Ladies and Gentlemen:
The weather has been up and down, and the bug populations seem to have adjusted. And if this is any indication, we will have a full year and then some. We are having reports on pests that normally do not show up until April.
1. Giant Mosquitoes/Crane Flies – These long legged flies scare many people each year when they first appear. Many think of them as giant mosquitoes and panic. We get numerous calls on what to do for them. This is one of the larger groups of flies with over 1,600 species. Although taken for mosquitoes, they do not bite, and only a few are known to take nectar from flowers. They have long legs that are easily broken and slender bodies. They are attracted to lights outside the house and cluster around lights and lighted windows, coming indoor each time the door opens. The larvae prefer damp habitats, and some are even aquatic. The larvae normally are found in the soil, in fungi and in rotting wood. Most eat decomposing plant matter, and some are predaceous. The larvae can be managed with Merit, Sevin or Talstar. Sprays of pyrethroids around doorways can help keep the adults from entering the home.
2. White Grubs – Normally not seen until late April, these pest are already creating some concern for homeowners on the lower part of the state. The warm weather has stimulated the larvae to begin feeding, and some turf is showing the signs of their feeding. They are also being dug up by raccoons, armadillos and opossums. Where infestations are found, Sevin, Merit and Mach 2 are the best management tools.
3. Bark Beetles and Shot Hole Borers – With all the damage to trees around the state from the storms, we can look forward to a very high infestation of these little pests. This complex of beetles covers several families and causes different injury to woody ornamentals and trees. The recent hot spells have induced many trees to bloom prematurely and then get knocked back by the cold fronts that follow. Many of the trees that are injured or stressed this way are optimum sources for injury by this complex of beetles. Care should be taken to check trees that have bloomed early and prune back any twigs or branched that have been injured. This will help to reduce the overall damage for these pests and reduce the need for spraying. Where damage and infestations are observed, only Thiodan and the Pyrethroids are available for management. Both of these materials should be used with some type of oil spray to give better coverage. Ultra fine oil is usually the best.
4. Earthworms – These usually beneficial organisms can become as damaging to the turf in your yard as any pests. When in high numbers, they can turn and open the soil so that they dry out the turf root systems and kill the grass. Numerous piles of small balls of soil are evidence that they are there. They prefer damp soils that hold water. These areas become spongy and soft when stepped on. You can check for them and other soil pests (except white grubs) by using the lemon soap flush. To reduce their numbers, treat the heavily infested areas with Sevin and water it in. Do not treat after a rain. When populations are heavy, small worm masses can be found on walks and driveways or drain areas after heavy soaking rains.
5. Lace Bugs – These insects are the primary pest of azaleas and are usually not out until after they have bloomed. However, with the changing weather conditions we have been experiencing, they have been found on azaleas in several areas. The primary plants that are showing signs of infestations are those that are located near building walls where the plants receive more warmth due to heat radiated from the walls. This extra warmth has caused a portion of the populations to hatch out early and begin feeding on the foliage. Where the nymphs are found, treatments with Orthene or Merit can be effective in managing the populations. Other materials will also work effectively and can be found in the recommendations in the Pest Management Guide on line. Do not treat plants unless you find the nymphs on the plants. Checking can be done by knocking the foliage against a sheet of paper and looking for the nymphs. Check the lower portions of the plant first.
6. Spider Mites – These small arthropods are often considered to be insects but are actually arachnids. They have 8 legs, and some are capable of spinning a web. Mites feed by puncturing the cellular tissue of the foliage and sucking up the plant juices. Their feeding causes a stippling of the foliage and gives it a yellowish to gray cast. Mites tend to feed on the under surface of the foliage and collect along the main veins of the leaves. They can be easily observed using a hand lens and in many cases can be seen with the naked eye. To manage mites, the use of a miticide or oils alone or in combination work very well. Ultra fine oils will do a good job but will have to be used 2 to 3 times at 10-day intervals. There are several miticides available for use: Kelthane, Floramite, Tame, Tetrasan, Judo and Talstar.
7. Florida Wax Scale – This scale insect is an early bird this year. Initial hatches were observed in early February with the first warm spell. They appear on the foliage of plants as small white spots. Initially they appear to have been the result of a fine spray paint that has drifted on the foliage. They will, however, settle on the stems as well but are more visible on the foliage. Usually there are 3 generations here, but last year we had a fourth in the fall, and it appears that we may have one or two additional generations this year. Most of the early hatch-out was short lived with the days of cold weather that followed the initial hatch. Some of the early hatch has been found to still be alive, which will create some confusion for homeowners and nurserymen. The Florida wax scale was the one seen, but there is a potential for several of the scale species to have an early generation due to the influences of the weather conditions. Where infestations are found, follow the recommendation in the Pest Control Guide. The use of ultra fine oil is also an option in the management of the early instars or growth stages of the scales. It can be used as an additive with most insecticides for additional or enhanced management.
8. Fire Ants – We are seeing some activity from fire ant mounds with the warm weather. At this time, individual mound treatments would be best. The use of the growth regulator baits should not be applied until later, when they are more actively foraging. You can check for foraging activity by placing some sort of oily bait (potato chips, hot dogs, sardines, peanut butter) in several areas of the yard and check the number of ants that come to feed on it. The best time to apply the IGR baits will be in April. Several are available: Extinguish, Extinguish Plus, Distance, Award, Logic and Amdro Pro. Remember, when they are applied, the soil has to be dry for about 48 hours before and after application. The rate for all of these is 1.5 pounds per acre applied broadcast.
Until next month,
Dale