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Latin Name: Spilogale sp.
Common Name: Spotted skunk
Other Names: Civet cat, Polecat, Tree skunk, Weasel skunk, and other local names.
Pest Details
Origin:There are two species of spotted skunks that are native to North America, and together they cover nearly all areas of all mainland states and into British Columbia. The western spotted skunk occurs from B.C. south into Mexico and from the west coast east to just east of the Rocky Mountains. The eastern species if found throughout most of the eastern half of the U.S. from the Great Plains to the east coast.
Biology:
These skunks are much less prevalent around urban areas than the striped skunk, preferring wooded habitats and natural dens in the soil. Young are born in late spring to early summer, usually about 4 to 5 young per litter, and are weaned at about the age of 8 weeks. Musk glands located near the anus produce the foul smelling oil that the skunk sprays when threatened.
Latin Name: Mephitis mephitis
Common Name: Striped skunk
Other Names: Big skunk, Large skunk, Polecat
Pest Details
Origin:This is a native skunk in North America and ranges from all of southern Canada through every U.S. mainland state and south into northern Mexico.
Biology:
This is the only species of striped skunk in North America. It is nocturnal and feeds on a wide variety of materials including small mammals, carrion, some plant materials, but primarily insects. Damage to turf is common as the skunk digs for buried grubs and other insects in the thatch. It attacks bee hives and feeds on worker bees that come out to investigate. Around homes it feeds on pet foods that are left out at night as well as on fruits or vegetables in gardens. Like other skunk species it defends itself with a powerful spray of foul smelling oils ejected from glands around its anus. This spray is capable of causing severe nausea,
Latin Name: Microtus Spp.
Common Name: Voles
Latin Family Name: Muridae
Other Names: Vole, field mouse, meadow vole
Pest Details
Origin:At least 84 species in this genus, with Microtus pennsylvanicus most prevalent east of the Rocky Mountains and north into central Alaska, and M. californicus most common in the western states. These are native animals.
Biology:
Favored foods are fresh foliage and flowers in the warm months, seeds and grains in cold months, or even the bark of young plants and trees in the winter. Voles may be very destructive to grain and vegetable crops. Nesting is done is burrows in shallow soil or in thick grass and vegetation, and distinct runways are created above ground as the mice travel and forage. Breeding can be done year round, with the highest activity from March until November, and mating takes place immediately following the birth of a litter. There is an average of around 6 young
Latin Name: Odocoileus virginianus
Common Name: White-tailed Deer
Other Names: Virginia deer, White-tail
Pest Details
Origin:This is a native deer in North America and is found in every mainland state, in the southern half of all southern Provinces of Canada, and south throughout Mexico and Central America and into South America as far as Peru. It is uncommon in California, Nevada, and Utah. It has been introduced into New Zealand and some countries of Europe.
Biology:
This deer prefers woodland habitats, but still can be found in open areas adjacent to forests or wooded habitats. It is the most widespread deer species in North America and has a number of subspecies, or geographic races. Some of these may be classified as endangered in their respective states. Only males will have antlers, which are shed each winter with new antlers beginning their growth in late spring. They are adaptable animals that feed on a wide variety of
Latin Name: Mythimna unipuncta
Common Name: Armyworm
Other Names: The Armyworm, True armyworm
Pest Details
Origin:This moth is native to southern North America, but now is found throughout North, Central , and South America as well as in southern Europe, central Africa, and western Asia.
Biology:
This moth does best in warm climates, and while it is present year-round in the southern U.S. it does not appear to survive winters in the northern regions, migrating northward during the spring and summer only. The final larva instar buries itself in the soil to pupate and in warm weather adult moths will emerge within 1 to 2 weeks. They mate and the female begins laying eggs within a few days, depositing the eggs in small clusters of up to 16 eggs, gluing them in rows on foliage. A single female is capable of producing hundreds of eggs. In summer months the larva completes development in about 3 weeks, and
Latin Name: Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis
Common Name: Bagworm
Other Names: Casemaker moth, Bag moth, Case moth
Pest Details
Origin:This is a small family of native moths in North America.
Biology:
These odd and familiar insects are found throughout North America east of the Rocky Mountains. The larvae make characteristic cases in which they remain while feeding, dragging the case around with them on the plant. The case has various bits of small twigs, foliage, or other plant materials attached to it for structure and camouflage. When the larva is ready to pupate it attaches the case firmly to a twig or fence or some other solid material. The females or most species are without wings and may even remain within the case when they become the adult moth. Males seek them out, enter the case to mate, and the female then deposits her eggs within her case and dies. This species named here is one of the most
Latin Name: Spodoptera exigua
Common Name: Beet Armyworm
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:Native to Southeast Asia but now found throughout most continents in warmer regions.
Biology:
This widespread and common moth is native to Southeast Asia, but was first found in the U.S. in Oregon in 1876, and now can be found nearly throughout the U.S. and Latin America as well as most other continents. It does not survive cold winters and survives the winters in the southern states, moving northward each year with warm weather. Despite its common name this moth’s larva feeds on a wide variety of agricultural crops, including tobacco, cotton, tomato, lettuce, and many others. Young larvae feed in clusters, often defoliating the leaves, and older larvae feed more solitary. Females lay eggs in masses of 50-150 eggs, and may lay up to 600 eggs per female. Complete development from egg to adult moth may be as short as 24 days, with up to 6
Latin Name: Agrotis ipsilon
Common Name: Black Cutworm
Other Names: N/A
Pest Details
Origin:Apparently native to North America, this species is now found throughout North and South America.
Biology:
The cutworms are given this name due to their habit of feeding at the base of young plants and then moving on to another, shearing off the plant as they do and causing greater damage to many plants. This does not occur until they reach their fourth instar, as younger larvae feed on the entire young plant. This species is damaging to a great many agricultural plants, such as corn, wheat, and tobacco, as well as ornamental plants and turf. The moth generally does not overwinter in colder regions, and begins its season in southern and western states, moving northward in early spring and dying out in the fall. There may be 3-4 generations each season. Females lay eggs singly or in masses of up to 30 eggs, either on the
Latin Name: Acrolophus popeannellus
Common Name: Burrowing Sod Webworm
Other Names: Tube moths
Pest Details
Origin:These are native insects in North America with most species found in the southern and western states, but occurring as far north as Pennsylvania and the Upper Midwest. Many more species occur throughout Latin America.
Biology:
This small family of about 6 dozen species has a few members that may be damaging to turf, the larvae feeding on the roots of the turf as well as on decaying plant materials. They will feed on most kinds of turf grass as well as on the roots of corn and a few other plants. The larva creates a vertical burrow in the soil and lives within this, emerging to sever blades of grass or surface roots and dragging these back into its burrow to eat. The burrow may be ¼ inch wide and up to 2 inches deep, with threads of silk lining the burrow and often extending up into the turf.
Identification:Latin Name: Phryganidia californica
Common Name: California Oakworm
Other Names: Oakworm moth, California oakworm
Pest Details
Origin:This is a native insect in the western U.S.
Biology:
This destructive moth occurs only along the West Coast in California and Oregon. It feeds on a variety of oak trees, but is particularly damaging to Live Oak. There may be up to 3 generations each year when weather conditions permit, and heavy infestations may completely defoliate large oak trees. The moths or larvae can be present from March through November, but their numbers each year vary considerably, with massive outbreaks one year and few larvae on trees in following years. The larva overwinters on the underside of a leaf and resumes activity in the spring. The larvae often leave the foliage to pupate heavily on the trunks of the trees as well as on any hard surface nearby, such as walls of structures.
Identification: