Invasive Species Resources
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Rhodesgrass mealybugs are an invasive insect native to Asia that can infest more than 100 grass species including all warm-season grasses commonly used for pastures and turf in Georgia. This publication includes information about rhodesgrass mealybug identification and biology, its host plants, damage symptoms, and control strategies, including the use of parasitic wasps.
William G. Hudson and Shimat V. Joseph
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The granulate ambrosia beetle (previously known as the Asian ambrosia beetle) is a serious pest of woody ornamental nursery plants, fruit trees, and shrubs in Georgia. This publication provides information on identification and biology, host plants, damage symptoms, and control strategies for this aggressive pest.
William G. Hudson, Paul Pugliese, and Shimat V. Joseph
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Box tree moth is an invasive pest of boxwood plants. It was introduced into New York in 2021 and has been reported in six other states. It has not been reported in Georgia yet. Boxwoods are an important ornamental evergreen shrub in the southeastern U.S., widely planted in residential, commercial, and public landscapes in both urban and suburban areas.
William G. Hudson and Shimat V. Joseph
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The Asian longhorned beetle is an invasive insect pest native to China and North and South Korea that threatens many hardwood trees in forests and landscapes in the United States. The pest is also referred to as the roundheaded borer because the segment below the head is round in shape.
William G. Hudson and Shimat V. Joseph
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The bristly roseslug sawfly is a common species of roseslug in Georgia. The larval stages feed on rose leaves and cause extensive damage; it is particularly problematic on rose shrubs in ornamental landscapes. This publication tells you how to manage these pests in your gardens and landscapes.
William G. Hudson and Shimat V. Joseph
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The juniper scale is a sporadic pest of juniper, cypress, and cedar trees in nurseries and landscapes in Georgia. It is an armored scale, where the wax cover is not a part of its body but can actually be separated from the body. Juniper scale feeds on plant fluid, and heavy infestations can reduce plant vigor, causing needle drop and twig color change from green to brown. Find out how to identify and manage this pest.
William G. Hudson and Shimat V. Joseph
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The spotted lanternfly is an invasive planthopper that can feed on a wide range of trees in the United States. The potential economic and environmental impact of spotted lanternflies is alarming, and threatens not only the livelihoods of many but also the biodiversity and beauty of our landscapes.
William G. Hudson and Shimat V. Joseph
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This publication is a guide to 110 common pest insects found in and around the home, including prevention and treatment options.
Brian T. Forschler, Dan Suiter, Lisa Ames, Richard Hoebeke, and E. Richard Hoebeke
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The publication gives basic biology and description, with images, of the spider’s immature and adult forms, along with recommendations for managing them around the home. The Joro spider is a native of Japan and East Asia that was first documented in the United States in 2014 in northeast Georgia. The initial population appeared to be centered around Braselton and Hoschton, GA, along I-85. By 2022, the spiders had spread about 75 miles in all directions from that initial detection. The native range of these spiders in Asia extends from southeast Asia northward through a swath of eastern China, the Korean peninsula, and all but the northernmost island of Japan, and westward to India and the foothills of the Himalayas. Given that distribution, there seems to be no obstacle to the Joro eventually expanding its range to include all of Georgia, the Southeast, and most of the rest of the eastern U.S. as well.
William G. Hudson, Shimat V. Joseph, and Jason Schmidt
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