Weeds, Diseases and Pests Resources
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This is an annual report highlighting research conducted during 2021 and 2022 for Vidalia onions. Research topics include: variety trials, irrigation and fertilizer strategies, sulfur content in soils, effect of fertilizers on yield, thrips, factors affecting postharvest incidence of bacterial bulb rot, and Botrytis leaf blight.
Timothy Coolong, Christopher Todd Tyson, Aubrey Shirley, and Ted McAvoy
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Gloomy scale is a serious insect pest that affects maple trees in urban Georgia, but it can go undetected for years. Affected trees can show branch dieback and canopy thinning after 6–10 years, when the population reaches extremely high densities. A waxy shield covering protects females from predators and insecticide exposure, and usually gives them a convex shape.
Shimat V. Joseph and William G. Hudson
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Oak lecanium, Parthenolecanium quercifex (Hemiptera: Coccidae), is a common soft scale insect pest of oak trees and other woody plants. They infest trees under high stress, such as those planted in parking lots, greenscapes, and other urban areas. Like other soft scale insects, oak lecanium scales feed on tree sap, and they excrete the excess sugars as honeydew. Sooty mold fungus grows on honeydew, and its black color blocks sunlight and interrupts photosynthesis. Although lecanium scales have little immediate impact on twigs and branches, extensive infestation and subsequent feeding damage may weaken or kill the tree over time. The problems with lecanium scale are worsened in urban landscapes where local temperatures are generally higher. Higher temperatures decrease the relative number of parasites that feed on scale insects, and the high densities of surviving females continue to produce viable eggs.
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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Scale insects are very common pests of landscape trees and shrubs, yet they often are overlooked when scouting. They can, however, be responsible for chlorosis (loss of green coloration of plants due to lack of chlorophyll), branch dieback, or death of the plant. Wax scales are part of the soft scale group as they produce soft, cottony, powdery, or waxy covers that cannot be separated from the scale body. Indian wax scale and Florida wax scale are the common wax scale species that occur in Georgia. Indian wax scale is prevalent in the eastern U.S. from Florida to Maryland. Florida wax scale is found from Florida to New York and westward to New Mexico.
Shimat V. Joseph and William G. Hudson
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C 1274
Blanc du Bois
‘Blanc du Bois’ has made a significant contribution to wine production in southeastern regions where Pierce’s disease is prevalent. Though possessing resistance or tolerance to Pierce’s disease, Phylloxera, and powdery mildew, this cultivar is not without fault, and it does require an intensive integrated pest management (IPM) program. We cover here the major issues observed with this cultivar.
Phillip M. Brannen, Shane Breeden, and Walter Willis Sanders
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Carrots suffer significant yield losses from nematode pests because the harvested edible product (taproot) is directly affected by nematode infection, resulting in reduced marketable yield and quality. Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are widespread in several counties in South Georgia and cause serious damage to carrots. Stubby-root (Paratrichodorus or Nanidorus spp.) and root-lesion (Pratylenchus spp.) nematodes are also common in these regions, though, their damage potential to carrots has not yet been established. This publication reports information on nematode detection, biology, and different control practices for the proper production of carrots.
Intiaz Amin Chowdhury and Abolfazl Hajihassani
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This pocket field guide provides a summary of the common economically damaging species of ambrosia beetles in the Eastern and Southern U.S. It includes an easy-to-use morphological identification guide, external and internal plant-injury descriptions to help in infestation diagnosis, and trapping guidelines and protocols for researchers, Extension agents, and growers. The finished printed size of this guide is 3″ wide x 5″ high. Please contact the Publications Editor at extpublications@uga.edu to obtain a PDF suitable for commercial printing (with page bleeds).
Shimat V. Joseph, Brett R Blaauw, Angelita L Acebes, Pamela L Halliday, and Alejandra Monterrosa
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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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