Management of Ornamental Pests

Homestead Plant Exhibition and Conference
May 2007
Management of Ornamental Pests
Catharine Mannion
UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center
Integrated Pest Management
• Combine preventative measures with
control measures
• Select those pest control measures that
will maximize beneficial effects and
minimize harmful ones
• Conserve or use biological control
• Compatibility with other horticultural
practices
Recognizing natural enemies
is important in pest management
Scales and Mealybugs
Longtailed
Pyriform scale
Philephedra
Citrus
Hemispherical scale
Papaya
Wax scale
Florida red scale
Tea scale
Pineapple
Magnolia white
Armored Scales
Soft Scales
• Secrete a hard, waxy
covering
• May be circular, oval,
oblong, threadlike,
pear-shaped
• Do no make honeydew
• Secrete a waxy covering
which is attached to the
scale body
• Different sizes, colors and
shapes
• Secrete honeydew
Wax covering –- armored
soft scalescale
Mealybugs
• Covered with a white,
waxy material that
looks like powder or
cotton
• They walk around on
leaves and branches
• Pests on many plants
in greenhouses and
landscapes
H. Glenn, UF/IFAS
H. Glenn, UF/IFAS
Management
Scales and Mealybugs
• Monitoring and detection
– Inspect all plant parts closely
– Presence of honeydew, sooty mold and ants
• Biological control
– Conserve natural enemies (lady beetles,
green lacewings, and parasitic wasps
provide good control of many mealybugs)
– Release natural enemies (need proper
identification of pest)
UF/IFAS
Management
Scales and Mealybugs
• Oils and soaps
– Requires frequent application
• Insecticides/Insect Growth Regulators
– Contact sprays are most effective against the crawler
stage; thorough coverage is critical
– Systemic insecticides
– Acephate, acetamiprid, azadirachtin, bifenthrin,
buprofezin, chlorpyrifos, cyfluthrin, dimethoate,
dinotefuran, imidacloprid, kinoprene, malathion,
pyrproxyfen, thiamethoxam
– Do not use routinely as a preventative; allows resistance
to develop
UF/IFAS
Cycad Aulacaspis Scale
• Originally described from Thailand
• Pest of numerous cycads
• Fronds eventually become brown and
desiccated; ultimately causing plant
death
Photos: UF/IFAS, Glenn
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/~pi/enpp/ento/aulacaspis.html
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/palms/cycad_scale.htm
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN474
UF/IFAS
Cycad Aulacaspis Scale
Biological
Control
Predators
Parasite
Photos: H. Glenn, UF/IFAS
UF/IFAS
Cycad Aulacaspis
Scale
•
•
•
•
Monitor for early
detection
Conserve natural
enemies
Vigorous water wash
Oil application
–
•
Insecticides
–
–
•
•
Ultrafine; Organocide
Foliar –Distance,
Malathion, Orthene,
Safari, TriStar
Soil – Safari
Removal of fronds
Removal of plant
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/~pi/enpp/ento/aulacaspis.html
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/palms/cycad_scale.htm
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN474
UF/IFAS
Lobate Lac Scale
• Native to Southern Asia
• A pest on numerous tropical
and subtropical fruits and
ornamentals (> 300)
• Causes branch dieback and
plant death
• Life cycle is approximately 812 months
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/~pi/enpp/ento/paratachardina.html
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN471
Photos: UF/IFAS, Glenn
UF/IFAS
2
3
4
5
6
Photos: UF/IFAS, Glenn
1
Lobate Lac Scale
• Monitor highly
susceptible plants
regularly
• Monitor for early
detection
• Oil application
• Insecticides
(Merit/Marathon,
Discus; Flagship)
• Currently no effective
natural enemies
(foreign exploration for
parasitoids)
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/~pi/enpp/ento/paratachardina.html
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN471
UF/IFAS
Other New Scales and
Mealybugs
Stellate scale
Hosts include:
numerous
ornamental plants,
orchids, fruit trees,
coffee
Armored scale
(Conchaspis cordiae)
Hosts include: Cordia
spp., Swietenia
mahagoni, Coccoloba
uvifera
False armored scale
(Duplachionaspis
divegens )
Hosts include:
sugarcane and
grasses
Grenade scale
Hosts include:
Hibiscus, Ixora,
Pittosporum, Trema
Other New Scales and
Mealybugs
Exotic scale,
Icerya sp.
Hosts: numerous
ornamental plants
Mango scale
Hosts: mangos
and numerous
ornamental plants
Bamboo mealybug,
Trionymus
lumpurensis
Hosts: bamboo
Pink Hibiscus Mealybug
• Feeds on more than 215
plant species
• Mealybugs suck plant
juices and inject a toxic
saliva into the plant causing
damage or potential death
Photos: UF/IFAS, Osborne
UF/IFAS
Comparison to Other Mealybugs
Photo by UF, Osborne
Photo by UF, Osborne
Photo by UF, Osborne
Longtailed
Citrus
Madeira
Photo by UF, Osborne
Photo by UF, Osborne
Photo by UF, Glenn
Pineapple
Pink hibiscus
Solanum
UF/IFAS
Biological Control
Pink Hibiscus Mealybug
APHIS
Parasitoid release program
(FDACS and APHIS)
Mealybug destroyer
(Cryptolaemus montrouzieri)
UF/IFAS
Pink Hibiscus
Mealybug
• Monitor for early
detection
• Report infestations
• Landscape parasitoid release
• Preventative
treatments
• Oils and soaps
• Insecticides (Discus,
Distance, DuraGuard,
Flagship, Orthene,
Merit/Marathon, Safari,
Talstar, Talus,
• Regulatory issues
http://doacs.state.fl.us/~pi/enpp/ento/pink.htm
http://www.mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/Pink Mealybug.htm
UF/IFAS
Psyllids
(Asian Citrus Psyllid)
• Vectors one of the most serious diseases of
citrus (bacteria)
– Transmission of the bacteria happens within hours
– Transmission can happen with grafted plants
• Pest of citrus and closely related plants
– A preferred host is orange jasmine
• Eggs are laid on new flush and hatch in 2-4 days
• Life cycle ranges from 15-47 days
• Federal and state restrictions to restrict
movement of plants to reduce spread
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/chrp/greening/citrusgreening.html
Asian Citrus Psyllid
Photos: H. Glenn, UF/IFAS
Asian Citrus Psyllid
Photos: UF/IFAS, Glenn
Management of the
Asian Citrus Psyllid
• Most of the ornamental and agricultural products tested
provided good to excellent control
– Ornamental labels: Allectus (landscape), Azatin, Deltagard,
Discus, Flagship, Judo, Marathon, Safari, Talstar, Tempo,
TriStar (Best results: Drench – Marathon; Foliar – Discus;
Allectus, Flagship, Talstar, Deltagard)
– Agricultural labels: Actara, Carzol, Danitol, Fury, Prev-Am,
Venom, Experimental (Best results: Actara, Danitol, Fury,
Experimental)
• Several choices for management of the psyllid in more
than one type of mode of action (important for insecticide
resistance)
• Numerous predators and parasites; Use products that
are less detrimental to natural enemies
Cornicles
UF-IFAS
Aphids
• “Plant lice”
• Soft-bodied, pearshaped insects with
cornicles
• Relatively long legs and
antennae
• Vary in color from black,
green, yellow to pinkish
• Feeding causes plant
stunting and leaf
deformities
UF/IFAS
Palm Aphid
• It probably occurs on palms
in most tropical areas
• Excrete honeydew upon
which sooty mold will grow.
• High populations reduce
plant vigor
Photo by J. De Filippis
Aloe vera aphid
• First reported in Deltona, Florida
in October 2002
• Known to occur in California
• Known hosts are Aloe spp.
• Growth of sooty mold can be
FDACS-DPI, Lotz
extensive
FDACS-DPI, Lotz
UF/IFAS
Management - Aphid
• Examine the terminal stems and undersides of leaves,
especially the new growth
• Cast skins on the upper leaf surface is usually the first
indication
• Insecticidal soaps or horticultural oils
• Insecticides
– Acephate, bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, cyfluthrin,
endosulfan, fenpropathrin, fluvalinate, imidacloprid,
malathion, pymetrozine, pyrethrin
Photos: Glenn, UF-IFAS
Management - Aphid
• Biological control
– Resident predators and parasites frequently control
aphids outdoors
– Aphids are susceptible to naturally occurring fungal
diseases when conditions are humid
Parasite
Parasite emerging
from dead aphid
Predator
Parasitized aphid
UF/IFAS
Whiteflies
• Adults resemble tiny white
moths
• The immature stages
(nymphs) are found on the
underside of leaves and
are flat, oval, light green to
whitish and somewhat
transparent
• Piercing-sucking
mouthparts and primarily
feed on phloem tissue
Adult
Nymphs
Silverleaf Whitefly
Bemisia tabaci (biotype Q)
• Whitefly is a major pest of vegetables
and ornamental crops around the world
• Q biotype – resistant to many of the
commonly used insecticides
• http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/bemisia/bemi
sia.htm
Management - Whiteflies
• Whiteflies are difficult to control
• Problem with insecticide resistance
• Insecticides
– Insecticidal soaps; horticultural oils
– Abamectin, acetamiprid, azadirachtin,
bifenthrin, buprofezin, clothianidin, endosulfan,
imidacloprid, pymetrozine, pyrproxyfen,
thiamethoxam, horticultural oil and insecticidal
soap
• Biological control
– Many whitefly species are controlled by natural
enemies and pathogens
UF/IFAS
• Small, elongate, cylindrical,
insects ranging from 1/16
to 3/8 inch
• Most adults have strap-like
wings fringed with long cilia
• Nymphs are frequently
pale-yellow and are highly
active
• Feed by rasping the plant
cells and sucking up the
exuding juices
• Vectors of bacterial, fungal
and viral diseases
• Some species are
predacious
Thrips
(Thysanoptera)
UF/IFAS
Thrips
• Thrips feed on flowers,
buds, terminals, bulbs, and
corms.
• Damaged leaves, buds, or
petals become silvery,
stippled, blotched,
streaked, papery, or
deformed.
• Some species leave black,
varnish-like specks of
excrement
UF/IFAS
Common PlantFeeding Thrips in Florida
Greenhouse thrips
Cuban laurel thrips
Western Flower thrips
Redbanded thrips
Management - Thrips
• Detection of thrips can be done by placing a
white paper beneath the leaves or flowers and
shake the plant.
• Look for the small spots of varnish like
excrement on the leaves
• Chemical control: Abamectin, acephate,
azadirachtin, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, cyfluthrin,
imidacloprid, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin,
spinosad, thiamethoxam
• Biological control
– Resident populations of predaceous thrips, minute
pirate bugs, and predaceous mites help but cannot
be relied upon for adequate control
– Some success with releases
UF/IFAS
Chili Thrips
Scirtothrips dorsalis
• Feeds on a variety of wild and
cultivated plants including
ornamentals, fruits and
vegetables
• Established in Caribbean
• Detected 2005 in south Florida
D. Seal, UF-IFAS
L. Osborne, UF-IFAS
Ficus Thrips
(Gynaikothrips uzeli)
Photos: UF/IFAS MREC
• First noted in 2003 due to heavy
damage on Ficus benjamina in
south Florida
• Prefer tender, new foliage
• Feeding causes sunken, reddish
spots on leaves. Leaves tend to
curl and fold inward.
Management of Ficus Thrips
Damage
Adults and
nymphs
Predatory bug feeding
on thrips
Photos by H. Glenn
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•
•
•
•
Monitor new foliage which is what they prefer
Landscape – may not be economic to control
Several predatory bugs feed on it
Remove folded leaves
Oils and soaps would probably not work well because
of the protection of the folded leaf
• Insecticides (Conserve and Orthene)
UF/IFAS
Holopothrips sp.
UF-Glenn
• Found in 2001 on trumpet
trees, Tabebuia spp.
• Prefers new foliage
• Leaf distortion: leaves fold
and curl and appear to be
covered in galls
• Management difficult in the
landscape due to size of
the tree
• Drenching with a systemic
such as imidacloprid may
help
Photos: UF-Glenn
UF/IFAS
Insects with Chewing Mouthparts
UF
UF
BEETLE LARVAE
GRASSHOPPERS
CATERPILLARS
UF-Glenn
BEETLES
UF-Glenn
UF-Glenn
UF/IFAS
Sri Lanka Weevil
Myllocerus undecimpustulatus
• Large host range including
fruit and ornamentals
• Eggs, larvae and pupae are
in the soil
• Adults feed on the foliage
sometimes causing severe
damage
• Impact of root feeding by
larvae is unknown
DPI-Halbert
UF, Glenn
Eggs
Larva
Pupa
UF/IFAS
Sri Lanka Weevil
Plant Damage
UF, Glenn
UF, Glenn
UF/IFAS
Coleoptera: May beetle
(Phyllophaga hondura)
• Larvae found on roots of pygmy
date palm in Homestead in 2002
• Described from Honduras and
has been recorded from Belize
and Costa Rica
• Listed as economically important
in Central America
• Probably has a wide host range
• Potential threat to Florida is
unknown
DPI-M. Thomas
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/~pi/enpp/ento/scarab-pest-alert.htm
UF
UF/IFAS
Other New Pests
Two Longhorn beetles
Damage potential is unknown
Redbay ambrosia beetle
Killing redbay trees throughout
the SE; also potential problem
related species (avocados)
Other New Pests
Erythrina Gall
Wasp
Hosts:
Erythrina spp.
Red Palm Mite
Hosts: Palms,
bananas, heliconia,
ginger
Managing Pests
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•
•
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/
http://mannion.ifas.ufl.edu
Pest Alerts
– University of Florida
(http://extlab7.entnem.ufl.edu/pestalert/)
– DOACS (http://doacs.state.fl.us/~pi/enpp/pipest-alert.html)
• Pests you have not seen before or unexpected
damage
UF/IFAS
Catharine Mannion
Research and Extension Specialist
Ornamental Entomology
University of Florida, IFAS
Tropical Research and Education Center
18905 SW 280th Street
Homestead, FL 33031
305-246-7000
http://mannion.ifas.ufl.edu
cmannion@ufl.edu