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Moths (Turf & Ornamental)
Latin Name: Lymantria dispar
Common Name: Gypsy Moth
Other Names: Asian gypsy moth
Pest Details
Origin:
This is native to Europe and Asia but was deliberately brought into the U.S. in the 1860’s as a possible source of silk, and managed to escape captivity to infest surrounding forests. It now is found in the Upper Midwest and Northeast states and southern Canada, and occasionally will be intercepted in California and Florida where eradication programs have successfully removed it.
Biology:
This legendary moth has killed millions of acres of forest since it became established, feeding on many deciduous trees as well as many conifers. Females deposit a mass of up to 1000 eggs on the bark of a tree as well as on many other stationary surfaces, including under road vehicles. The female is not able to fly and is restricted to crawling only. The eggs overwinter and hatch in the spring and larvae mature and
Latin Name: Lambdina sp.
Common Name: Hemlock Looper
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native insect in eastern North America.
Biology:
This genus of 9 North American species includes The Hemlock Looper, Lambdina fiscellaria, a potentially destructive species of the eastern half of the U.S. as well as in the Pacific Northwest and into Alberta and British Columbia. Severe outbreaks can result in defoliation of the trees, leading to their death within a couple of years. They feed on many conifers including hemlock, fir, spruce, cedar, and pines, as well as hardwood trees such as maple, elm, birch, and cherry. Female moths deposit eggs in late summer and the eggs overwinter, hatching in late spring. The larvae feed on many needles, often eating only a small part before moving to another needle, but causing the death of all needles fed upon.
Identification:
Mature larvae are about 1.25 inches long and vary in
Latin Name: Periploca nigra
Common Name: Juniper Twig Girdler
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native species in western North America.
Biology:
This moth can be a pest of ornamental juniper shrubs in the western U.S. The larva feeds under the thin bark of the plant, causing girdling and the death of that branch of the juniper. This rarely kills entire plants, but heavy infestations lead to stands of the juniper with many dead branches, reducing the overall aesthetic appearance of the plants.
Identification:
The symptoms on the plants are a good indication of the presence of this pest. The adult moth is rarely seen, but is small and a shiny brown-black color overall.
Characteristicts Important to Control:
Physically removing the dead branches will be an effective non-chemical control. A residual insecticide can be applied to the junipers to kill adult moths and the larva as they hatch from
Latin Name: Epiphyas postvittana
Common Name: Light Brown Apple Moth
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This species is native to the Australian region.
Biology:
This is another imported pest moth that was discovered in northern California in 2007, presumably brought in on infested plant materials from its native Australia or New Zealand. It has the potential to feed on and damage over 250 different species of plants, including a great many important row and tree crops. Because of this potential it is likely to be a quarantine pest when it is found in an agricultural area. There may be as many as 4 generations per year and there is no hibernation stage, the insects remaining slightly active as larvae during winter months, and thus likely confined to warmer regions of North America. Females deposit masses of eggs on upper leaf surfaces, with up to 96 overlapping eggs in a mass. Under normal temperatures the life cycle
Latin Name: Platynota stultana
Common Name: Omnivorous Leafroller
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
It is believed that this moth is native to Arizona, but was introduced into California from Mexico with infested produce. It has since spread throughout California and from there to Texas, along the Gulf Coast to Florida, and north along the Atlantic States.
Biology:
This is a major pest of greenhouses and may be transported most often with these plant products. But, it also feeds generally on conifers, citrus, walnut, alfalfa, cotton, lettuce, and other field crops. It is common in urban landscapes as well, feeding on many ornamental plants, and is a serious threat to vineyards. Females deposit eggs in masses averaging 97 eggs and the emerging larvae move upwards to feed within leaf buds or between leaves. Later stage larvae construct a feeding shelter by rolling the edge of a leaf inward and securing it with silk. Development
Latin Name: Argyrotaenia franciscana
Common Name: Orange Tortrix
Other Names: Apple skinworm
Pest Details
Origin:
This moth is likely native to the Pacific Coast of California, and it occurs commonly throughout California and north into southern British Columbia.
Biology:
This moth has the potential to be damaging to citrus and other fruits by feeding directly on developing fruit as well as on the stems, leading to premature drop of the fruit. The larvae will feed on a tremendous diversity of plants, including many native flowering plants, grapevines, apple, apricot, cherry, many landscape shrubs, most conifers, oaks, ferns, and a wide variety of roadside weeds. Over 200 diverse host plants are known. The female moth lays batches of around 200 eggs in masses on the food plants. Early instar larvae feed under a layer of silk and often skeletonize the leaves. Later instars create feeding chambers for themselves by rolling
Latin Name: Rhyacionia Sp.
Common Name: Pine Tip Moths
Other Names: Pine shoot moth
Pest Details
Origin:
There are many native species in North America, along with the imported European Pine Shoot Moth.
Biology:
At least 2 dozen species of these native moths occur in North America, along with at least one species native to Europe, Rhyacionia buoliana – the European Pine Shoot Moth. This species is reported from southwestern Canada, the Pacific Northwest, Utah, and most of the northeastern U.S. It occurs throughout Europe as well as into South America. The larvae bore into the new shoots of pines and fir trees, causing the death of that shoot. They also may feed within older tissues and cause distortion and twisting of the ends of the stems. They do not kill trees, but do cause disfigurement and abnormal growth, including the growth of many new stems. The larva spins a bit of silk around the base of the needles
Latin Name: Schizura concinna
Common Name: Redhumped Caterpillar
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native species in North America that is found throughout the U.S. and southern Canada.
Biology:
The moth overwinters as a mature larva in a cocoon on the soil, pupating in the spring and emerging as the adult moth in April and May. The larvae feed on a wide variety of ornamental and agricultural trees, but is the most active on Liquidamber (sweet gum), walnut and plum, where the gregarious feeding of the larvae results in large areas of skeletonized leaves at the outer ends of branches. More mature larvae may move away from the group and feed on the entire leaf. Females may deposit up to 200 eggs and there can be 4 or more generations per year.
Identification:
The common name is descriptive of the caterpillar, which has a bright red, slightly raised hump on top of the third body
Latin Name: Estigmene acrea
Common Name: Saltmarsh Caterpillar
Other Names: Salt marsh moth, Woolly bear caterpillar
Pest Details
Origin:
This is a native moth in North America.
Biology:
This common moth is found throughout Canada, the U.S., and into Mexico. The larva is a familiar furry caterpillar found as it rapidly runs across patios and walkways. The larvae have an amazing ability to feed on just about anything, including many weeds such as pigweed, fennel, mallow, and nightshades, as well as a great many ornamental shrubs and trees and crops such as apple, cherry, tobacco, tomato, onion, lettuce, corn, and many others. Mature larvae overwinter and resume activity in the spring when they pupate. There will be from 1 to 4 generations per year depending on the temperature and region. Females deposit eggs in one or two clusters with up to 1,200 eggs in a single cluster, attached to the host plant.
Latin Name: Crambus sp.
Common Name: Sod Webworms
Other Names: Lawn moth
Pest Details
Origin:
These are native species in North America and various species may be found in every state and in Canada and Mexico.
Biology:
There are nearly two dozen different species of small moths that feed on grasses and which are referred to as “sod webworms”. They are found in at least 10 different genera, but the genus Crambus comprises the majority of these moths and will be used as the example here. Female moths haphazardly drop their eggs while in flight, particularly when seen fluttering over an area. Some species may land and rest in the turf to deposit their eggs, and several hundred eggs per female will be common. Larvae immediately create burrows from bits of leaves and soil held together with webbing, and they tend to remain within this tube during the daytime and often while feeding. Most species feed on the crown and blades above the