Biological Control
• Using other organisms to control a pest
– Conservation
– Augmentation
– Classical or Importation
potatobeetle.org
Erik Burkness forestryimages.org
Tips for pest management
• Always identify the insect
– Pest vs. beneficial
• Know what is causing the plant problem
Tips for pest management
• Always identify the insect
– Pest vs. beneficial
• Know what is causing the plant problem
• Inspect plants regularly
Tips for pest management
• Always identify the insect
– Pest vs. beneficial
• Know what is causing the plant problem
• Inspect plants regularly
• Use practices that help to avoid insect problems
– Sanitation, proper watering, proper fertilization, proper
spacing
Cultural Control
• Modifications to
normal plant care to
reduce or avoid pest
problems
urbangardencasual.com
drlawnenterprise.com
Monrovia
University of Florida
Aggie Horticulture
Mechanical Control
• Use of labor, materials
(not pesticides) &
machinery to reduce
pests plantgardens101.com
Texas A&M University
Diy network www.safesolutionsinc.com
Black & Decker
Physical Control
• Environmental
manipulations that
indirectly control
pests
• Altering light,
humidity, temperature
Leslie Doyle
Tips for pest management
• Always identify the insect
– Pest vs. beneficial
• Know what is causing the plant problem
• Inspect plants regularly
• Use practices that help to avoid insect problems
– Sanitation, proper watering, proper fertilization, proper
spacing
• Conserve beneficial insects
– Make WISE pesticide choices
Using pesticides wisely
• Choose targeted pesticide if possible
• Target treatment area
• Read & follow label instructions
• Texas is a SITE state
Tent Caterpillars
• Description: larvae
various colors;
various markings
(stripes, “keyholes”,
dashes)
– Egg masses on twigs
or bark
– Web in crotch of trees
• Do not feed within
webbing
Tent Caterpillars
• Attacks: various ornamental & fruit trees &
shrubs
• Damage: defoliation; unsightly webs
• Management:
– Prune twigs with egg masses
– Prune out webbing or knock out with a stick
– Tear open webs to allow beneficial insects into
webbing
– High-pressure water sprays
– Pesticides: Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki,
insecticidal soap, spinosad, azadirachtin (neem),
pyrethrins, pyrethroids, carbaryl, acephate
Fall Webworms
• Description: larvae pale
green/yellow with long
tufts of hair
– Egg masses on underside
of leaves
– Webs on branches
• Enlarge web when more
leaves are needed to feed
upon
• 2-4 generations
• Usually show up around
May
Fall Webworms • Attacks: fruit, nut, ornamental trees & shrubs (no
conifers)
• Damage: defoliation; unsightly webs
• Management:
– Destroy leaves with egg masses
– Prune out webbing or knock out with a stick
– Tear open webs to allow beneficial insects into
webbing
– High-pressure water sprays
– Pesticides: Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki,
insecticidal soap, spinosad, azadirachtin (neem),
pyrethrins, pyrethroids, carbaryl, acephate
• Make sure to open web!
Bagworms • Description: create bags
from plant parts and silk;
inside is larvae
• Attacks: broadleaf &
coniferous trees
• Damage: feed on leaves
& creation of bags
• Mgmt: handpicking; apply
sprays after eggs hatch in
spring & larvae are small
– Pesticides: Bt kurstaki,
spinosad, azadirachtin
(neem), pyrethrins,
pyrethroids, carbaryl
Cankerworms
• Description: color variable; striped longitudinally – Two major species: spring
& fall
• Attacks: broadleaf trees
• Damage: defoliation – feed on leaves in April &
May then drop to ground in May & June to pupate
• Mgmt: control early stages • Pesticides: Bt kurstaki, spinosad,
azadirachtin (neem), pyrethrins, pyrethroids, carbaryl
Bark Lice
• Description: small; black;
live in clusters
• Create webbing on tree
trunks
• Damage: none
• Mgmt: none
recommended
– High pressure water to
remove web
• Feed on lichens, molds &
fungi growing on tree-
beneficial!
Borers
• Long-horned/Round-
headed
– Adults with long antennae
– Larvae whitish; elongate;
small head area
– Round to oval tunnels
• Metallic wood-borers/Flat-
headed
– Adults bullet-shaped; short
antennae; metallic colors
– Larvae whitish; elongate;
widened body behind head
– Oval to flattened tunnels
Borers
• Management:
– Keep plants healthy!
• Select species for given area
• Select proper site for planting
• Water & fertilize properly
• Avoid tree damage by mowing, etc.
– Residuals will kill adults laying eggs & larvae hatching
out, not larvae already tunneling in the wood
(acephate, carbaryl, pyrethroids)
– Systemics are usually ineffective for borers,
especially on larger trees
Thrips
• Description: small; single
mandible; fringed wings
– Hide in folded areas of the
plant
• Attacks:
• Damage: silvery streaks;
transmit viruses to plants
• Mgmt: high pressure
water; insecticidal soaps;
horticultural oils;
azadirachtin (neem),
spinosad, permethrin;
pyrethrins
Insect Galls
• Description: abnormal
plant growths caused
by insects, mites,
fungi, nematodes or
bacteria
• Attacks: numerous
plants
• Damage: deformity on
plant
• Mgmt: prevention
Lace Bugs
• Description: small;
flattened; rectangular;
lacey
• Attacks: various
• Damage: spotting on
leaves; discoloration; leaf
drop
• Mgmt: high pressure
water; insecticidal soaps;
horticultural oils;
pyrethrins
Leafminers
• Description: small
flies or wasps
• Attacks: various
• Damage: damage
plant material by
feeding between leaf
layers
• Mgmt: allow natural
enemies to control
population; remove
infested leaves
Aphids
• Small; cornicles
• Yellowing, stunting, curling, honeydew (sooty mold), transmit viruses
• Weed management
• Proper watering & fertilization
• High pressure water spray
• Control ants
• Pruning, removal of infested areas
• Row covers
• Pesticides – Insecticidal soap
– Horticultural oils
– Botanicals
– Synthetic contacts
– Systemics NCSU
Mealybugs & Scale Insects
• Often do not look like insects – Mealybugs are mobile
– Scales mobile in 1st instar
• Yellowing, stunting, curling, honeydew (sooty mold)
• Pruning*
• High pressure water spray
• Pesticides – Insecticidal soap
– Horticultural oils*
– Botanicals
– Synthetic contacts
– Systemics*
* Scale insect control
Whiteflies
• Small, whitish, waxy coating
• Remove sap, reduce plant vigor, secrete honeydew (leads to sooty mold), transmit viruses
• Conserve beneficial organisms
• Maximize distance between host crops
• Sanitation
• Weed management
• Reflective mulches
• Pruning, removal of infested leaves
• Traps
• Control ants
• High pressure water spray
• Pesticides
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Hoppers
• Various colors & shapes
• Yellowing, stunting, curling, honeydew (sooty mold), transmit viruses
• Weed management
• Proper watering & fertilization
• High pressure water spray
• Row covers
• Pesticides – Insecticidal soap
– Horticultural oils
– Botanicals
– Synthetic contacts
– Systemics
Tom Bentley
Stink bugs/ leaf-footed bugs
• Shield-shaped; triangle on
back, variable color
• Brownish-black, expanded
region on hind leg
• Yellowing, curling, stunting
• Conserve beneficial organisms
• Vacuuming
• Row cover
• Pesticides
K-State
Grasshoppers
• Description: nymphs look
similar to adults
• Attacks: crops, gardens,
trees & shrubs
• Damage: defoliation
• Mgmt: chickens; cover
prized plants with
screening; Nosema
locustae; botanicals,
spinosad, pyrethroids,
carbaryl
Texas Leaf-Cutting Ants
• Description: size varies; three pairs of spines on thorax & one pair on head
• Nest marked by several crater-shaped mounds 5-14 inches high surrounding an entrance hole – Interior has various
chambers (some 15-20 feet deep)
– Underground foraging tunnels can be 500 feet long
• Above ground will travel over 600 feet for suitable plants
Texas Leaf-Cutting Ants
• Attacks: grasses, many fruit, nut & ornamental trees & shrubs – Will attack pine trees in winter when other plants are
not available
• Damage: cut pieces off plant to take to nest for fungus gardens
• Management: – Difficult...can be up to 2 million ants per colony!
– Bait for around mound areas
– Temporarily protect with contact insecticides
Spider Mites
• Description: green; two
dark spots
• Attacks: vegetable crops
• Damage: color loss;
green to yellow to reddish
• Mgmt: natural enemies
(predatory mites,
ladybugs, minute pirate
bugs); oils; soap; – Treat underside of leaves!
Wizzie Brown
512-854-9600
www.urban-ipm.blogspot.com
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