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James A. BethkeNursery and Floriculture Advisor

UCCE San Diego County

Identifying and Managing Pests in

the Garden

Why are there mosquitoes?

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Why didn’t Noah swat those two mosquitoes?

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Objectives• What makes a bug a bug? Why is it

important?

• List the Bad guys

• Take a look at the Good Guys

• Control

• Odd balls

What makes a bug, a bug?

What Makes a Bug a Bug?Three very important characteristics separate insects from all other arthropods and animals.

Six legs

Three body parts

Wings

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Metamophosis• Insects, like all arthropods, have to shed their

skin to grow.• Two Types of metamorphosis

• Complete (Holometabolous)• Egg, larva (grub, caterpillar), pupa, adult

• Incomplete (Hemimetabolous)• Egg, nymph (naiad), adult

Pests/Pesticide• Insects/Insecticide• Mites/Miticide• Nematodes/Nematicide• Snails and Slugs/Molluscicide• Weeds/Herbicide

The Bad Guys

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Most Common Bad Guys• Aphids (Family Aphidiidae)• Mealybugs (Family Pseudococcidae)• Mites (Arachnida)• Whiteflies (Family Alleyrodidae)• Caterpillars (Order Lepidoptera)• Scale insects (Family Coccidae)• Plant bugs (Family Miridae)• Snails and Slugs (Molusca)• Earwigs (Order Dermaptera)• Pillbugs and Sowbugs (Isopods)• Thrips (Order Thysanoptera)• Leafminers (Orders Diptera and Lepidoptera)

UC IPM Your Friend

Aphids

Must Control the Ants

They are born pregnant!

300 million Americans! So What!

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Aphids

They are born pregnant!

300 million Americans! So What!

Phoresy

Mealybugs

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Scale insects

Thrips

Tipu Psyllids

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Asian Citrus Psyllid

Caterpillars

Earwigs: Family Dermaptera

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Bugs! PredatorsInsect Family: Miridae

c

Bagrada Bug/Painted Bug

Encarsia luteola

Silverleaf whitefly

Eretmocerus mundus

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c

Liriomyza trifolii infestation on gerbera

Mites

The Good Guys

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ParasitoidLeptomastix dactylopii

Aphid Parasitoids

Tiny Wasps

Encarsia formosa Eretmocerus eremicus

Trichograma

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PredatorsPraying mantid

PredatorsAssasin Bugs

Ambush Bugs

Lacewing: Family Chrysopidae

Hemerobiidae

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Lacewing: Family Chrysopidae

Aphidoletes aphidimyza(Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

Is it a Bee?

It�s a Hoverfly

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Lady bugs come in many colors!

Lady Bugs or Lady Bird Beetles

Asian Lady Beetle

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Mealybug DestroyerCryptolaemus montrouzieri

Predatory mites

Tachinid Flies

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Parasitic Wasps

Polyembryonic

Big Eyed Bug: Geocoris

c

Minute Pirate Bugs

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Ground Beetles: Carabidae

Control

Failure to monitorMisidentification of pestWrong choice of pesticideIncorrect rates/off label use/old pesticideWater quality/pH/adjuvants/tank mixesMisuse of or poor calibration of equipmentInadequate coverage or placement of pesticide

Common Control Problems in Gardens

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Panel traps, sticky trapsPitfall trapsPhysical removal

Physical Control

Psyllid Control

Most psyllids are under natural control, especially native psyllids

Most invasives need additional control measures until they are under some form of natural control - lady bugs, lacewings, parasitoids (Tamarixia)

Psyllid ControlChemical control

Preservation of natural enemies

Azadirachtin (Azatin), neem oil (Green Light Garden Safe), insecticidal soap (40% potassium salts of fatty acids), and horticultural oil (an insecticide labeled �narrow range,� superior, or supreme oil, such as Ultra-Fine, Purespray)

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ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

• Azadirachtin (Green Light), neem

• Garden Safe, insecticidal soap (40% potassium salts of fatty acids)

• Horticultural oil (an insecticide labeled �narrow range,� superior, or supreme oil, such as Ultra-Fine, Purespray)

• Plant derived oils – Garlic, rosemary, peppermint, etc. Some essential oils

• Plant derived - Pyrethhrins

Psyllid ControlMany insects are well protected by waxy deposits, or in galls or pits

Old products like Malathion, Orthene, Pyrethroids, Pyrethrins

Vascular feeders - use a systemic insecticide

The neonicotinoids - imidacloprid, dinotefuran, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid (spray only)

Soil drench treatments for extended control

Odd Balls!

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Camel Spiders: Solifugidae

Spiders

Red bugs/Seed bugs

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Mantis egg mass

The House Centipede

Harvestmen: Phalagidae

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Lawn Shrimp

James A. BethkeFloriculture and Nursery Advisor

University of California Cooperative Extension

9335 Hazard Way, Suite 201San Diego, CA 92123jabethke@ucanr.edu