Shimat V. Joseph
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False oleander scale (FOS), Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Fig. 1), is an invasive armored scale species native to China. It is prevalent in Georgia and poses a significant threat as a pest in ornamental nurseries. FOS primarily infests the leaves of plants, appearing as white spots (Fig. 2). As armored scales, they spend their entire lives inserting their…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
European hornets (Vespa crabro) are widespread across the eastern United States. Native to Europe and Asia, they were introduced to North America in the mid-1800s. This hornet is the largest species in the U.S. and is particularly common in Georgia. It is also known as the brown or giant hornet. In 2019, the northern giant…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
Carpenter bees (Fig. 1) can be a serious pest on outdoor structures made of wood, such as patios, decks, sidings of homes, sheds, furniture, etc. Large carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica is the most common species found in Georgia. Adult carpenter bees are pollinators, but mated females bore tunnels into wooden structures to rear their larvae.…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
Bermudagrass mite, Eriophyes cynodoniensis (Fig. 1) is eriophyid mite species only infest and feed on bermudagrass (Cynadon spp.). It can develop into a serious problem in golf courses, athletic fields, sod farms, and residential and public lawns. The bermudagrass mite infestation can reduce the aesthetic value of the turfgrass, as it can cause thinning and…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Fig. 1), is native to North America. Fall armyworm caterpillars are identified with an “inverted Y-shaped” sign on their head capsule (Fig. 1A). Fall armyworms are active throughout the year in the tropical region of Florida (from Tampa to Miami), southern Texas, and northern Mexico. Fall armyworm…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
Bristly roseslug sawfly, Cladius difformis (Fig. 1), is a common species of roseslug in Georgia. The larval stages feed on rose leaves and cause extensive damage. Native to Europe, the bristly roseslug sawfly was accidentally introduced to the continental USA, a few decades ago. This roseslug is particularly problematic on rose shrubs in ornamental landscapes. Another roseslug common in the southeastern…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
The spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula (White) (Fig. 1), is a non-native planthopper that can feed on a wide range of trees in the USA. SLF is native to China, India, and Vietnam and was first detected in Pennsylvania in September 2014. Since its initial detection, SLF has been confirmed in 17 additional states: New…
Posted in: Ornamental pests -
The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis, ALB; Fig. 1) is an invasive insect pest native to China and North and South Korea that threatens many hardwood trees in forests and landscapes in the USA. The pest is also referred to as the roundheaded borer because the segment below the head is round-shaped. The larval stages of ALB…
Posted in: Ornamental pests -
The juniper scale, Carulaspic juniperi (Fig. 1), is a sporadic pest of juniper, cypress, and cedar trees in nurseries and landscapes in Georgia. Native to Europe, the juniper scale is now widespread in the eastern US. It is an armored scale where the wax cover is not a part of the insect body but rather…
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The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Fig. 1) is an invasive pest of boxwood (Buxus spp.). It was introduced in New York in 2021 and is now reported in Michigan, Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and South Carolina—and a distribution center in Tennessee. It is not reported in Georgia. The native range of box tree moth…