Recent Posts
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Cotton Jassid, Amrasca biguttula (Fig. 1), is native to the Indian subcontinent and has become an invasive pest in Georgia. It is spreading rapidly throughout Georgia and other southeastern states. Currently, it is present in nearly all southern counties and in two counties in northwest Georgia. Adults of the two-spot cotton leafhopper are small green…
Posted in: Ornamental pests -
Rhizoctonia Large patch of turfgrass is most common in the fall and in the spring as warm season grasses are entering or leaving dormancy. Large patch is caused by the soilborne fungus Rhizoctonia solani (AG 2-2LP). It can affect all warm-season turfgrass species. The disease produces irregularly-shaped weak or dead patches that are from 2…
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Cotton Jassid, Amrasca biguttula (Fig. 1), is native to the Indian subcontinent and has become an invasive pest in Georgia. It was first found in Florida and is gradually spreading throughout Georgia. Currently, it is present in many counties in the state (Fig. 2). Adults of the two-spot cotton leafhopper are small green insects with…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
Georgia’s summer heat combined with high humidity are favorable conditions for gray leaf spot infection Gray leaf spot is a fungus disease that affects St. Augustinegrass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue in Georgia. Hot humid summer weather and high nitrogen levels can make turf susceptible to this disease. The fungus causing the disease is Pyricularia…
Posted in: Turfgrass disease -
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 -
The tent caterpillars (Malacosoma spp.; Lepidoptera; Lasiocampidae) are distributed widely in tropical and temperate regions. Originally, tent caterpillars were placed in the genus Bombyx, but in 1820, the genus was changed to Malacosoma (Latin word: malakos -soft; soma – body). The common name of the tent caterpillar is derived from the tent-like silk structure built…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
Dollar Spot is Active. The dollar spot fungus (Clarireedia sp formerly Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) is now active this 2025 spring. We have seen active infections in bermudagrass and seashore paspalum in our UGA Griffin campus research plots as well as several bermdagrass lawns in the area. Dollar spot can produce infections on warm season grass as…
Posted in: Turfgrass disease -
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 -
The invasive elm zigzag sawfly (EZS, Aproceros leucopoda; Fig. 1), also known as East Asian sawfly, elm sawfly, and zigzag sawfly, is a small wasp native to Japan, Russia, China, and the Korean peninsula. In 2003, EZS was accidentally introduced to Europe. Since then, it has spread rapidly to many countries in Europe. In the…
Posted in: Ornamental pests