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Moths (Turf & Ornamental)
Latin Name: Malacosoma americanum
Common Name: Eastern Tent Caterpillar
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native species in North America and occurs commonly in the eastern half from the Rockies to the east coast and eastern Canada.
Biology:
A single generation each year begins with an overwintering mass of eggs deposited on a branch by the female moth the previous summer, with up to 350 eggs in a single mass. The eggs hatch in the spring and the larvae immediately create a mass of webbing that they hide and feed within, feeding until late spring and early summer when they pupate on the trunks and nearby structures. The larvae continue to feed gregariously until mature. They feed on a wide variety of deciduous trees, and commonly on cherry, peach, apple, hawthorn, and other members of the rose family, as well as oak, maple, birch, and other ornamentals. In heavy infestations entire trees will be defoliated,
Latin Name: Ostrinia nubilalis
Common Name: European Corn Borer
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This species is native to Europe, but was introduced to the U.S. in the early 1900’s with infested plant materials grown for making brooms. It now is common throughout North America east of the Rocky Mountains.
Biology:
This moth is a serious pest of corn, but also feeds on oats, barley, beans, potatoes and other agricultural crops as well as many ornamental plants. It is known to feed on over 200 varieties of plants. Females deposit up to 600 eggs on the undersides of leaves in small clusters of 15-20 eggs. The larvae feed first on the tassels and leaves and later by burrowing within the stem between the corn stalk and the developing ear. They overwinter as the late stage larva in a cell in the soil and pupate in the spring. In northern regions there is a single generation each year, but 3-4 generations annually in the South.
Identification:
Latin Name: Spodoptera frugiperda
Common Name: Fall Armyworm
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native of North and South America and is found throughout the warmer regions of these continents. It does not survive the winters in cooler northern states but may migrate northward during the summer.
Biology:
Being native to tropical areas this moth may have only a single generation in northern states but up to 4 generations per year in the Gulf states. The complete life cycle from egg to adult can be completed in as little as 1 month in warm regions, but require up to 3 months in cooler climates. Preferred host plants are corn and sorghum as well as Bermudagrass and other grass weeds. A variety of other agricultural crops are also attacked including wheat, cotton, peanuts, and rice, as well as the foliage of many fruit trees and occasional ornamental plants. Females are capable of laying over 2,000 eggs, usually in masses
Latin Name: Alsophila pometaria
Common Name: Fall Cankerworm
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to North America and found throughout southern Canada and the eastern half of the U.S. as well as in California and Colorado.
Biology:
The larvae feed on a wide variety of trees, including oak, elm, maple, cherry, walnut, hickory, and members of the rose family such as apple and pear. There is a single brood each year. The female deposits her eggs in large clusters on the twigs of the host trees. The larvae feed for several weeks and then drop or crawl to the soil to pupate, remaining in the pupa in the soil until fall when the adults emerge. These mate and eggs are laid on the twigs and will overwinter, hatching in the spring to coincide with emerging growth of new leaves. The female is wingless and unable to fly, so she crawls up the tree to seek high points on the small twigs for her eggs.
Identification:
Adult
Latin Name: Hyphantria cunea
Common Name: Fall Webworm
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This species is native to North America, but in the 1940’s was accidentally introduced to Europe, eventually spreading throughout Europe and east into much of northeastern Asia. In North America it is found throughout the U.S., much of Canada, and south into Mexico.
Biology:
The moth overwinters as a pupa within a silk cocoon that is hidden under loose edges of bark. The adult moth emerges in the spring with warm weather, usually as early as March in southern regions and May in northern regions. Females then deposit a mass of up to 1,500 eggs on the underside of a leaf on the host tree, covering the eggs with hairs from her abdomen. The larvae undergo as many as 11 molts before maturity and spin small webs around themselves as they feed. In heavy infestations these webs from all the larvae may ultimately enclose an entire
Latin Name: Litoprosopus coachellae
Common Name: Fan Palm Caterpillar
Latin Family Name: Noctuidae
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
Native to the western United States, and found primarily in the Southwest states of California and Arizona.
Biology:
The larvae of this moth feed on the blossoms of palm trees, and once they are ready to pupate they will move down the trunk to seek a protected location. If there are sufficient dead fronds on the tree the larvae chew fibers from them to construct their cocoon, but often may find their way into structures where they are known to cause extensive damage to clothing or carpets as they gather fibers for their cocoon.
Identification:
The larvae are relatively large, being about 1.5 inches long when mature, and they usually have a pink or pinkish-brown tint to them. The adults have light tan wings, with 2 darker lines across the forewings and with
Latin Name: Cydia latiferreana
Common Name: Filbertworm
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
The moth is a native of North America.
Biology:
This distinctive moth is related to the Codling Moth and the Mexican Jumping Bean Borer and is found throughout much of North America, all of the U.S., and south into Mexico. The larvae feed on the seeds and acorns of various species of oaks, chestnut, pecan, and beech, and may even feed within the large galls called “oak apples” that are caused by wasp larvae. Ironically it is unclear whether it even feeds on filberts. They are a pest problem in commercially grown hazel nuts. The final larval instar overwinters, usually buried in vegetation on the soil such as grass or fallen leaves, and pupates in the spring. There may be several generations each year.
Identification:
The adult moth has a wingspan of about ½ inch. The hind wings are usually a dark gray, but the forewings vary in
Latin Name: Malacosoma disstria
Common Name: Forest Tent Caterpillar
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native species in North America and occurs from eastern Canada south into the northeast U.S. and west to the Pacific Coast. It is much more common in the eastern half of the continent.
Biology:
This species is closely related to the Eastern and Western tent caterpillars but differs in that the larvae do NOT create tents for themselves. They do, however, spin large mats of webbing on the trunk and branches of the host tree and use these to rest or to molt. They also differ in that they overwinter as masses of larvae on the trunk, rather than as the egg masses. When mature they pupate in a strong silk cocoon on the trunk, branches, or on nearby objects. They feed commonly on such trees as aspen, birch, and basswood and occasionally on oak. They do not seem to feed on maple very often. This species
Latin Name: Archips argyrospila
Common Name: Fruittree Leafroller
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
The moth is a native of North America.
Biology:
This widespread moth is found throughout the United States and southern Canada. It feeds as a larva on a great many host plants, getting its common name from its attacks on apples, pears, and stone fruits such as cherry and peach. But it also feeds on other crops such as alfalfa, grapes, blueberries, walnuts, and onions and on many ornamentals such as elm, cedar, birch, lilac, and others, and is a major pest of oaks in many areas. There is a single generation each year with eggs overwintering and hatching in early spring to coincide with bud break on the host plants. Larvae feed on the tender, early leaves, often causing complete defoliation of the trees. Late stage larvae often roll an edge of a leaf and hold it together as a tube using silk, and then
Latin Name: Uresiphita reversalis
Common Name: Genista Broom Moth
Other Names: Sophora worm
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native moth in North America and occurs from eastern Canada to Mexico and over most of the U.S.
Biology:
This common moth feeds as the larva on many species of plants in the pea family, including broom of many kinds, acacia, genista, Texas laurel, lupines, as well as crapemyrtle and honeysuckle. Ornamental broom shrubs can be defoliated under heavy infestations, but it also feeds on the many species of introduced and invasive broom such as Spanish broom and Common broom. They overwinter as either a pupa or a late stage larva.
Identification:
Adult moths are medium-sized with a wingspan of about 1 inch. Their forewings range from rusty orange to dark red-brown, with several rows of spots or solid lines running across the wing from top to bottom. The hind wing is usually