Turf and Ornamental Insects

1. Turf and Ornamental Insects Kansas State University Ward Upham

2. Each week we ask our county Hort Agents to let us know the problem they are seeing the most of Chosen from April - October We will cover these in chronological order Other common insect problems that did not make “Pest of the Week” will be included Many Problems Chosen from “Pest of the Week”

3. Number of Needles per Fascicle Length of Needles Pine Identification Fascicle

5. Seen most often on Scots and Mugo pines European Pine Sawfly April 26, 2000

6. Overwinter as eggs on needles Feed on needles, usually see damage by late- April European Pine Sawfly Damage

7. Not difficult to control but must be monitored so they do not cause damage A number of chemicals are labeled including acephate (Ortho Systemic Insect Control), carbaryl (Sevin), and imidacloprid (Merit). European Pine Sawfly Control Recommendations

8. Aphids May 17 • Attack wide variety of plant material • Identify by cornicles on rear of insect

9. Aphids • Feed by sucking sap from plants • Excrete “Honeydew” which may become black from “Sooty Mold”

10. Aphids • Often controlled naturally by predators, parasites, diseases or weather • Effective insecticides include malathion, Sevin and numerous others Ladybird Larvae

11. Wild Cherry is a favorite. Can also attack other ornamental shrubs, shade, and forest trees. Eastern Tent Caterpillar Host Plants

12. Construct webs in crotches and forks of trees. Eastern Tent Caterpillar Damage

13. Construct webs in crotches and forks of trees. Feed on leaves outside of the web. Congregate in the web during the night and rainy weather. Caterpillars come out in late March or early April. When mature, they are about 2 inches long, black, sparsely hairy, with white and blue markings including a white stripe down the back. Eastern Tent Caterpillar Damage

14. Tent Caterpillars

15. Clip off branch and destroy nest. Use pole with nail inserted in such a way that the web can be twirled around the pole and removed from the tree Or apply insecticide when webbing begins. Can use acephate (Ortho Systemic Insect Control), carbaryl (Sevin) Eastern Tent Caterpillar Control

16. Adult is moth with snout Larva have spots on side Sod Webworm

17. Damage about size of softball Spots coalesce if damage is severe Sod Webworm Damage

18. Look for silken tunnels Look for green “pellets” Sod Webworm Sign

19. Time spray by adult activity: Start checking for damage 8 - 10 days after peak moth flight Can use bifenthrin (Max Insect Killer for Lawns), lambda cyhalothrin (Spectracide Triazicide), halofenozide (Kill-A-Grub) and carbaryl (Sevin) Sod Webworm Control

20. Found on Zoysia; a second species found on buffalograss Adults have black and white patterned wings Larvae are reddish with white waistband Chinch Bugs

21. Adults and nymphs cause damage Found in sunny areas Feed on grass near or slightly below turf/soil interface Chinch Bugs

22. Can check for insects by using metal cylinder (such as coffee can with ends cut out) Drive can into soil and fill with water Chinch Bugs

23. Walnut Caterpillars July 28 • Can defoliate walnuts (as well as pecans and hickories). • Can reduce health of tree if defoliated early enough.

24. Walnut Caterpillars • Immature Larvae Red and Mature Larvae Black • 2 Generations per Year, Molt on Trunk or Large Branch

25. Walnut Caterpillars • Recommended insecticides include Sevin, Bifenthrin (Max Insect Killer for Lawns), Lambda-cyhalothrin (Spectracide Triazicide)

26. Junipers and arbovitae are favorites Can also attack other ornamental shrubs, shade, and forest trees. Bagworms July 5

27. Bags look like Christmas ornaments. Bagworms Life Cycle

28. Bags look like Christmas ornaments. Young bagworms hatch in May in Kansas. Bagworms Life Cycle May 22 Larva

29. Bags look like Christmas ornaments. Young bagworms hatch in May in Kansas. Bagworms spin silken bags around themselves. Bagworms Life Cycle July 8

30. Female is wingless and never leaves the bag. Male is a small, gray, clear-winged moth that resembles a wasp. Bagworms Life Cycle Male Bagworm Female Bagworm

31. Feed on foliage of host plant. Often damage is not noticed until bagworm so large that it is hard to control. Bagworms Damage

32. Small infestations can be picked off by hand. Wait at least a week after seeing first larvae appear before spraying to allow complete emergence of insects. Can use acephate (Ortho Systemic Insect Killer), malathion, or carbaryl (Sevin) for control. Bagworms Control Recommendations

33. Adult has snout Larva is legless Billbugs

34. Overwinters as adults Larvae cause damage See damage mid-July to mid-August Billbugs

35. Damage Mottled appearance to turf Billbugs

36. Damage Mottled appearance to turf Hollowed out stems and frass Billbugs Larva

37. Damage Control Use Merit during month of June Control adults during April if see them Use traditional insecticides when see damage from grubs (difficult to control because inside plant when young) Billbugs

38. White Grubs Mottled appearance to turf

39. White Grubs Bird Damage

40. White Grubs Pulls Up Like Carpet

41. White Grubs Grubs “C” Shaped

42. White Grubs Identification May Beetle Southern Masked Chafer

43. 3-year Life Cycle 2nd Year Most Damaging May Beetle

44. Annual grub Most common grub that causes damage Adults don’t feed that we know of Southern Masked Chafer

45. Southern Masked Chafer: 8-9 per square foot May Beetle: 3-4 per square foot White Grub Control Number needed to cause visible damage

46. Labeled for white grubs and billbugs Considered a 3 month product If after annual grubs, apply early to mid- July If also seeking to control May Beetle grubs or billbugs, apply no earlier than mid-May Causes a disruption of a grub's nervous system resulting in its death Not for rescue treatments White Grub Control Merit Insecticide

47. Labeled for cutworms, sod webworms, billbugs and white grubs Considered a 6 week product Apply early to mid- July for white grub control Accelerates a grub's development by causing it to molt prematurely Feeding stops within a couple of hours of ingestion White Grub Control Mach 2 Insecticide

48. Apply when see damage Use conventional insecticide such as Dylox White Grub Control Rescue Treatments

49. How to Tell if Grub Affected by Insecticide Grub on Way Out Healthy Grub

50. Feeds on almost all fruit, shade, and ornamental trees except conifers. Larvae feed in colonies in web enclosed foliage. Start at near end of branches. Fall Webworm Host Plants