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Extension Entomology

Asp caterpillar / Puss caterpillar/ Southern flannel moth

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Article author: Wizzie Brown
Most recently reviewed by: Ballinger (Vacant) & & Pat Porter (2021)

Common Name(s): puss caterpillar, Southern flannel moth

Description

Eggs are small, elongate with rounded ends.  The are laid in rows or clusters on foliage or small twigs and are covered with hairs from the female moth.

Larvae vary in size and color based upon stage/ instar.  Early instars are yellow in color with spiny hairs emerging from the base of the body. Larvae change and become more hairy as the grow larger.  Mature caterpillars are brown to gray in color, teardrop shaped with soft looking hairs covering the body.  While the caterpillars look soft, you do NOT want to touch them as they can sting.

Pupae/ cocoons are typically found on plants, but mature larvae may wander from the host plant and onto adjacent plants or surfaces.  Cocoons are spun from silk and are creamy white to light brown in color.  They are flattened toward the front and have a hump towards the back.  Cocoons are tough and may remain on the plant after the adult has emerged.

Adults are small, hairy moths with a 1-1.5 inch wingspan, with females being larger than males.  Front wings are yellow and hind wings are creamy yellow.  Bodies are covered with thick hair that looks like fur and is yellow to orange in color.

 

asp / puss caterpillar

 

Origin and Distribution

Asp caterpillars can be found from the east coast, down to Florida and west to Texas.

Habitat & Hosts

Eggs, larvae, and pupae are found on plants.  Larvae feed on foliage of a variety of plants, but are commonly found on oaks.

Life Cycle

Complete life cycle: egg- larva- pupa- adult

Eggs are laid on foliage and small twigs of host plants by mated females that recently emerged from their cocoon.  Eggs are laid in rows or sometimes in patches and are covered with hairs from the underside of the the female moth’s abdomen.  Larvae are found on host plants where the feed on foliage.  Mature larvae may wander from the host plant to adjacent plants and surfaces to pupate. There are two to three generations per year.

Management

If you live in the State of Texas, contact your local county agent or entomologist for management information. If you live outside of Texas, contact your local extension for management options.

Larvae are the damaging stage.  While larvae feed on foliage of plants, usually they are not problematic for the plants they feed upon.  Large populations can defoliate plants. Typically, these caterpillars are kept under control by natural enemies, such as tachinid flies or ichneumonid wasps.  If a pesticide treatment is warranted, look for active ingredients such as Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki or spinosad to reduce harming beneficial insect populations.

Concern for larvae is for their capability to sting.  All stages of caterpillars can sting (as well as the shed exoskeletons), but severity of the sting increases as the size of the caterpillar increases.  Asp caterpillars have spines that are hollow and contain venom.  These spines can break off into skin and cause an immediate stinging sensation, reddening at the site and sometimes localized swelling.  More severe reactions may include headache, nausea, fever, racing heartbeat, abdominal pain, seizures, or other issues.

If you are stung, remove spines with sticky tape and try alleviating symptoms by using ice packs, oral antihistamines, and topical hydrocortisone cream. If you are stung by an asp caterpillar and have a severe reaction, seek medical attention immediately.

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Thrips

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Article author: Kerry Siders
Most recently reviewed by: Suhas Vyavhare & Pat Porter (2020)

Common Name(s): Thrips

Description

Thrips are slender, cigar-shaped, straw-colored insects about 1/15-inch-long as an adult. They have piercing and sucking, cone-shaped mouthparts. Adults have narrow wings fringed with hairs and can drift long distances in the wind. Due to their small size, thrips are often difficult to see.

Habitat & Hosts

Onion thrips have an extremely wide host range. They feed and can reproduce on several cultivated crops including onion, cotton, beans, fruits, vegetables, and practically all small grains. Citrus thrips feed on leaves and fruit of most all species of citrus tree plants. Greenhouse thrips feed on a wide range of horticulture plants. Gladiolus thrips feed on gladiolus and other species of flowers. Western flower thrips feed on a wide variety of plants including chrysanthemums, gloxinia, impatiens, tomato, cotton, vegetables, and grasses. Some plants species, varieties and cultivars are more attractive to the thrips than others.

Life Cycle

In the thrips life cycle, egg-to-adult development takes about 16 days. Eggs inserted into the plant tissue by the female’s sharp egg-laying tube (ovipositor) hatch in about 6 days. Two larval stages require about 6 days for completion; then, the prepupal and pupal stages take an additional 4 days and generally occur in the soil. The average life span of a mated female is about 35 days, and each female can produce fifty or more eggs. Thrips can reproduce without mating. Mated females produce both males and females; unmated females produce only males.

Management

If you live in the State of Texas, contact your local county agent or entomologist for management information. If you live outside of Texas, contact your local extension for management options.

Thrips management needs and strategies vary across commodities. Avoid planting cotton during cool conditions so that young plants will not be affected when plants are most susceptible to thrips damage. Not planting cotton near small grains and onions or adjusting planting date helps alleviate thrips migration into the field. Chemical control is an effective way of managing thrips. Chemical control options include insecticide application (foliar/in-furrow) and/or seed treatments.

Related Publications

http://lubbock.tamu.edu/files/2017/05/Thrips_ENTO-069.pdf

Citations

Suhas Vyavhare, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist David Kerns, Professor, IPM Coordinator and Extension Specialist. ENTO-069. 2017. Thrips. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

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Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

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Article author: Dalton Ludwick
Most recently reviewed by: Pat Porter & Extension Entomologist at Weslaco (Vacant) (2021)

Common Name(s): Brown marmorated stink bug

Description

Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys Stål, is an invasive stink bug species in the United States. This stink bug belongs to the family Pentatomidae. Hundreds of native stink bugs exist in the United States; some stink bug species are predatory and feed on other arthropods while other species are herbivorous and feed on plant tissues.

Brown marmorated stink bugs have five-segmented antennae with alternating black and white markings. On adults, black and white abdominal segments protrude from the margins of the wings when at rest. Adults range in size from 1/2 to 5/8”. Furthermore, immature brown marmorated stink bug have black and white markings present on the hind legs..

Populations of this pest can go unchecked allowing for immeasurable numbers of this pest. Where brown marmorated stink bug populations build, nuisance issues can occur in springs and falls when overwintering adult insects seek out shelter in human-made structures or emerge from their shelters.

Fifth instar brown marmorated stink bug nymph. Image by Yerpo under CC-BY-SA-3.0.

Origin and Distribution

Brown marmorated stink bug is native to China but the species has invaded other countries including South Korea, Japan, and the United States. Brown marmorated stink bug has been found in 46 states in the United States. Population size and resulting damage vary from state to state ranging from detections to severe infestations and agricultural damage.

 

EDDMapS. 2021. Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System. The University of Georgia – Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Available online at http://www.eddmaps.org/; last accessed February 15, 2021.

Habitat & Hosts

Brown marmorated stink bug is an herbivorous insect with a wide range of host plants (Leskey et al. 2012a, Bergmann et al. 2016). Hosts include unmanaged wildlands where plants such as tree of heaven, black walnut, and cherry species grow as well as managed areas growing vegetables, ornamentals, small fruits, and tree fruit. As a result of the wide host range and its ability to disperse, this stink bug will travel across the landscape to find suitable hosts. Brown marmorated stink bug typically is found feeding on foliage and fruiting structures of plants.

Life Cycle

Brown marmorated stink bug follows the life cycle of a true bug: egg, nymph, and adult. Depending on the location, up to two generations can occur. In Texas, it is probable that brown marmorated stink bug would have two generations similar to other southern regions in the United States.

The first stage encountered in the spring is the adult. Adults emerge from overwintering sites (e.g., homes, human-made structures, tree bark) once temperatures and daylengths are favorable. Adults will then seek out sources of food, including tree of heaven and many other hosts. Adult females require more time to prepare for mating, but they will start mating in the spring. After mating, females will typically lay egg masses on the underside of leaves. On average, there are approximately 28 eggs/mass.

Upon hatch, first instar immature insects emerge from eggs almost simultaneously and reside on top of the egg mass. After reaching the second instar, the insects move off the egg mass and onto plant tissues where they feed. All immature stages past the second instar continue to feed on the plant. After completing their immature development, the adult brown marmorated stink bugs will feed, mate, and lay egg masses for the next generation.

Management

If you live in the State of Texas, contact your local county agent or entomologist for management information. If you live outside of Texas, contact your local extension for management options.

Management varies significantly by situation and crop. There are more than 170 plant species than can be used as hosts, including field/sweet corn, cotton, soybeans, hemp, apple, peach, and other crops.,

If you live in the State of Texas, contact your local county agent or entomologist for management information. If you live outside of Texas, then contact your local extension for management options.

Related Publications

Management of brown marmorated stink bug in specialty crops. StopBMSB.

Citations

Bergmann, E. J., P.D. Venugopal, H.M. Martinson, M.J. Raupp, and P. M. Shrewsbury. 2016. Host plant use by the invasive Halyomorpha halys (Stål) on woody ornamental trees and shrubs. PLoS One. 11: e0149975.

Leskey, T.C., G.C. Hamilton, A.L. Nielsen, D.F. Polk, C. Rodriguez-Saona, J.C. Bergh, D.A. Herbert, T.P. Kuhar, D. Pfeiffer, G.P. Dively, C.R.R. Hooks, M.J. Raupp, P.M. Shrewsbury, G. Krawczyk, P.W. Shearer, J. Whalen, C. Koplinka-Loehr, E. Myers, D. Inkley, K.A. Hoelmer, D.-H. Lee, S.E. Wright. 2012. Pest status of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys in the USA. Outlooks on Pest Management. 23: 218–226.

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Spotted Lanternfly

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Article author: Dalton Ludwick
Most recently reviewed by: Pat Porter & Extension Entomologist at Overton (2021)

Common Name(s): Spotted lanternfly

Description

Spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White), is an insect belonging to the family Fulgoridae, a group commonly referred to as fulgorid planthoppers. Insects from Fulgoridae use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plants. As nymphs feed on plant tissues, the nymphs excrete large amounts of liquid, sugary waste called honeydew.

Spots are found on the bodies of the nymphs (immature stages that lack wings) and on the wings of adults, hence the name spotted lanternfly. In addition to the spots, spotted lanternflies have large hind legs that are used to jump much farther than the length of the insect’s body. Lastly, copious amounts of honeydew can be found where this insect feeds.

Origin and Distribution

Spotted lanternfly is native to China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam and is an invasive pest in the United States. In 2014, the first population was detected in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on a small number of acres. Since the initial discovery, populations of this pest have been found in other parts of the United States.


EDDMapS. 2021. Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System. The University of Georgia – Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Available online at http://www.eddmaps.org/; last accessed January 25, 2021.

Spotted lanternfly is not known to be in Texas as of this writing in 2021. Movement of spotted lanternfly most commonly occurs through transportation of plant and other materials with spotted lanternfly egg masses. However, when visiting areas with known spotted lanternfly populations, individuals should inspect their belongings and vehicles for spotted lanternfly nymphs and adults. Texas residents who think they have found spotted lanternflies should submit photos for identification here: https://askanentomologist.tamu.edu/insect-id-form/.

Habitat & Hosts

The exact extent to which spotted lanternfly can feed on native and non-native plant species is not known. However, a large number of plant species, including grape, walnut, elm, maple, and tree-of-heaven have been noted as hosts. Often, the number of plant species spotted lanternfly is feeding on decreases with each life stage though the exact reason is unknown (Liu 2019). Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle) is often considered a primary host for this species.

Life Cycle

Egg masses, covered in a tan mud-like material, hatch in the spring, typically between April and May. On average, there are 30–50 eggs in each egg mass. The first nymphal stage emerges and is approximately 1/8 of an inch in length. In the first three nymphal stages, the insect is black with white spots and increases in size with each successive stage. In the fourth nymphal stage, the insect becomes red with black markings and white spots. The nymphs are present from April through July. As honeydew accumulates, sooty molds can develop on plant surfaces.

Adult emergence can begin as early as early June and continue through August. Adults are approximately 1 inch in length and ½ inch in width. Spotted lanternfly forewings are covered in black spots and have a pinkish tone while the hindwings are a bright red color. Adults continue feeding and excreting large amounts of honeydew with sooty mold development occurring often. Adults begin mating in late August and laying egg masses shortly thereafter while continuing to feed. Females will continue laying and covering egg masses until a freeze kills them. At present, only one generation per year is noted in the United States.

Management

If you live in the State of Texas, contact your local county agent or entomologist for management information. If you live outside of Texas, contact your local extension for management options.

Control of this species is often limited to physical removal and destruction of egg masses in addition to removal of tree of heaven from the landscape. Some synthetic insecticides may provide control of spotted lanternfly. Always read the label of any insecticide before application.

If you live in the State of Texas, contact your local county agent or entomologist for management information. If you live outside of Texas ,contact your local extension for management options.

Related Publications

Spotted Lanternfly. Pennsylvania State University. https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly

Spotted Lanternfly. Virginia Tech. https://ext.vt.edu/agriculture/commercial-horticulture/spotted-lanternfly

Citations

Liu, H. 2019. Oviposition substrate selection, egg mass characteristics, host preference, and life history of the spotted lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in North America. Environmental Entomology. 48: 1452-1468.

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Garden Fleahopper

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Article author: Tyler Mays
Most recently reviewed by: Blayne Reed & Ballinger (Vacant) (2021)

Common Name(s): Fleahopper, Garden fleahopper

Description

The garden fleahopper is a small insect roughly 1/16 of an inch in size and is black with yellow spots. The females have two forms: a long wing and a short wing. Males and long-winged females resemble tiny, tarnished plant bugs, and the wings have membranous tips that extend past the end of the abdomen. The forewings of short-winged female lack the membranous portion and resemble the forewings of beetles. Garden fleahoppers can be confused with flea beetles because of their size and jumping habits when disturbed; and aphids because of their small size, but aphids do not hop when disturbed.

Garden fleahoppers are commonly found on the underside of leaves or plant terminals and tend to hop, jump, or fly when disturbed. This insect feeds on the plant’s leaf tissue and young fruiting sites and will give the leaf chlorotic spots due to cells dying, resembling the damage caused by spider mites and can cause malformation or fruit shed of flowing fruit.

Origin and Distribution

The garden fleahopper is a native insect and is widely distributed in the eastern United State of America and Canada. It is also distributed as far west as the Rocky Mountains and southward into the Caribbean as well as Central and South America.

Habitat & Hosts

The garden fleahopper has a wide host range and can be found infesting field crops, ornamentals, and vegetable crops. Commonly infested field crops include alfalfa, clover, sweet clover, and has been observed infesting cotton on the Texas High Plains recently. Ornamental plants infested include chrysanthemum, daisy, marigold, and salvia. Several vegetable plants can be infested including bean, cabbage, cowpea, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, pea, pepper, potato, squash, sweet potato, and tomato. Garden fleahoppers can also be found feeding on several weedy plants including bindweed, pigweed, mallow, ragweed, and many others.

Life Cycle

The garden fleahopper has an incomplete life cycle (hemimetabolous) and passes through an egg and 5 nymphal instars before becoming an adult. Their life cycle can be completed in roughly 30 days depending on environmental temperatures. Under cold temperatures this insect overwinters (diapause) in the egg stage, and in warmer climates it overwinters as the adult stage.

Eggs are inserted into the leaves and stems of plants at puncture wounds and dead plants are white to yellow in color. Once nymphs hatch from the egg, they are a pale green and become darker shades of green with each instar. The nymph passes through a total of five instars before becoming adults in 11 to 41 days based on the temperature.

Nymphs and adults feed on both leaf and stem tissue by piercing cells and feed on the cell’s contents. This feeding damage causes the cells to die and gives the leaves a stippling appearance with chlorotic spots, similar to the damage caused by spider mites and can cause early fruit shed in squaring cotton or malformation of the flower. Leaves heavily damaged by the garden fleahopper will die prematurely. This damage can also hinder the sale of plants grown for fresh leaves like lettuce and herbs, or the reduce ornamental sales because they are no longer aesthetically pleasing to the customer.

Management

If you live in the State of Texas, contact your local county agent or entomologist for management information. If you live outside of Texas, contact your local extension for management options.

The garden fleahopper can be suppressed easily with labeled insecticides, and therefore tend to be a pest of gardens rather than commercial production sites, but economic populations in both do occur. In gardens these fleahoppers can be managed with home/garden insecticides labeled for aphid management. The eggs are protected from insecticide application because they are inside the plant tissue, and a second insecticide application may be needed once the eggs hatch to reduce damage. Physically removing weedy hosts close to and within or nearby to production sites and gardens can keep garden fleahopper numbers from reaching damaging levels. Natural enemies of the garden fleahopper do exist and can be used to manage their population. These natural enemies include parasitic wasps and a predatory mite among other predacious insects and spiders mobile enough to catch the fleahopper. For management recommendation please contact your local County Extension Office.

Related Publications

Managing Cotton Insects in Texas. https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/files/2018/03/ENTO075.pdf

Citations

Capinera, John L. 2020. Featured Creatures: Garden Fleahopper. University of Florida Publication: EENY-78. entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/leaf/fleahopper.htm. Accessed Nov. 30, 2020

Bessin, Ric. 2019. Garden Fleahopper. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Publication:Entfact-307. entomology.ca.uky.du/ef307. Accessed Nov. 30, 2020

Vyavhare, Suhas S., Kerns, David, Allen, Charles, Bowling, Robert, Brewer, M., and Parajulee, M. 2019. Managing Cotton Insects in Texas. Texas A&M AgriLife Publication: ENTO-075. https://extensionentomology.tamu.edu/files/2018/03/ENTO075.pdf. Accessed Nov. 30, 2020

 

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