Responding to Horticulture Inquiries-2017

3/31/17

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University of Wisconsin–MadisonInsect Diagnostic Lab

2017 Plant Insect Updateand Other Insects You Might Bump Into

PJ LieschUW-Madison

Insect Diagnostic [email protected]

@WiBugGuy

labs.russell.wisc.edu/insectlab/


Why is Identification Important?§ Know thy enemy

§ Know the insect know the biology & management§ Understand the damage and potential impacts

§ Part of the IPM process

§ Help discover patterns in the landscape§ Ex. Is it something new?


Google: “Joe Boggs Ohio State Plant Diagnosis”

ProblemwithPlant IdentifythePlant

Areinsectsinvolved?

No

Disease,Fertility,orotherIssue

Yes

Doyourecognizetheinsect(s)involved?Yes No

IdentificationComplete

CollectSamplesandInformation

DoyouhavetheresourcestoID?Yes

NoContactDiagnosticLab


Are Insects Involved?§ Sometimes difficult to determine

§ Two types of insect mouthparts:§ Different patterns of damage


Insect Mouthparts

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Insects with Chewing MouthpartsJapanese Beetle

Imported Willow Leaf Beetle Gypsy Moth

Eastern Tent Caterpillar

Rose Slug Sawfly


Tatters


“Hard-to-Find” Cases: Borers

Bronze Birch Borer

Two Lined Chestnut Borer

Emerald Ash Borer


Insects with Sucking Mouthparts

Honeylocust Plant Bug

Lace Bugs

Four Lined Plant Bugs

Aphids


“Hard-to-Understand” Cases: Galls


Diseases and other Disorders

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Collecting Samples§ Physical samples

§ Insects§ Plant materials

§ Digital Samples§ Images

§ Other clues§ Plant species/cultivar, site conditions, site history, etc.§ Record in notebook / on data form


How to Properly Collect Physical Samples

§ Collect multiple specimens (if possible)

§ Hard-bodied insects § Place into small container w/padding

§ Soft-bodied insects§ Place into container with alcohol§ 60-70% ethanol (ideal)§ Hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol (ok)

§ Identify as soon as possible


Things You Shouldn’t Do:§ Place several types of live insects per container

§ Place soft-bodied insects into vials w/o alcohol

§ Place onto tape

§ If mailing: place directly into envelope


Submitting Samples

labs.russell.wisc.edu/insectlab/

Digital Samples:[email protected]

Physical Samples:See website


Unless requested to directly contact the client, I will respond to submitter:• UWEX office/agent• Hort Help Desk

• Response is typically a phone call/email; can create written letter if requested


Digital Samples§ Use best photography equipment available

§ Use as much magnification as possible

§ Take several photographs§ Different angles, magnification, upper & lower surfaces§ Include a size reference (if possible)§ Take one of entire plant & surrounding area

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Other Clues:

Get a glimpse of the “bigger picture”


labs.russell.wisc.edu/insectid/


Resources§ 500+ pages

§ Image RICH

§ Covers garden AND landscape pests

§ Cost ($)


Resources

hort.uwex.edu


What’s in Store for 2017?


Medically Important Arthropods

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Mosquitoes

§ High mosquito pressure in June/July/August of 2016§ Above Average Rainfall

§ Mosquitoes in 2017?

§ Zika Virus?


Ticks§ 2014 & 2015: high levels of tick activity§ 2016: lower tick activity; why?…§ 2017: tick forecast?


Tickencounter.org

Great Info on:§ Tick ID§ Tick Testing§ Etc.


Bird Mites


A Quartet of Cimicids


Bed Bugs vs Bat Bugs§ ID critical for management!

Bat Bug

Bed Bug

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Household Insects


Box Elder Bugs

§ Populations have generally been low for several years

§ Killed by fungus in rainy years

§ BUT, high numbers reported in 2016 in many spots!


Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles


Summer Ants

Pavement Ants

Odorous House Ant

Carpenter Ants


Home-Invading Weevils§ Many “broad-nosed” weevils common in summer§ Some species will “invade” homes

§ Strawberry Root, Imported Longhorned, etc.

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Foreign Grain Beetle• Common in August & September• Associated with new homes


Pantry Pests

SawtoothedGrain Beetles

Indian Meal Moth


Brown Marmorated Stink Bug


Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

§ First WI Find: 2010

§ 2015: 30+ reports

§ 2016: 40+ reports§ Juveniles§ Mating Adults§ Found on plants

§ 2017: 30+ reports


BMSB in Wisconsin

Other suspected cases:§ Green§ Door


Outdoor Insects

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Scarab BeetlesGood Year

§ Rose Chafers§ Japanese Beetles

“New” to the Scene§ Northern Masked Chafer§ European Chafer


§ 2014§ Record lows across WI§ Likely due to previous winter

§ 2015§ JB numbers up

. . .but still below average

§ 2016§ Mild el Niño winter§ Rebound of Japanese Beetles

§ 2017§ Numbers likely to be strong

Japanese Beetles


§ Invasive pest, from Asia§ Attack wide variety of fruits§ Found in WI: 2010

Spotted Wing Drosophila


Emerald Ash Borer

§ Exotic, Invasive Species from China§ 2008: found in WI

§ Larvae kill ash trees by feeding on vascular tissues beneath the bark

§ Trees die within 1-5+ years depending on population density

Photo Credit: David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org


Map Source: WI-DATCP

Price

Clark

Dane

Polk

Vilas

Grant

Iron

Bayfield

Rusk

Sawyer

Oneida

Marathon

Sauk

Forest

Taylor

Douglas

Iowa

Dunn

Marinette

Rock

Oconto

Wood

Dodge

Barron

Lincoln

Burnett

Jackson

Ashland

Monroe

Vernon

Juneau

Portage

Chippewa

Buffalo

Adams

Shawano

Langlade

Door

Green

Pierce

St. Croix

Washburn

Brown

Columbia

Waupaca

Lafayette

Richland

Crawford

Jefferson

Waushara

Walworth

Eau Claire

Fond du Lac

Outagamie

Florence

Manitowoc

Waukesha

Winnebago

Racine

Calumet

La Crosse

Marquette

Sheboygan

Pepin

Kenosha

Menominee

Trempealeau

Washington

Kewaunee

Green Lake

Ozaukee

Milwaukee

Quarantined County

Early 2014Sept.2016

Emerald Ash Borer in WisconsinAugust

2015


Municipalities with 1st EAB Detections

Year # Municipalities2008 22009 82010 12011 22012 122013 342014 392015 462016 83

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Two-Lined Chestnut Borer


GypsyMoth§ Populationsgenerallylowin2016

§ Manykilledbyentomopathogenic fungus


Lily Leaf Beetle


§ European origin§ Detected in Ontario-1945§ Detected in New England-1990’s

§ Skeletonizes Viburnums

Viburnum Leaf Beetle


(Two Banded) Japanese Weevil

§ Native to Japan§ In US for over 100+ years§ Adults unable to fly


§ Aphids and Scale Insects:

§ Can secrete honeydew§ “Raining” phenomenon

Sucking Insects

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Wasps and Yellowjackets


Questions?

Patrick (PJ) [email protected]

Twitter: @WiBugGuy

labs.russell.wisc.edu/insectlab


Delusory Parasitosis§ Delusory Parasitosis: belief that insects are crawling

on, biting, or burrowing in the skin, when no arthropod is involved

§ Delusion: a fixed belief; unswayed by evidence to the contrary

§ Illusion: acknowledges other explanations once they are demonstrated


Common Attributes of Cases:1. Older persons; females primarily affected2. Unusual/erratic behavior

§ Quitting job, discarding/burning belongings, social isolation3. Self medication/treatment; pesticide/chemical use4. Often underlying medical conditions/medication

§ Readily share details of medical conditions5. Reject other explanations, firmly state: “I’m NOT Crazy” 6. Sense of desperation: “you’re my last hope”7. Often a traumatic life event: medical, divorce, death…


A Typical Sample§ Usually contain multiple containers

§ Thoroughly labeled; many notes§ Specimens captured on tape/lint rollers§ Contents of vacuum bags

§ Often include images§ Can include lengthy letters/emails


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Claims about the “Insects”§ Small or invisible§ B & W; but can change colors§ Tiny “worms”; “eggs” often described beneath skin§ Able to jump or fly§ Squish or disappear when touched§ Can “infest” variety of things: people/pets/inanimate objects

§ Sufferers can often thoroughly describe life cycles, appearance§ Want to “prove” readily provide specimens


Most Common Physical Symptoms§ Belief that insects are infesting skin

§ Urticaria: stinging or burning sensation

§ Erythema: redness

§ Pruritis: itching

§ Parasthesia: prickling or tingling sensation

§ Dermatitis: rash

§ Formication: sensation of ants crawling



Medications and the Elderly???

12% of population; 30% of prescriptions70% OTC drugs

Average 3 medications / day; 15 per year


Role of the Extension Personnel§ Role is NOT to diagnose DP

§ Awareness of DP, recognize signs of DP

§ Examine specimens§ Rule out the possibility of biting arthropods

§ No insects of concern? Direct to medical professionals

§ Do NOT provide any pesticide or medical advice


Advice for Extension Personnel

Documents

Responding to Horticulture Inquiries-2017