Shimat V. Joseph
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Tea scale, Fiorinia theae (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) (Fig. 1), is a serious economic pest of several ornamental plants in nurseries and landscapes in Georgia, including camellias and hollies. Tea scale is an armored scale that causes chlorosis (yellowing) of the leaf tissue, and under severe infestations, plants may die. They undergo multiple overlapping generations per year…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
The crape myrtle bark scale, Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae (Fig. 1) (CMBS), is an emerging threat to crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) in Georgia. As the name indicates, this scale pest attacks the bark of crape myrtle, the only known scale insect that infests crapemyrtle bark. A native of Asia, CMBS was first confirmed in Dallas, Texas, in 2004. Since…
Posted in: Ornamental pests -
Azalea bark scale (ABS, Eriococcus azalea, Figure 1) poses a serious threat to azaleas, rhododendron, and Pieris (Andromedas) in Georgia. ABS is a soft scale insect; unlike armored scale insects, the nymph and female soft scales secrete a protective coating of waxy crust on their body that cannot be separated from the scale insect. ABS also…
Posted in: Ornamental pests -
We are witnessing outbreak populations of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in residential, and public lawns across Georgia at this moment (as of 30 Aug. 2021). The caterpillar stages of fall armyworm feed on the turfgrass leaf blades and stems. The turfgrass can go from a perfect green to complete brown within 2 to 3 days.…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
Green industry webinars are targeted to turfgrass and ornamental industry. These webinars update the industry with current information in pest (insect, pathogen and weeds) management, cultural practices, etc., as well as offers CEUs in GA, SC and TN . The upcoming webinars are below: September 18, 2019, Wednesday Multi-spectral Imaging using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
Scale insects are very common pests of landscape trees and shrubs, yet are often overlooked when scouting. They can, however, be responsible for chlorosis, branch die-back or ultimately death of the plant. Scales are broadly categories as soft and armored scales. Soft scales produce soft, cottony, powdery or waxy substance that cannot be separated…
Posted in: Ornamental pests -
Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (Fig. 1) is a caterpillar pest of turfgrass and usually appear on our sod farms, lawns, or golf courses starting late August in Georgia. In spring and summer, adults of fall armyworm or moths fly north from Florida through weather fronts each year. They undergo several generations of moths during summer…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest