistant varieties

Lace Bug Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: insecticides which contain: spinosad neem oil insecticide soap narrow-range oil pyrethroids Life cycle: incomplete Economic impact: destruction of vegetative parts

Leafhopper Characteristics: gray, green or yellow in color approximately one-half inch long jumps, flies and runs feeds on grasses, flowers, vegetables, fruit trees, shrubs and weeds

Leafhopper Effects on plants: injures plants by injecting toxic saliva, congesting vascular tissues causes leaves to curl, turn yellow and drop early stunts growth transmits diseases causes premature death Definition : Vascular tissue contains xylem and phloem which conduct both water and nutrients throughout the plant.

Leafhopper Prevention methods: use floating row covers allow beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, pirate bugs and lacewings, to provide control

Leafhopper Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: insect repellents such as Hot Pepper Wax Insect Repellent™ Life cycle: incomplete Economic impact: destruction by removal of plant fluids

Leaf Miner Characteristics: approximately one-fifth inch long white and silver wings with brown markings and a black spot on each wing most active at night feeds on fruit tree leaves and fruit

Leaf Miner Effects on plants: Prevention methods: creates small holes in young leaves leaves become curled and distorted stunts growth of young trees Prevention methods: avoid pruning live branches more than once per year remove suckers allow beneficial insects to provide control Fun Fact : Suckers, or new growth, are shoots which rise from the root system.

Leaf Miner Treatment methods: insecticides which contain: thiamethoxam, found in Platinum® imidacloprid, found in Admire® Pro acetamiprid, found in Assail® azadirachtin, found in Neemix® 4.5 narrow-range oil

Leaf Miner Life cycle: Economic impact: complete destruction of vegetative parts

Lygus Characteristics: pale green, yellow or brown approximately one-quarter inch long distinguishable triangle on back above wings Fun Fact : One way true bugs are characterized is piercing or sucking mouthparts.

Lygus Effects on plants: damages by feeding on young plants, preventing seeds from fully developing damages by feeding on anthers pierces cotton bolls causes bolls to shrivel, change colors and eventually drop

Lygus Prevention methods: inspect crops regularly plant resistant varieties manage surrounding crops to minimize infestation control weeds

Lygus Treatment methods: insecticides which contain: indoxacarb, found in Steward® oxamyl, found in Vydate® bifenthrin, found in Brigade® methidathion, found in Supracide® acephate, found in Orthene®

Lygus Life cycle: Economic impact: incomplete destruction of fruit/flower

Mealybug Characteristics: less than a quarter inch length white body with long, white “tail” filaments males have wings appear in greenhouse and nursery crops

Mealybug Effects on plants: wilts plants by extracting sap discolors leaves causes leaves to drop prematurely stunts plant growth can result in death

Mealybug Prevention methods: allow natural predators, such as ladybirds and lacewings, to provide control avoid over-watering and over-fertilizing attracted to soils with high levels of nitrogen wash off foliage to prevent future infestation

Mealybug Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: insecticides which contain: azadirachtin, as found in Azatrol® EC Life cycle: incomplete Economic impact: destruction of plant fluids

Milkweed Bug Characteristics: approximately one-quarter inch long black body with orange markings gray wings with a black triangle adults may have long or short wings

Milkweed Bug Effects on plants: feeds on all parts of plant removes sap from stolon injects a toxic substance preventing plants from transporting water causes large yellow spots in turfgrass Definition: Stolon is the horizontal branch from the base of a plant which produces new plants from buds at its tip.

Milkweed Bug Prevention methods: spray turfgrass with a diluted, liquid dishwashing soap, forcing milkweed bugs out of soil keep thatch at a minimum Definition: Thatch is a layer of dead plant material between the green tops of grass plants and the soil.

Milkweed Bug Prevention methods: Treatment methods: avoid over-fertilizing lawns mow at least once per week during growing season remove all grass clippings from lawns provide proper amounts of water Treatment methods: insecticides which contain: carbaryl pyrethroids

Milkweed Bug Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: consult with a turfgrass specialist before applying chemicals to avoid further damage Life cycle: incomplete Economic impact: destruction by removal of plant fluids

Soft Scale Characteristics: Effects on plants: red or brown with slightly flattened, oval-shaped bodies approximately one-quarter inch in diameter feed on ornamental foliage and flowers commonly found on indoor plants Effects on plants: causes stress by removing sap from surface of plant leaves causes plants to lose leaves

Soft Scale Prevention methods: monitor plants regularly to spot infection presence of ants on plant can indicate a scale problem

Soft Scale Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: insecticides which contain: malathion acephate horticulture oil acetamiprid pyriproxyfen Life cycle: incomplete Economic impact: destruction by removal of plant fluids

Spider Mite Characteristics: adults are very small in size oval-shaped body spins protective silk webs over infested plants

Spider Mite Characteristics: yellow or green with dark spots on back has eight legs arachnid

Spider Mite Effects on plants: yellow and brown spots on leaves suck mesophyll out of surface cells heavily infected leaves fall off Fun Fact : Mesophyll is the soft tissue of a leaf between the upper and lower layers of epidermis containing chloroplasts.

Spider Mite Prevention methods: allow natural predators to provide control: lacewings pirate bugs thrips wash trees and plants to remove dust provide proper amounts of irrigation

Spider Mite Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: insecticides which contain: carbaryl, such as Sevin® as a last resort, insecticidal soaps will help prevent further damage Life cycle: incomplete Economic impact: destruction of vegetative parts

Spittlebug Characteristics: grows to one-quarter inch in length brown or black body with two red or orange stripes across back feeds on crops, weeds, ornamental plants and grasses similar to a leafhopper

Spittlebug Effects on plants: Prevention methods: saturates leaves and twigs with saliva stunts plant growth, reducing crop yield in extreme cases Prevention methods: remove by hand or with strong water spray

Spittlebug Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: insecticides which contain: pyrethins acephate carabaryl malathion Life cycle: incomplete Economic impact: destruction of vegetative parts

Squash Bug Characteristics: dark brown approximately one-quarter to seven-tenths inch in length fully developed wings commonly feeds on pumpkin and squash

Squash Bug Effects on plants: Prevention methods: removes all vital nutrients leaves turn gray, wilt and die Prevention methods: trap and remove from leaf surface

Squash Bug Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: insecticides which contain: carbaryl permethrin bifenthrin esfenvalerate Life cycle: incomplete Economic impact: destruction of vegetative parts

Stinkbug Characteristics: either brown or green in color thorax gland produces offensive smelling liquid giving them their name liquid is defense mechanism to ward off predators sometimes referred to as “shield bugs” because of shield-like shape

Stinkbug Effects on plants: Prevention methods: can cause significant damage on gardens and farms feeds on a wide variety of host plants, from fruits to ornamental plants Prevention methods: remain largely unnoticed because of coloring and ability to blend in

Stinkbug Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: pesticides which contain: pyrethroids carbamates Life cycle: incomplete Economic impact: destruction of fruit/flower

Tarnished Plant Bug Characteristics: one-quarter inch long brown in color white, yellow, reddish-brown or black spots on back feed on plant tissue adults fly

Tarnished Plant Bug Effects on plants: damages a variety of plants injects toxic saliva into plant while feeding leaves form yellow spots cotton squares fall off fruit buds are dwarfed peach tree twigs and branches wilt and die

Tarnished Plant Bug Prevention methods: manage weeds near crops mow tall grass near crops to reduce breeding sites allow ladybugs, wasps and spiders to provide control

Tarnished Plant Bug Treatment methods: insecticides which contain: acephate, found in Orthene® 97 bifenthrin, found in Talstar® Nursery malathion, found in Malathion® 5 E carbaryl, found in Carbaryl® 5L or Sevin®

Tarnished Plant Bug Life cycle: Economic impact: incomplete destruction by removal of plant fluids

Western Flower Thrip Characteristics: less than one-tenth of an inch long yellow or brown yellow thrips may have brown spots two sets of clear, narrow wings wings have dark, hairy margins

Western Flower Thrip Effects on plants: extract plant juices causing damages the following: leaf buds leaves flower buds flowers fruit

Western Flower Thrip Effects on plants: brown, black or white spots on leaves streaks on leaves yellowing of leaf death of plants stunts growth cankers on stem

Western Flower Thrip Prevention methods: monitor and inspect plants regularly allow predators, such as mites, to provide control rotate crops remove all weeds near crops and greenhouses

Western Flower Thrip Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: pesticides which contain: chlorpyrifos, found in Duraguard® bendicarb, found in Turcam™ or Dycarb™ spinosad, found in Conserve® acephate, found in Othene® Life cycle: complete Economic impact: destruction of fruit/flower

Whitefly Characteristics: very small pale-yellow body with white wings usually in groups prefer the underside of leaves

Whitefly Effects on plants: feeds on plant phloem turns leaves yellow particularly cotton, poinsettia and vegetable plant leaves

Whitefly Prevention methods: sticky traps remove by hand or with hand-held vacuum allow predators, such as lacewings and pirate bugs, to provide control

Whitefly Treatment methods: Life cycle: Economic impact: insecticides which contain: narrow-range oil neem oil Life cycle: incomplete Economic impact: destruction by removal of plant fluids

Resources Armyworm information sheet. International Rice Research Institute. Retrieved from http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/ricedoctor/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=619&Itemid=2799 (1999). Blister beetle. AgriLIFE Extension. Retrieved from http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/bimg167.html (2000). Blister beetles. University of Florida. Retrieved from http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/medical/blister_beetles.htm Cranshaw, W. S., & Leatherman, D. A. (1999). Shade tree borers. Colorado State University. Retrieved from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05530.html (1999). Chinch bugs fact sheet. University of Rhode Island. Retrieved from http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/chinchbug.html

Resources Cook, K. A., & Weinzierl, R. (2004). Corn earworm. Integrated Pest Management. Retrieved from http://ipm.illinois.edu/fieldcrops/insects/corn_earworm/index.html Peairs, F. B., & Pilcher, S. D. (2010). Western corn rootworm. Colorado State University. Retrieved from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05570.html (1999). Cutworms. University of Rhode Island. Retrieved from http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/cutworms.html European corn borer. Iowa State University. Retrieved from http://www.ent.iastate.edu/pest/cornborer/ (2011). Weevils on stored grain. The Pennsylvania State University 2011. Retrieved from http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/weevils-on-stored-grain

Resources (1999). Green lacewing. AgriLIFE Extension. Retrieved from http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/bimg125.html Mason, J. Honeybee. Retrieved from http://www.gpnc.org/honeybee.htm Cranshaw, W. S. (2006). Lady beetles. Colorado State University. Retrieved from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05594.html (2010). Screening aid to pests. Retrieved from http://itp.lucidcentral.org/id/palms/sap/Palm_Leaf_Skeletonizer.htm Bessin, R. (2004). Colorado potato beetle management. The University of Kentucky. Retrieved from http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef312.asp Capinera, J. L. (2001). Saltmarsh caterpillar. University of Florida. Retrieved from http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/leaf/saltmarsh_caterpillar.htm

Resources Cranshaw, W. S. (2008). Slugs. Colorado State University. Retrieved from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/INSECT/05515.html (2011). Stink bugs guide. Retrieved from http://stinkbugsguide.net/ Beauzay, P. (2008). Corn rootwarm managment. NDSU Extension Entomology. Retrieved from http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/archive/entomology/ndsucpr/Years/2008/august/7/ent.htm Hamon, A. B. (1998). Armored scale insects as pests of bromeliads. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Retrieved from http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/frank/bromeliadbiota/scale.htm Scale insects. University of Florida. Retrieved from http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/fasulo/woodypest/scales.htm

Resources Boone, M. Archived photos of living moths. Mississippi State University. Retrieved from http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/fast.php?plate=01&page=12&size=s&sort=h Roos, D. (2006). Tarnished plant bug. North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/ag/SustAg/tarnishbug.html (2008). Cotton bollworm. UC Pest Management Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r114300511.html (1998). A field guide to common texas insects. College Station: Texas AgriLIFE Extension. Retrieved from http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/ (2010). Viral diseases. PAN Germany. Retrieved from http://www.oisat.org/pests/diseases/viral.html

Resources Integrated pest management. Prosser: Washington State University Extension. Retrieved from http://ipm.wsu.edu/ (1993). Leafminers on ornamental plants. University of Florida. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg006 Entomology & plant pathology. Stillwater: Oklahoma State University. Retrieved from http://entoplp.okstate.edu/ddd/ Eaglin, A. Animal and plant health inspection service. USDA. Retrieved from http://images.aphis.usda.gov/ (2010). Animal and plant health inspection service. USDA. Retrieved from http://www.aphis.usda.gov/hungrypests/ (2010). News and events. USDA. Retrieved from http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/

Acknowledgements Production Coordinators Kelly Harkey Baron Bartels Layton Norwood Assistant Brand Manager Olivia Mitchell Graphic Designer Melody Rowell Technical Writer Jessica Odom Production Manager Maggie Bigham V.P. of Brand Management Clayton Franklin Executive Producer Gordon W. Davis, Ph.D. © MMXIII CEV Multimedia, Ltd.