Insect ID and Management

Kelly V. Tindall

Extension Entomologist

Twin Falls County

Management Techniques

Integrated Pest Management (IPM):• Management of pests that

incorporates many practices for environmentally friendly and economically feasible control of pests– Physical/Mechanical – barriers, hand

removal– Cultural – proper irrigation– Biological – ladybugs, lacewings, etc.– Chemical – general vs selective

insecticides – Variety selection – tolerance or resistance

Mechanical/Physical Control

Caulk - Seal off Caulk - Seal off entrances into entrances into homehome

Manual removalManual removalBug-VacBug-Vac

Window screens – Window screens – mechanical mechanical

barrierbarrier

Manually killing Manually killing

Plastic mulchPlastic mulchRemove and burn Remove and burn infested plant infested plant

structuresstructures

Traps & LuresTraps & Lures

Cultural Control

Proper sanitationProper sanitation

FertilizeFertilizeWaterWater

Wood storageWood storage

WashinWashing plantsg plants

TillageTillage

Biological ControlPreying mantisPreying mantis

Lacewing larvaLacewing larva

WaspsWasps

LadybugLadybug

Parasitic wasps and fliesParasitic wasps and flies

SpidersSpiders

PathogensPathogens

SpraysSprays

Chemical Control

Bait systemsBait systems Dormant OilsDormant OilsLocalized applicationsLocalized applications

Pheromone disruptersPheromone disrupters

Insecticidal Insecticidal soaps soaps

General vs

specific insecticid

es

Variety Selection Three ways plants are resistant• Tolerance

– Plants able to withstand injury better• Antixenosis

– Not-preferred•Too hairy, too waxy•Odorous

• Antibiosis– Toxic to the insect

•Plant compounds with in the plant

Natural Control (Abiotic)

• Temperature – Hard winters populations– High temps increase insect development

• Rainfall– Drowns soil insects (any stage) – Too dry, insects dry out also

• Sunny versus shady– Some insects have a preference for shaded

areas

• Wind– Increases migration potential

Identification

Classification System

• Kingdom (Animalia)• Phylum (Arthropoda)• Class (Insecta)• Order (Hymenoptera)• Family (Apidae)• Genus (Apis)• Species (Mellifera)• Common Name: Honey

Bee

Why Learn Classification?

•Groups have similar biology and appearance

•More specific groups have closer biology

•Characters relate to damage and pest status

•When a name is known we can look up more information

Classification System

3 Kingdom

s(1894)

5 Kingdoms

(1959)

6 Kingdoms(1977)

3 Domains(1990)

Protista Monera Eubacteria Bacteria

Plantae Protista Archaebacteria

Archaea

Animalia Fungi Protista Eukarya

Plantae Fungi

Animalia Plantae

Animalia

Classification System

• Kingdom (Animalia)• Phylum (Arthropoda)• Class (Insecta)• Order (Hymenoptera)• Family (Apidae)• Genus (Apis)• Species (Mellifera)• Common Name: Honey

Bee

Animalia Characteristics

• Multicellular

• Organelles have

– Nucleus

– No chloroplasts or cell walls

• Move via contractile

proteins

– cilia, flagella, or muscular

organs

• Ingest nutrients

Classification System

• Kingdom (Animalia)• Phylum (Arthropoda)• Class (Insecta)• Order (Hymenoptera)• Family (Apidae)• Genus (Apis)• Species (Mellifera)• Common Name: Honey

Bee

Arthropoda Characteristics

• Exoskeleton

• Chitin

• Segmented appendages

• Segmented body

• Bilateral symetry

• Dorsal tubular heart

• Ventral paired nerve

chord

Classification System

• Kingdom (Animalia)• Phylum (Arthropoda)• Class (Insecta)• Order (Hymenoptera)• Family (Apidae)• Genus (Apis)• Species (Mellifera)• Common Name: Honey

Bee

Classes of Arthropods

• Arachnida – spiders, mites, ticks

• Diplopoda – millipedes

• Chilopoda – centipedes

• Insecta – insects

Arachnida Characteristics

•Body divided into two parts

•Four pairs of legs

•No antennae

•No wings

Ticks, mites, spiders, scorpions

Cat-faced Spider

• Longer antennae than

millipedes• Flattened in cross section• 1 pair of legs per segment• Beneficial – prey on other

arthropods• Are fast moving• Have poison glands & can

inflict a painful bite

ChilopodaCentipedes

• Feed on fungi and decaying plants

• Can damage plants

• 2 pair of legs per segment

• 2 visible body parts – head and body

• Round in cross section

• Slow moving

DilopodaMillipedes

Insecta Characteristics• Mandibulate

– Mouth consists of mandible, maxilla & labia

• 3 body segments– Head

– Thorax

– Abdomen

• Pair of antenna

• Most have compound eyes

Classification System

• Kingdom (Animalia)• Phylum (Arthropoda)• Class (Insecta)• Order (Hymenoptera)• Family (Apidae)• Genus (Apis)• Species (Mellifera)• Common Name: Honey

Bee

Orders of Insects• Collembola – spring tails• Thysanura – silver fish• Ephemerptera – maylfies• Odanota – dragonflies• Phasmida – walking sticks• Orthoptera -

grasshoppers• Mantodea – preying

mantids• Blattaria - roaches• Isoptera - termites• Dermaptera - earwigs• Plecoptera - stoneflies• Psocoptera – book & bark

lice• Phthiraptera – true lice

• Hemiptera – true bugs

• Homoptera – aphids/hoppers

• Thysanoptera - thrips

• Neuroptera – lace wings

• Coleoptera - beetles

• Mecoptera – scorpionfly

• Siphonaptera - fleas

• Diptera – flies, mosquitoes

• Tricoptera - caddisflies

• Lepidoptera – butterfly/moth

• Hymenoptera – ants, wasps, bees

No. of Species per Order

Protura Collembola

Diplura Microcoryphia

Thysanura Ephemerptera

Odanota Grylloblattaria

Phasmida Orthopthera

Mantodea Blattaria

Isoptera Dermaptera

Embiidina Plecoptera

Zoraptera Psocoptera

Phthiraptera Hemiptera

Homoptera Thysanoptera

Neuroptera Coleoptera

Strepsistra Mecoptera

Siphonaptera Diptera

Trichoptera Lepidoptera

Hymenoptera

Coleoptera

Diptera

Lepidoptera

Hem

ipte

raHymenoptera

Aprx. 800,000 species

Helpful Hints for Identification

• Pictures

• Specimens from a collection

• Biology – Habitat – soil, wood, plant, food, aquatic

– Sometimes host specific

– Characteristic damage patterns

– Time of year may help

• Rear immatures to adults

• Keys

• Ask the expert

Websites• http://www.insectimages.org/search/

index.cfm

• http://www.entomology.ksu.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=165&tabid=86

• http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/bugs/stinkbugs/stinkbugs.htm

• http://www.cropproductionbasics.com/moth_identification.htm

Characteristics of an Adult

Thorax:•Locomotor appendages•3 pairs of true legs•1 or 2 pairs of wings

Head:•Pair of antennae•Pair of mandibles

Abdomen:•Genitalia at the end•Spiracles

head

Characteristics of Larvae

HeadThorax:(1st 3 segments after head; true legs)

Abdomen:Prolegs

Head of Insect

Head of Insect

Genae‘Cheeks’

Head of Insect

Compound eyes

Head of Insect

OcelliSimple eyes

Head of Insect

Antennae

Head of Insect

Clypeus

Head of Insect

Frons

Head of Insect

Mouth

Head of Insect

Labrum

Head of Insect

Mandibles

Head of Insect

Maxilla

Head of Insect

Labium

Antennal Types

Setaceous• Bristle-like • Dragonfly

Filiform• Thread-like • Cockroaches• Ground beetles

Moniliform• Bead-like • Termites

Serrate• Sawtoothed • Click beetles

Antennal Types

Clavate• Gradually clubbed • Carrior beetles

Capitate• Abruptly clubbed • Butterflies

Pectinate• Comb-like • Male glow-worms

Geniculate• Elbowed • Ants• Weevils

Antennal Types

Lamellate• Nested plates • Scarab beetles (June bugs)

Pulmose• Feather-like • Mosquitoes• Male moths

Aristate• Pouch-like with lateral bristles• Flies

Mouth Parts

Sucking (fly)

Chewing-sucking(carpenter bee)

Piercing-sucking

(hemipteran)

(mosquito)

Chewing

Sucking

(moth)

(wasp)

(weevil – beetle)

(stag beetle)

Mouth Parts of the OrdersChewing

• Collembola• Thysanura• Ephemerptera

*• Odanota• Phasmida• Orthoptera• Mantodea• Blattaria• Isoptera• Dermaptera• Plecoptera

Sucking• Hemiptera• Homoptera• Phthiraptera• Thysanoptera• Siphonaptera*• Diptera*• Tricoptera*• Lepidoptera*• Hymenoptera*

* Mouthparts are different on immature and adult forms

• Psocoptera• Phthiraptera• Neuroptera• Coleoptera• Mecoptera• Siphonaptera*• Diptera*• Tricoptera*• Lepidoptera*• Hymenoptera*

ThoraxProthorax:1st thoracic segment1st pair of legs

ThoraxMesothorax:Middle segment of thorax2nd pair of legs1st pair of wings (forewing)

ThoraxMetathorax:Last segment of thorax3rd pair of legs2nd pair of wings (hindwings)

Wing Types

Elytra • Hard, sclerotized front wings that as protect membranous hind wings • Coleoptera• Dermaptera

Hemelytra• Front wings that are leathery at the base and membranous near the tip• Hemiptera

Tegmina• Front wings are completely leathery or parchment-like in texture• Orthoptera• Blattodea• Mantodea

Wing Types

Halteres • Small, club-like hind wings• Diptera

Fringed wings• Slender wings with long fringes of hair• Thysanaptera

Hairy wings• Front and hind wings covered with setae• Trichoptera

Wing Types

Scaly wings• Front and hind wings covered with scales• Lepidoptera

Frenulum• Bristle near base of hind wing that holds front and hind wings together • LepidopteraS

Wing Types

Hamuli• Tiny hooks on hind wing that hold front and hind wings together • Hymenoptera

Membranous• Clear wings with many veins• Wings may be tinted with color or banded-pattern• Odanota• Neuroptera

Insect Legscoxa - the basal segment of the insect leg (ball joint where human leg fits into thigh)

tarsus - the part of the leg beyond the tibia (foot)

trochanter - segment between coxa and femur

femur - the third leg segment, (human thigh bone)tibia - the fourth leg segment, (shin bone)

coxa

trochanter

femur

tibia

tarsus

Insect LegsCursorial – runningRoachesTiger beetles

Fossorial - diggingMole cricket

Insect LegsNatorial – swimmingWhirligig beetlesBack swimmersWater boatmen

Saltorial - jumpingGrasshoppers

Insect Leggs

Ratptorial – graspingPreying mantid

Abdomen

• Multiple segments• Spiracles present on abdominal segments• May have appendages on last segment• Genitalia present on abdomen

Spiracles

• Used for respiration• Usually 1 – 10 pairs• Can be important for ID purposes (maggot larvae)

Abdominal Appendages

Cerci • Paired abdominal segments• Sensory or defensive in nature• Often reduced or retracted into the body

MayflyRoach

Earwig Silverfish

Cornicles • Tubular structures on the 5th or 6th segment• Secrete defensive fluids

Metamorphosis• Simple

– external wing development (if winged), no period of inactivity

– Ametabolous– Hemimetabolous– Paurometabolous

• Intermediate– External wing pads & internal development,

period of inactivity

• Complete– Internal wing development, period of

inactivity

Simple Metamorphosis

AmetabolousImmatures look identical to adult only smaller (silverfish)

Simple Metamorphosis

HemimetabolousImmatures (niads) look different than adult – NO PUPA (mayflies and odanates)

Simple Metamorphosis

Paurometabolous• Immatures (nymphs) look similar to adult• Gradual development of wing pads externally• Homoptera, Hemiptera & other orders

Incomplete Metamorphosis

Intermediate• Immatures (nymphs) look similar to adult• Some internal wing development • prepupal and pupal stages (period of inactivity)

Complete Metamorphosis

Holometabolous• Immatures (larvae/ maggots) look different than adult • Pupa formed• Bettles, diptera, lepidoptera, hymenoptera); • Internal wing development

Type of Metamorphosis by Order

Simple (A)• Collembola • Thysanura

Complete• Neuroptera• Coleoptera• Mecoptera• Siphonaptera• Diptera• Tricoptera• Lepidoptera• Hymenoptera

A= ametabolous; H= hemimetabolous; P= paurometabolous

Simple (H)• Ephemerpter

a• Odanota • Plecoptera

Simple (P)• Phasmida • Orthoptera• Mantodea• Blattaria• Isoptera• Dermaptera• Psocoptera • Phthirapter

a• Hemiptera• Homoptera• Psocoptera

Intermediate• Thysanoptera

Larval TypesVermiform• Maggot-like, worm-like• Legless• With or without a developed head

http://comp.uark.edu/~pjmcleod/corn/Fig12.jpg

Elateriform• Wireworm-like• Elongate body• Cylicrical• Hardshelled• Short legs

Larval Typeswww.ento.okstate.edu

Eruciform• Caterpillar-like• Cylindrical body• Well developed head• Short antennae• Thoracic and prolegs

Campodeiform• Elongate body• Somewhat flattened• Usually well developed antennae• Active

Larval Types

Marlin E. Rice

Scarabaeiform

• Grub-like

• Usually curved (C-

shaped)

• Well developed head

• Thoracic legs, NO

prolegs

Larval Types by Order

Eruciform:• Lepidoptera• Mecoptera• Hymenopter

a*

Scarabaeiform:• Coleoptera*

Campodeiform:

• Neuroptera• Tricoptera• Coleoptera

Elateriform:• Coleoptera*

Vermiform:• Diptera• Siphonaptera• Hymenoptera • Coleoptera*• Lepidoptera*

* Not the most common larval form of the order

Pupal TypesObtect

• Appendages

more or less glued

to body

• May be covered

by cocoon

• Lepidoptera,

some Diptera

Pupal TypesExerate

• Appendages free

• Not covered by cocoon

• “mummified adult”

• Most insects with complete

metamorphosis – NOT

Lepidopteran or Diptera

Pupal Types

Coarctate

•Like exerate but

covered with

hardened cuticle

•Some Diptera

Orders of Insects• Collembola – spring tails• Thysanura – silver fish• Ephemerptera – maylfies• Odanota – dragonflies• Phasmida – walking sticks• Orthoptera -

grasshoppers• Mantodea – preying

mantids• Blattaria - roaches• Isoptera - termites• Dermaptera - earwigs• Plecoptera - stoneflies• Psocoptera – book & bark

lice• Phthiraptera – true lice

• Hemiptera – true bugs

• Homoptera – aphids/hoppers

• Thysanoptera - thrips

• Neuroptera – lace wings

• Coleoptera - beetles

• Mecoptera – scorpionfly

• Siphonaptera - fleas

• Diptera – flies, mosquitoes

• Tricoptera - caddisflies

• Lepidoptera – butterfly/moth

• Hymenoptera – ants, wasps, bees

Collembola• Wingless

• Small

• Hop with tail

appendage (furcula)

• Nuisance, rarely pests

• Soil, leaf litter

• Metamorphosis:

young resemble

adults

Springtails

Thysanura

• Wingless• Long antennae• Three tails• Scales on the body• Nuisance, pests in

libraries• Mouthparts:

Chewing• Metamorphosis:

Young resemble adults

Silverfish and Firebrats

Silverfish

Firebrat

Ephemeroptera• Upright wings• Only group to molt

once winged• Elongate body• Three tails• Fish food,

occasional nuisance• Mouth parts:

chewing• Metamorphosis:

aquatic immatures, winged adults

Mayflies

Odonata• Two pairs of

membranous wings

• Large conspicuous eyes

• Dragonflies hold wings flat

• Damselflies hold wings together

• Beneficial predators

Dragonflies and damselflies

Plecoptera

• Large soft-bodied insects

• Four wings held flat over the back

• Hind pair fold fan-like

• Long antennae

• Larvae are aquatic

• Fish food, scavengers

Stoneflies

Orthoptera• Front pair of wings

usually slender and leathery

• Hind pair of wings broad and fan-like

• Characteristic jumping hind leg

• Plant pests, few predators

Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids

Crickets

Mormon Cricket

Field Cricket

House Cricket

Katydids

Chapparal Katydid

Broad-winged KatydidFork-tailed Bush Katydid

True Katydid

Mormon Cricket

Blattaria• Flattened bodies• Head is concealed

from above• Two pairs of wings• Eggs in a capsule

called an ootheca• Unpleasant odor• Household pests

Cockroaches

American Cockroach

Mantodea• Large, elongate & slow

moving

• Front legs grasp prey

• Biological control agents

• Leaf mimics

Mantids

EggsEggs

Praying Mantis

California MantisChinese Mantis

Phasmida

• Elongated bodies

• Slow moving

• Found on trees or shrubs

• Wingless as adults

• Foliage feeder

• Rarely a pest

Walkingsticks

Dermaptera• Medium sized insects

• Four wings

• Hind wings are folded under front

• Abdomen exposed

• Cerci on last abdominal segment

• Predators

• Nuisance pests, chew on foliage

Earwigs

Isoptera• Small, soft bodied

• Yellowish or whitish insects

• Wide waist, bead-like antennae (not bent)

• Liven in colonies in wood

• Three castes: workers, soldiers and reproductives

• Structural pests

Termites

Head of Insect

Clypeus

Psocoptera• Tiny, soft-bodied

insects

• Four wings or none at all

• Microscopic to ¼ inch

• “Busted upper lip” (swollen clypeus)

• Scavengers, pests in libraries and stored food, webbing on trees

Psocids (Booklice)

Phthiraptera

• Wingless parasites

on most birds and

mammals

• Deposit eggs on

hair or feathers

• Bloodsucking,

transmit diseases

LiceHead Lice

Crab Lice

Head Lice

Thysanpotera• Tiny insects about 1/8 in

long

• Two pair of slender wings, fringed with long hair

• Legs and antennae are short

• Only pest with asymmetrical mouthparts

• Plant pests, minor bites of humans, frequent pests in greenhouses and blooms

Thrips

Western Flower Thrips

Hemiptera• Four wings, folded flat• Front pair are thickened and

leathery• Beak arises from the front of head• Plant feeders, predators

True Bugs

True Bugs

BackswimmerBed bugStink bug

Leaf-footed bugTarnished plant bug

Giant water bug

Assassin bugMilkweed bug

Adults

True Bugs

BackswimmerBed bugStink bug

Leaf-footed bugTarnished plant bug

Giant water bug

Assassin bug Milkweed bug

Nymphs

Homoptera• May or may not have wings• Four wings when present and are held

roof-like over body• Feed on plants• Mouthparts: sucking with beak arising

from the hind part of the head• Metamorphosis: Gradual• Many are pests and can transmit

diseases

Leafhoppers, Scales, Aphids, Mealybugs

Leafhoppers

Scarlet & Green LeafhopperPotato Leafhopper

Rose LeafhopperBeet Leafhopper

Spines on hind tibia

Scales

•Female – host specific, no antenna, legless & wingless

•Male – 1 pair wings, 1 pair haltere; only reproduce, antenna

Aphids

• Plant specific

• Transmit viruses

• Cornicles – “tail pipes”

• Symbiotic relationship with

ants

• Give live birth

Mealybugs

• They feed on all parts of the plant, including roots, and reproduce all summer• Many times they are controlled by natural enemies

• Characteristic trait: body covered with wax or filamentous waxy secretions

Neuroptera

• Fragile insects

• Two pair of many veined

wings – held roof-like

over their abdomen

• Long antennae

• Many

beneficial/predators

Lacewings, Antlions

Lacewings

Brown Lacewing

Green Lacewing

Lacewing Nest

Lacewing Larva

Lacewing Eggs

Antlions

Antlion Larvae

Antlion Adults

Larvae live in the soil and seek prey

Coleoptera• Largest order of

insects

• Usually two pairs of wings

• Front pair are thick (elytra)

• Straight line down the middle of back

• Plant feeders, predators, scavengers, wood borers, etc

Beetles & Weevils

Weevils

Boll Weevil

Pecan Weevil

Rose WeevilAlfalfa Weevil

• Many are

economic pests

• Elongated

rostrum (nose)

• Like to play

dead

Immature weevils

June Beetle/White Grub

Adults• 1/2 to 5/8 inches long• Reddish brown • Noctural • Can be a nuisance near light

Larvae (grubs):• C-shaped• White with brown head• Three pairs of legs• Soil-dwelling• Feed on roots of grasses

Carpet BeetlesAdult:• Small, stout, robust, or elongate ovalLarva:• Usually covered with hairs

Scavengers of plant and animal products

• the ‘CSI’ bug (forensics)• leather, skins• museum specimens• wool• stored foods• carrion (‘bone cleaners’)

Cucumber Beetle

• Phytophagous (plant eaters)• Usually oval shaped• Can be colorful with stripes or spotted markings (may fade with age) • Prefer shady cool places such as leaf and melon undersides • Keep leaves dry; lift fruits to keep the underside dry• Adults overwinter in weedy areas – therefore keep weeds cut down all year

Ladybird Beetles• 1st biological control agent (cottony cushion scale)• Predators of aphids & eggs

Mecoptera• Small to medium sized• Four long, narrow wings• Long antennae• Larvae look like

caterpillars• Larvae live in damp soil• Adults are seasonal in

summer• Adults feed on insects• Harmless

Scorpionflies

Diptera• Winged or wingless • One pair of membranous

wings – one pair halteres

• Few feed on plant foliage

• Some of the most beneficial insects

• Beneficial as pollinators, parasites & predator, stings are a nuisance

True Flies, Mosquitoes, Gnats, Midges

True Flies

House Fly

Cherry Fruit FlyDeer Fly

Horse Fly

Mosquitoes• Larvae are aquatic • Tiny hairs outline the margins of wings• Adults feed on nectar or blood (females only)• Females must have blood meal to produce young • Crepuscular or nocturnal• Males - plumose antenna

Hymenoptera• Winged or Wingless• Two pair of membranous

wings• Few feed on plant foliage• Many beneficial insects -

pollinators, parasites & predators

• Stings are a nuisance• Complete metamorphosis• Many social insects

Ants, bees, wasps, hornets, sawflies

Carpenter Ants

• Black in color

• Build nests in old

trees and logs

• May invade

homes in search

of food

Queen

Nest

Red Harvester Ants

• Will sting or bite

• Colonies occur in open areas

• Do not invade homes

Honey Bees• Social insects• Division of labor:

• queen –matriarch of the colony, lays eggs• drones – males, only purpose to mate; kicked out in rough times• workers – females, tend to all duties (care for larvae and queen, food collection, etc)

• Communication - ‘Waggle Dance’

Yellow Jackets & Hornets

Bald-faced Hornet• Very aggressive

• Distinguished from bees

by their thin "waists"

• Fold their wings

lengthwise when at rest

• Prey on a variety of

arthropods, may forage on

human (especially sweets

and meats)

• Considered beneficial

insects

Paper Wasps

Western Yellow Jacket

SawfliesAdult

• Adults resemble bees or small wasps• Larvae resemble caterpillars

• >5 pairs of abdominal prolegs• Often spotted or striped• ½ to 1 inch long• External feeders on foliage

• Entire leaf or skeletonize • Often clump together

• Wide host range including: conifers, oaks, black locust, ash, black walnut & woody ornamentals

Larvae

SawfliesBlue Steel Sawfly • Small infestations -

manually remove and destroy • Large infestations of young larvae - spray with horticultural oil• Large larvae - spray with a contact insecticide. • Sawfly larvae are not caterpillars; Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) formulations for caterpillar control will not kill sawflies

Larvae

Trichoptera• Soft bodied• Two pairs of wings covered

with silky hairs• Adults have long antennae• Adults resemble small dull-

colored moths• Larvae are usually

scavengers• Larvae build cases from

pepples or bits of sticks; often found in the cases – with heads only protruding

• Fish food, rarely a nuisance

Caddisflies

Lepidoptera

• Four well-developed wings

• Wings have overlapping scales

• Caterpillars on leaves of plants

• Leaf feeders• Few are beneficial

Moths & Butterflies

Looper

Corn Earworm

Cutworm

Armyworm

Banded Woolly Bear

Clothes Moth

Western Tiger Swallowtail Anise Swallowtail

Hummingbird Moth Painted Lady

Cabbage White Common Branded Skipper

Western Sulpher Pink-spotted Hawk Moth

Mourning Cloak European Skipper

Monarch & Caterpillar Two-tailed Swallowtail

• Small, wingless body

• Flattened laterally

• Larvae in nests of various animals

• Pests of animals and man

SiphonapteraFleas

Insects of Special Interest

Earwigs• Scary appearance, but

harmless• May emit a foul-

smelling, yellowish-brown liquid

• Noctural• Live live outdoors and

rarely establish themselves indoors

• Can ‘pinch’ with the forceps

• Predators

Earwigs• Serious feeding

damage may occur on flowers, vegetables, fruits and other plants– Leaves have a ragged

appearance with the numerous, small, irregular holes.

– Considered temporary pests

– Can occur in large populations

• Consume decomposing organic matter

Earwigs• Tanglefoot (sticky

trap) around tree trunks prevent them from crawling up trees

• Well maintained garden deters large infestations

• Baits are available for control

Leaf Miners• Several kinds of

leaf miners: beetles, flies, sawflies, and caterpillars

• Adult lay eggs and the immatures do the actual  mining

Leaf Miners• Host range: fruit

trees, grape vines, berry vines, grain crops, garden flowers, wildflowers, vegetables and weeds

• Usually not of economic concern– Birches and foreign species

of elms attacked by a sawfly leaf miner drop most of the  leaves may die

– Damage to vegetables and some flowers may be serious

Leaf Rollers• Caterpillars protect

themselves while they feed– by rolling themselves

up in a leaf or in several leaves of their host plant

• Difficult to control with insecticides because they are protected in the leaf Marlin E. Rice

Aphids

Green Apple Aphid

Wooly Apple Aphid

Rose Aphid

Pea Aphid

Rosy Apple Aphid

Coddling Moth• A destructive pest

introduced from Europe by settlers

• Female moths lay the scale-like eggs singly on developing fruit or adjacent leaves or stems

Coddling MothLarvae:

– hatch and enter the side of the fruit and tunnel to the center

– pinkish to white in color with a brown head

– up to 3/4 inch long – exit the fruit to pupate

in a thick silken cocoon on the bark or other protected areas

– frass is often noticed near larvae entered

SpittlebugsNymphs: • Small, green, soft-bodied

insects • Surrounded by a frothy, white

mass • Protection from drying out and

predatorsAdults • small (¼ inch), winged insects • fly away quickly when disturbed • lay their eggs inside of stems or

between the leaf blades and stems

Hosts: ornamental, vegetable and garden plants, forage crops, conifers, grasses and weeds

SpittlebugsDamage• Adults & nymphs suck sap

Inject toxin into a plant's vascular system

• Leaves appear distorted, yellow and/or stunted

Control: • Spray with a sharp stream of

water to dislodge spittlebugs and wash froth away – some small spittlebugs will dry

out – insecticidal soaps may also be

effective on spittlebugs

Snailcase bagworm

Introduced into the United States from Europe around 1940

Larvae• Produce a protective bag

covered with small particles of soil, resembles a snail shell

• Lives inside this bag until becoming an adult

• Bag grows as the larvae grow (aprx. 1/4 in)

Snailcase bagworm• Escape detection because

small and resembles soil• Noticed when damage

appears• Nuisance - attach to house

siding, automobiles, trees, or fence posts in large numbers– Tight attachment - paint often

removed when dislodged• Problematic because:

– feeds on many different plants– females reproduce without

mating– carried long distances by

mammals, birds, or humans    

Snailcase bagworm

Damage • Feed on leaf tissue• Mine circular areas beneath

the surface layer• Potential nursery pest• Baby's breath is highly

susceptibleControl• Must control on the host plant

prior to their migration to a pupation site

• Chemicals ineffective on pupae• Manual control (hand removal/

killing) is only effective control

Non-Insects

Arachnida Characteristics

•Body divided into two parts

•Four pairs of legs

•No antennae

•No wings

Ticks, mites, spiders, scorpions

Cat-faced Spider

Orders of Arachnids

• Araneae – spiders

• Acari – mites, ticks

• Scorpiones – scorpions

• Opiliones - harvestmen

Araneae• Wingless and lack

antennae

• Six or eight legs

• Body variable in size and

shape

• All food intake is liquid

• Webs to capture prey

• All are beneficial, few are

hazardous

Spiders

Spider Facts• Hundreds of species in Idaho

• All are beneficial

• Almost all have venom

• Hazardous spiders include

black widow and hobo spiders

• Reactions vary with individual

Black widow-male

Black widow - female

Acari Characteristics

• Wingless, lack antennae

• Body is flat or round

• Adults have eight legs

• Ticks only feed on blood of animals

• Four stages; egg, larva, nymph and adult

Ticks & Mites

Ticks

Rocky Mountain Spotted Tick

Dog Tick

• Ectoparisite – feeds on blood• Tick bites look like mosquito bites, but can also bruise or resemble a bullseye. • Often found in tall grasses • Can transmit human diseases:

• relapsing fever• Lyme disease• Rocky Mountain spotted fever• tularemia• equine encephalitis• several forms of ehrlichiosis

• Can transmit livestock diseases: babesiosis & anaplasmosis

Mites• Diverse and successful • Exploit an incredible array of habitats • Because they are small most go totally unnoticed• Many live freely in the soil or water, some live as parasites on plants or animals.• Some of the plant pests include the so-called Spider mites; Gall mites • Sarcoptic Mange mites which burrow under the skin• Perhaps the most well known, though, is the house dust mite • Insects may also have parasitic mites. (Varroa mites which attaches to the body of the honeybee)

Reproductive colony of plant mites

Peacock mite

Scorpionida Characteristics

• Wingless • Lack Antennae• Bodies are broad• Tail with a sting

at the tip• Front

appendages are enlarged pinchers

• Size from 1-3 inches

• Mouthparts: chewing• Metamorphosis:

Gradual• Status: Beneficial

Scorpions• More species as

you go west

• 18 to 25 in Idaho

• Stings are painful

but not fatal

unless very

sensitive