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K-State Turf and Landscape Blog

Tag: insects

Japanese Beetle Activity

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

By Raymond Cloyd, Horticultural Entomology/Integrated Pest Management

Japanese beetle adults feeding on leaf

Japanese beetle, Popilla japonica, adults are present throughout Kansas feeding on many plants in landscapes and gardens, including: roses (Rosa spp), littleleaf linden (Tilia cordata), oak (Quercus spp.), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), crabapple (Malus spp.), grape (Vitis vinifera), and common garden canna (Canna x generalis).

The strategies to manage Japanese beetle adult populations are limited and have been for many years. The primary strategy involves spraying contact insecticides to kill the adults in order to reduce plant damage.

Japanese beetle adults are 3/8 to 1/2 of an inch long, metallic green with coppery-brown wing covers. There are approximately 14 white tufts of hair along the edge of the abdomen. Japanese beetle adults live up to 45 days feeding on plants over a four-to-six-week period. Adults feed on many horticultural plants including: trees, shrubs, vines, herbaceous annual and perennials, vegetables, fruits and grapes.

For more information including how to manage Japanese beetle adult populations, read the latest Kansas Insect Newsletter: https://entomology.k-state.edu/doc/extension-newsletters/2023/KSInsectNewsletter%2010.pdf

 

Boxwood Leafminer

Posted on by Teresa Roberts

From the KSU Entomology Newsletter

Figure 1. Boxwood leafminer adult (Joe Boggs, OSU)

The boxwood leafminer, Monarthropalpus flavus, is a major insect pest of the common boxwood, Buxus sempervirens, which is a plant commonly used in landscapes throughout Kansas.

Boxwood leafminer adults emerge (eclose) from pupae when Weigela florida is flowering in the spring. Adults are 1/15 to 1/9 of an inch (2 to 3 millimeters) long, yellow-orange, and resemble mosquitoes or gnats (Figure 1).

Figure 2. Boxwood leafminer larvae (Howard Russell, MSU)

 

 

Adults leave behind pupal cases attached to the leaf after emergence. After mating, females insert eggs inside the tissue of new leaves. A single female lays approximately 29 eggs and then dies afterward.

Larvae emerge (eclose) from the eggs in about three weeks. Larvae are legless maggots, yellow-white to green, and about 1/9 of an inch (3 millimeters) in length (Figure 2).

Figure 3. Boxwood leafminer larvae (Joe Boggs, OSU)

 

 

 

The larvae feed on the leaf tissue inside the leaf (Figure 3). Boxwood leafminer larvae tunnel between the upper and lower parts of leaf tissue creating blotched or irregular-shaped blisters on the lower leaf surface and raised areas on the upper leaf surface.

Learn more about boxwood leafminer and their control in an article by Dr. Raymond Cloyd by clicking HERE.

Bagworms and Eastern Tent Caterpillars

Posted on by Jack Fry
New useful posts on from the Department of Entomology:
Bagworms – It is Almost Time
We are getting close to the time when the 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch bags associated with the bagworm, Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformus, will be present on broadleaf and evergreen trees and shrubs. Therefore, be prepared to take action against bagworms once they are observed on plants. More details here:
Eastern Tent Caterpillar
Here is an update on Eastern tent caterpillar in trees and shrubs:

Fall Armyworms are Back!

Posted on by Jack Fry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall armyworms have been spotted in the Wichita area, including the John C. Pair Horticultural Center.  Armyworms are foliar feeding caterpillars that can sever turfgrass tillers at the ground level.  Recovery is often good after the damage occurs, but be aware that if no attempt at control is used, turf quality will be low for a period of time.   Dr. Raymond Cloyd provides details about fall armyworms and their biology and control HERE!

How to Avoid Being “Bitten” by Mosquitoes

Posted on by Brooke Garcia

By Brooke Garcia

Have you ever wondered how to reduce the chances of being bitten by mosquitos?  The K-State Extension Entomology Newsletter has a great post within their June 24th, 2021 No. 12 issues about “How to Avoid Being “Bitten” by Mosquitoes.”

Photo by: Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org

The recent post features:

  1. Source Reduction
  2. Personal Protection
  3. Insecticides
  4. What does NOT work against mosquitos

Read more on the Entomology Newsletter here.

Emerald ash borer confirmed in Shawnee County (Topeka)

Posted on by kennelly

The Kansas Department of Agriculture, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) in Shawnee County, Kansas.

Read on for more details:

http://agriculture.ks.gov/AllNewsItems/2017/06/09/emerald-ash-borer-confirmed-in-shawnee-county

 

(Photo credit:

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ALERT – More Sightings of Fall Armyworms!!!

Posted on by jahoyle

(by Jared Hoyle, KSU Turfgrass Research and Extension)

Just yesterday I was out on an extension visit and came across more fall armyworm (FAW) damage.  Pulled the turf back and found some small FAW.  To get more information on what FAW look like, check out one of the latest blog posts about identification, cultural control, and a little bit about chemical controls for home owners.

https://blogs.k-state.edu/turf/fall-armyworm-has-been-sighted/

Fall Armyworm damage in higher mown turf

With the amounts of sightings increasing I thought I would throw a list of chemical controls for turfgrass professionals for FAW.

FAW and all caterpillar pests are best controlled with insecticides when they are still small.  When the caterpillars grow you will have to use a higher rate to achieve control.

Fall Armyworm pupa
Active Ingredient Trade Name Additional Information
acephate Orthene TTO 75WP, Orthene TTO 97 (golf course and sod farm only)
bifenthrin Talstar GC Flowable Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP)
carbaryl Sevin 80 WSP, Sevin SL
chlorantraniliprole Acelepyrn
cyfluthrin Tempo SC Ultra (landscape turf only) – RUP, Tempo 20 WP (Golf course only)
deltamethrin DeltaGuard GC 5SC RUP
halofenozide Mach 2 2SC
lambda-cyhalothrin Scimitar CS (landscape turf only RUP
spinosad Conserve 1SC
trichlorfon Dylox 80 T&O

Always remember to READ THE LABEL for the correct rate, turfgrass tolerance, and specific instructions before application!!!

***Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for identification purposes and does not imply recommendation or endorsement, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned by Kansas State University.***

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Fall Armyworm has been sighted!

Posted on by jahoyle

(by Jared Hoyle, KSU Turfgrass Research and Extension)

Yesterday I received an email from a friend in Kansas City reporting that there have been multiple sightings of Fall Armyworm in Kansas City; Raytown, MO;  Tulsa, OK; Wichita, KS; and DeSoto, KS.

Fall Armyworms (FAW) are a tropical insect that migrate from the south.  Once they have migrated they can have multiple generations a year.  Here in Kansas we can typically have 2-4 generations but it all depends on when the FAW get here.  Young FAW are 0.5″ to 0.75″ long and the mature FAW can get up to 1.5″ long.  An inverted “Y” on the top of the dark colored head is the best way to identify this pest.

FAW feed on grasses and will eat turfgrass leaf blades down to the crown.  Once they finish that leaf they move on to the next. When there are heavy infestations large areas of green turfgrass will look brown in a matter of 24-hrs or less.  When this occurs it can give a lawn or turfgrass area the appearance that the turfgrass is moving.

So are we all “shaking in our boots” now?  Well don’t worry the FAW seldom kills the grass.  It just kind of scalps it down so a flush new growth will restore the appearance of the turfgrass.  With some water it will speed up the process.

Information in this blog post is from  http://www.hfrr.ksu.edu/doc1628.ashx . Chemical recommendations for FAW control and can also be found at that publication (Shown in pictures below).

So don’t be too worried, but just be aware that they are in the area.

Hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend!

-Jared Hoyle

Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @KSUTurf and visit our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/KSUTurf