COLEOPTERA beetles and weevils

COLEOPTERA Coleos: sheath Ptera: wing Complete Chewing Wings: –Front: hardened (elytra), not for flight –Back: membranous Larva are grubs

WHITE GRUBS C-shaped larva Several different species are a pest

WHITE GRUBS Identify species by rastral pattern

WHITE GRUBS Identify species by rastral pattern

WHITE GRUBS

Weevils are legless white grubs

WHITE GRUBS HOST Turf Lush, high irrigation and fertilization Many are harmless, feed on OM

WHITE GRUBS DAMAGE Consume roots in late summer Water stress spots in mid-August

WHITE GRUBS MONITOR Direct sample (8 to 12 grubs / sq ft) Pull water stressed spots in August –Mole crickets?

WHITE GRUBS CONTROL Milky spore, Japanese beetle only

JAPANESE BEETLE (98) Larva: white grub The grub was introduced in 1916 from Japan on Iris roots

JAPANESE BEETLE (98)

HOST Larva: turf roots Adult: rose, Prunus, maple, other woody plants…

JAPANESE BEETLE (98) DAMAGE Larva: feed on turf roots Adult: June to September

JAPANESE BEETLE (98) DAMAGE Tissue between veins (young leaves) Lacey symptoms

JAPANESE BEETLE (98) DAMAGE Also eat fruit and blossoms

JAPANESE BEETLE (98) MONITOR Pheromone traps Branch beating adults

JAPANESE BEETLE (98) CONTROL Larva: Milky spore disease, nematodes, insecticide Established woody can tolerate

WEEVILS (92) Snouts beetles Many flightless (elytra fused) Larva: legless grubs

WEEVILS (92) HOST Whitefringed beetle: Azalea Palmetto weevil: Palms Other weevils, most other woody plants…

WEEVILS (92) Whitefringed beetle

WEEVILS (92) DAMAGE: Whitefringed beetle Adults: notched symptoms on foliage in July

WEEVILS (92) CONTROL: Whitefringed beetle Plants tolerant in Lowcountry

WEEVILS (92) Palmetto weevil

WEEVILS (92) DAMAGE: Palmetto weevil Dying or weak palm gives off scent Male locates susceptible palm, releases pheromone It’s all over after that

WEEVILS (92) DAMAGE: Palmetto weevil Larva feeds on crown “Breaks” the neck

WEEVILS (92) CONTROL: Palmetto weevils Insecticides no good once infested Cut down before adult emerges Mass trapping and sanitation

BARK BEETLES (173) Size of rice Dark, red, brown, or black Southern Pine Beetle

BARK BEETLES (173) Vectors blue stain fungus

BARK BEETLES (173) Larvae tunnel called galleries (packed with frass)

BARK BEETLES (173) HOST Pine, spruce… Plants in weakened state (predisposed)

BARK BEETLES (173) DAMAGE Larvae tunnel through the phloem Pitch around boring holes Sawdust below Further weaken host

BARK BEETLES (173) DAMAGE European Elm Bark Beetle –1904 in Boston Attacks American Elms and introduces spores of the Dutch Elm Disease (DED)

BARK BEETLES (173)

MONITORING Declining branches –Break open Pheromone traps

BARK BEETLES (173) CONTROL Avoid unseasoned firewood storage near hosts –Cover with plastic for several months Destroy infected branches Systemic insecticides do NOT work once there are symptoms Some resistant varieties, such as Valley Forge American elm

BORERS (179) Flathead borers Legless grub

BORERS (179) Flathead borers Metallic adults (copper, blue, green) Steamlined, bullet shaped Grooved wings

BORERS (179) Flathead borers

BORERS (179) Roundhead borers

BORERS (179) Roundhead borers Long antennae (long horn beetles)Long antennae (long horn beetles)

BORERS (179) HOST Predisposed trees Mostly deciduous Rarely attack healthy host

BORERS (179) DAMAGE Larvae bore throughout tree Finish off dying host

BORERS (179) MONITOR Limb dieback Boring holes wet or oozing

BORERS (179) MONITOR Limb dieback Boring holes wet or oozing

BORERS (179) CONTROL Avoid unseasoned firewood storage near hosts Destroy infected branches Systemic insecticides do NOT work

TWIG BEETLES Twig borer Lay eggs in twig and introduce Ambrosia fungus Larva feed on fungus Pupate in twig before winter

TWIG BEETLES Twig borer HOST Southern Magnolia, redbud, dogwood…

TWIG BEETLES Twig borer DAMAGE Small branches wilting and dying Hole located at base Does not harm the health on host

Red Bay Ambrosia Beetle Decimating red bay trees Red bay wilt (closely related to DED) as.ufl.edu/News%2 0columns/Red.Bay. htmhttp://okeechobee.if as.ufl.edu/News%2 0columns/Red.Bay. htm

Red Bay Ambrosia Beetle Discoloration of outer sapwood

Red Bay Ambrosia Beetle May push out “stick” as it feeds