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Insect Identification Guidefor Southeastern Landscapes

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How to use this bookletGo to the tab that best exemplifies the damage observed on ornamental plants or turfgrass. Some insects are not easily seen. Sometimes a magnifying glass or a microscope is needed. The type of damage caused can provide evidence of the culprit. Not all insects cause damage and many benefit your garden. You will find many of these insects in the beneficial insects section of this book.

KeySize of the insect:

Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM)Before choosing a course of action about an insect in the garden, remember the four principles of IPM: • Monitor the garden • Identify the insect or problem • Evaluate the situation and predict the impact of the damage, if any • Make a decision about the best course of action and choose your control methods

Consult your county Extension agent and state pest control handbook regarding the choice of control methods. Always follow pesticide labels and use proper precautions before handling pesticides.

needs magnification to be observed

1/8” to 1/2” long

1/2” long or more

authors: Skaku Nair, Kris Braman and Ellen Bauske photographs: Bugwood.org

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Pest insects o

f orn

amen

tal plan

ts

needs magnification to be observed

1/8” to 1/2” long

1/2” long or more

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Some insects, especially those that cause chewing damage to plants, are beautiful additions to the garden at later stages in their life. Take a look at the caterpillars and see what they become before you decide to take action.

Pretty or pest?

D. C

appa

ert

S. M

cKee

ver

P. W

irtz

D. C

appa

ert

S. K

atov

ich

C.T

. Bry

son

Cabbage butterfly larva

Tiger swallowtail larva

Monarch butterfly larva

Cabbage butterfly

Tiger swallowtail butterfly

Monarch butterfly

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Chewingdamage

Ch

ewin

g d

amag

e

CLUESM

. Zu

bri

kG

. Cso

ka

S. K

ato

vich

D

ow

Gar

den

s A

rch

ive

Scraped or chewed leaves or flowers. Frass and webbing.

Examples

possible culprits

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Beetles

L.S.

Dal

en

Flea beetles (adults)

Land

esfo

rstp

räsi

dium

Sac

hsen

Flea beetles (larvae)D

. Cap

paer

t

Japanese beetles (adults)

J. N

. Del

l

Tortoise beetle

P. W

esto

n

Viburnum leaf beetle (adult)

M. Z

ubrik

Viburnum leaf beetle (larvae)

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Caterpillars

C. E

vans

Azalea caterpillar

E.R.

Day

Bagworm

D. C

appa

ert

Tent caterpillar

G. L

enha

rd

Yellownecked caterpillar

M. Z

ubrik

Fall webworm

R. F

. Bill

ings

Oak leaf caterpillar

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Grasshoppers & Sawflies

R. O

tten

s

American grasshopper

D. R

iley

Differential grasshopperB.

Kun

kel

Bristly roseslug sawfly (larva)

J. A

. Wei

dhas

s

Roseslug sawfly (larva)

G.J

. Len

hard

Redheaded pine sawfly (larvae)

L. G

rane

y

Oak sawfly (larva)

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Diebackdamage

Dieb

ack dam

age

CLUESL.

L. H

ych

ePA

Dep

t.C

on

serv

. Nat

. Res

. Fo

rest

J. O

’Bri

enJ.

So

lom

on

Unusual wilting, drying or death of a branch or twig on an otherwise healthy plant.

Examples

possible culprits

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ScalesArmored Scales

Soft Scales

A.J

. Boo

ne

Lecanium scale

J.A

. Wei

dhas

s

Wax scale

Cle

mso

n U

niv.

-USD

A C

oop.

Ext.

Euonymus scale

Cle

mso

n U

niv.

-USD

A C

oop.

Ext.

Tea scale

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DiebackdamageMORE CLUES

Pa. D

ept.

of

Co

nse

rvat

ion

& N

atu

ral R

eso

urc

es –

Fo

rest

ry A

rch

ive

J. R

. Bak

er /

S.B

. Bam

bar

a

In addition to unusual wilting or drying, look for frass in branch crotches or frass ‘toothpicks.’

Examples

possible culprits

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Borers

D. C

appa

ert

Emerald ash borer (adult)

D. C

appa

ert

Emerald ash borer (larva)D

. Cap

paer

t

Flat-headed apple tree borer (adult)

B.W

. Kau

ffm

an

Flat-headed apple tree borer (larva)

D. C

appa

ert

Goldenrod locust borer

J. H

ulcr

Granulate ambrosia beetle

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Distortiondamage

Disto

rtion

dam

age

R. F

. Bill

ing

s

INR

A-B

ord

eau

x

S. K

ato

vich

S. K

inel

ski

Abnormally shaped or colored deformation of plant parts. Some of these can also be symptoms of plant diseases.

Galls

CLUES

possible culprits

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Insects & mites that make galls

W. C

rans

haw

Adelgid

S. M

cKee

ver

Cynipid wasp

T. W

oott

en

Eriophyid mite (adult)

S.P.

van

Vuu

ren

Psyllid

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Leaf curling

W. C

rans

haw

J.A

. Wei

dhas

s

Aphid

C.E

. You

nce

W. C

rans

haw

Thrips

Culprits

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Leaf mines

S.K

. Bra

man

Azalea leaf damage

M. D

reili

ng

Azalea leaf miner (moth) G

. Cso

ka

Holly leaf damage

J. B

aker

Holly leaf miner (fly)

J. B

aker

Boxwood leaf damage

J. B

aker

Boxwood leaf miner (fly)

Culprits

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Stipplingdamage

Stipp

ling

dam

age

S. N

air

W. C

ran

shaw

W. C

ran

shaw

Cle

mso

n U

niv

.-U

SDA

Co

op

.Ext

.

Chlorotic spots. Also look for frass, cast skins and webbing.

Examples

CLUES

possible culprits

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Lace bugs

MitesJ.

Bak

er

Azalea lace bug

J. B

aker

Hawthorn lace bugJ.

A. W

eidh

ass

Southern red mites and eggs

F. P

eairs

Two-spotted spider mite

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Pest insects o

f turf

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Pest insects of turfgrass

While visual evidence of insect damage to turfgrass is often seen above ground, damage can be caused by insects that live either above ground or below ground. Proceed to the tabbed section that best exemplifies observable damage.

SamplingSeveral techniques are used to confirm the presence of insects in turgrass.

Sampling method key

Flotation sampling

Soap flush sampling

Soil sampling

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Aboveground pests

Ab

ove g

rou

nd

CLUESS.

K. B

ram

an

S.K

. Bra

man

S.K

. Bra

man

Chewed or shredded leaves, leaves with shot-holes, cut stems, abnormal yellowing or drying of leaves. Also look for frass, webbing or spittle-like substance on leaves.

Examples of damage

possible culprits

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Chewing pests

Nor

th C

arol

ina

Fore

st S

ervi

ce

Armyworm (larva)

N. W

right

Armyworm adult (moth)S.

K.B

ram

an

Fall armyworm (larva)

B.R.

Wis

eman

Fall armyworm adult (moth)

J. B

erge

r

Billbug adult

J. L

awre

nce

Sod webworm adult (moth)

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Chewing pests

R.J.

Rey

nold

s To

bacc

o C

ompa

ny

Variegated cutworm (larva)

I. K

imbe

r

Variegated cutworm adult (moth)

A. S

isso

n

Black cutworm (larva)

A. S

isso

n

Black cutworm adult (moth)

W. C

rans

haw

Bronzed cutworm (larva)

A. S

isso

n

Bronzed cutworm adult (moth)

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Sucking pests

S..K

. Bra

man

Chinch bug (adults)

S..K

. Bra

man

Chinch bug (nymphs)J.

N. D

ell

Spittle bug (adult)

S.K

. Bra

man

Spittle bug (nymph)

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Below ground pests

Belo

w g

rou

nd

CLUESPh

oto

Cre

dit

Pho

to C

red

it

Pho

to C

red

itS.

K. B

ram

an

Abnormal yellow, brown, wilted or dried up patches of turfgrass.

Examples of damage

possible culprits

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Possible culprits

W. C

rans

haw

Billbug (larva) U

GA

Arc

hive

Mole crickets

Cle

mso

n U

niv.

– U

SDA

Coo

p. E

xt.

Mole crickets

D. C

appa

ert

May-June beetle (grubs)

T.S.

Pric

e

May-June beetle (adults)

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Ben

eficial in

sects

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Beneficial insects in the landscape

Beneficial insects include predators and parasitoids. They prey on pest insects or use them as hosts for the parasitoids’ young. Such insects are beneficial because they remove pests from the environment.

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PredatorsPred

ators

C.M

. Abr

aham

Predators prey on pest insects. Predators are generally larger, faster and stronger than their prey and often capture and eat many individuals during their life cycle.

Example

predators

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Beetles

J. B

erge

r

Ground beetle

Cle

mso

n U

niv.

-USD

A C

oop.

Ext.

Lady beetle larvae, eggs and adult J.

Yus

choc

k

Rove beetle

S. M

cKee

ver

Tiger beetle

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Dragonflies

D. C

appa

ert

Dragonfly

G. B

ram

an

Dragonfly

Damselflies

J.N

. Del

l

Damselfly

G. B

ram

an

Damselfly

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Flies

D. C

appa

ert

Long-legged fly

E.L.

Man

igau

lt

Robber flyS.

Elli

s

Syrphid fly (adult)

A.N

. Spa

rks

Jr.

Syrphid fly (larva) with aphid prey

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Lacewings

J. B

erge

r

Brown lacewing

C. M

oore

head

Dusty wing

W. C

rans

haw

Lacewing larva

F. P

eairs

Green lacewing

W. C

rans

haw

Lacewing eggs

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Mantids

W.C

rans

haw

Praying mantid adult

W.C

rans

haw

Praying mantid egg case

WaspsC

.M.A

brah

am

Paper wasp

S.El

lis

Sphecid wasp

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Spiders & Mites

D. C

appa

ert

Flower spider

R. O

tten

s

Green lynx spider

D. C

appa

ert

Zipper spider

D. C

appa

ert

Spiny orb weaver

C. R

ay

Predatory mite

C. R

ay

Predatory mite

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True bugs

W.C

rans

haw

Assassin bug

B.H

igbe

e

Big-eyed bugF.

E.Fr

ench

Predatory stink bug

H.A

.Pas

e III

Wheel bug

W.B

eck

Damsel bug

J. R

uber

son

Minute pirate bug

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ParasitoidsParasito

ids

Parasitoids are insects that live and develop as parasites on other insects (hosts) and eventually kill them. Parasitoids usually complete their development on a single individual host.

Parasitoids at work

S.K

. Bra

man

Azalea lace bug egg parasitoid

D. C

appa

ert

Mummified (top) and healthy aphids

S.K

. Bra

man

Parasitized lace bug egg with exit hole

W. C

rans

haw

Parasitoid larva inside mummified aphid

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Parasitoids at work

F.St

arr

& K

.Sta

rr

Parasitized stink bug with egg parasitoids

P.J.

Pugl

iese

Parasitized caterpillar

K.C

ham

berla

in

Parasitized caterpillar with eggs

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Flies & Wasps

S. M

cKee

ver

Tachinid fly

R.O

tten

s

Tachinid fly

S. B

auer

R. R

yan

Braconid wasp Eulophid wasp

R. R

yan

USD

A A

RS P

hoto

Uni

t

Ichneumonid wasp Pteromalid wasp

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Useful termsBugs “True bugs” are insects belonging to the suborder Heteroptera, under order Hemiptera. Sometimes “bugs” is misused as a generic term for insects.

Cast skinsDried skins left by immature insects after they molt.

Chlorotic spotsPale yellow, green or white spots on leaves caused when sucking pests draw out plant sap.

Frass Insect fecal matter.

Larva(e)Immature insects that do not resemble the adult(s).

Nymph(s)Immature insects that resemble the adult.

PredatorInsects or other organisms that prey on other insects. Predators are generally larger, faster and stronger than their prey and often capture and eat many individuals during their life cycle.

ParasitoidsInsects that live and develop as parasites on other insects (hosts) and eventually kill them. Parasitoids usually complete their development on a single individual host.

Flotation samplingMethod to sample turf insects (e.g., chinch bugs), done by inserting one end of a hollow, cylindrical container into the turfgrass and filling it with water. Insects, if present, will float to the top and can be counted.

Soap flush samplingMethod to sample turf insects (e.g., sod webworms and other caterpillars), done by drenching a unit area of turfgrass (e.g., 2’ x 2’) with soapy water (2 fl. oz. liquid dish detergent in 1 gal. water). Caterpillars, if present, get irritated by the soap and crawl to the surface, and can be counted and identified.

Soil samplingMethod to sample soil-dwelling insects (e.g., white grubs and bill bug grubs), done by digging about 6 inches deep into a unit area of soil (e.g., 1’ x 1’), at several points over the turfgrass. Grubs, if present, will be exposed and can be counted.

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Award No. 2009-41530-05560.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. Cooperative Extension, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability.

The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Bulletin 1409 August 2012