Entomology
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Bees are among the most populous, diverse, and effective pollinators. Approximately 70% of bee species nest in the ground, spending their larval and pupal stages underground. This resource helps residents understand how to help these bees as continued urbanization threatens natural spaces and land degradation, pollution, and habitat destruction present serious challenges to sustaining bee populations.
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NewBlueberry gall midge, a small fly native to North America, has emerged as one of the serious pests of blueberries in Georgia. Severe gall midge infestations can cause up to 80% crop loss without proper intervention. Bud sampling to monitor for larvae is the only way to confirm its presence. Insecticide sprays need to be timed to target adult midges before they have a chance to lay eggs.
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NewThe pecan leafroll mite is a noninsect pest of pecan trees. Eriophyid mites are a significant group of plant-feeding mites that infest annual and perennial plants. They often go unnoticed because of their very small size and the fact that they usually reside within plant tissues. In Georgia pecans, damage from the pecan leafroll mite damage is typically observed from May and persist until nut harvest, and regular monitoring of mite populations is needed to prevent severe infestations and to ensure effective management.
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False oleander scale, which appears as white spots on leaves, is an invasive pest on ornamental plants. It is prevalent in Georgia and poses a significant threat to the aesthetic value of ornamental plants in the nursery and landscape.
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In North America, six species of tent caterpillars are found. The forest and Eastern tent caterpillars occur in Georgia, and can damage the aesthetic value of landscapes. There are several management strategies that work against tent caterpillars and this resource will help you identify and control them.
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Thrips parvispinus is an invasive insect pest that poses a serious global threat to vegetables and ornamentals in both fields and greenhouses. This guide will help you identify and manage this pest.
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A pollinator-friendly and ecologically sustainable garden is both beautiful and able to attract and sustain beneficial insects, reducing the need for pesticides. This publication is based on new research in habitat management for purposes of planting insect-attracting plant species in order to intentionally draw insects to garden areas and urban landscapes. This is done by providing a refuge for the insects during winter and nectar and pollen resources. Plant selection directly affects beneficial insect populations, those insects that can provide ecological benefits such as biodiversity and natural pest control. This concept of “habitat management” can lead to potential increases in pollinating and other beneficial insect populations. An increase in these populations in landscapes will contribute to improved pollination of plants and biological pest control and reduce the need for pesticides.
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The invasive elm zigzag sawfly is a small wasp that has been reported in nine U.S. states, where it poses a threat to elm trees.
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European hornets are widespread across much of the eastern United States. Native to Europe and Asia, they were accidentally introduced to North America in the mid-1800s. The European hornet is the largest species found in the United States and is particularly common in Georgia.
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