by Bruce Wenning Introduction There are many species of bark beetles in the United States which are destructive to both hardwood and softwood tree species. Some have been historically devastating to many valuable timber species because certain bark beetle species kill their host trees when large populations build up to the point of overtaking their…
Pest Management
Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)
May 15, 2018 in Pest Management
The spotted lanternfly is a non-native sap-feeding planthopper also known as the lanternmoth. The first sighting of the spotted lanternfly in the United States was in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014. In 2017 a single individual was found in Delaware in November and a few days later in New York. January 2018,…
Managing Land for Pollinators and Conservation Biocontrol
January 15, 2018 in Beneficials/Pollinators, Pest Management
by Emily May Conservation biological control is a science-based pest management strategy that seeks to integrate beneficial insects back into the landscape for natural pest control, ultimately reducing and in some cases eliminating the need for pesticides. Farm landscapes can provide food and shelter for pollinators and other beneficial insects, boosting populations of these insects…
Is There Hope for Growing Lilies in New England Again?
August 16, 2017 in Pest Management
by Lisa Tewksbury In the early 1990s New England acquired a new pest of lilies from Europe, the lily leaf beetle (Lilioceris lilii), which made growing lilies to their full potential almost impossible. The adult is a beautiful red beetle, but the immature stage is a larva that can defoliate lily leaves and has the…
Drought and Pests
July 15, 2017 in Pest Management
by Heather Faubert Two general statements about droughts, insects, and diseases hold true: Most plant-feeding insects tend to survive very well under drought conditions. Plant diseases are not very troublesome during droughts. All insects can acquire various fungal disease and these diseases generally need high humidity. Similarly, most plant diseases need rain or at least…
Rose Insect Pest Alert: The Roseslug Sawfly, Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae
May 15, 2017 in Pest Management
by Bruce Wenning Sawfly insects are in the order Hymenoptera that includes bees, ants, wasps, parasitic wasps, and sawflies. Metamorphosis is complete: egg, larva, pupa, adult (Borror, Triplehorn and Johnson, 1989). Sawfly larvae differ from larvae in the order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) by lacking noticeable body hairs, having a well-developed head, and possessing more…
Garden Insect Primer: Getting to Know Common Garden Insect Pest Groups and their Associated Signs of Plant Damage
November 13, 2016 in Gardening Basics, Pest Management
by Bruce Wenning There are 31 orders of insects, but of those only 11 orders contain economically important pests of trees, shrubs, garden plants, lawns, vegetable crops, wood, and fiber. Most of the insect damage caused to garden plants plaguing garden maintenance people and garden designers are concentrated in just seven orders.
The Emerald Ash Borer: Information about the Ash Tree Killer and other “Boring” Beetles
June 15, 2016 in Pest Management
by Bruce Wenning It is important for ecological landscaping professionals to know the differences between various insect pests and non-pests. Most can recognize common insects such as bees, wasps, butterflies, dragonflies, ants, scale insects, aphids, and perhaps a few others. Everyone knows what spiders look like and understand that spiders are beneficial garden arthropods. Correctly…
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Borers in Amelanchier
June 15, 2016 in Pest Management, Trees
Has anyone had experience with borers in Amelanchier canadensis? If yes, how to treat and what’s the prognosis for the survival of these trees.
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Winter Moth Follow Up
December 15, 2014 in Eco-Answers, Pest Management
Last month, the Eco-Pros offered advice on controlling winter moth. An alert reader in Wellesley, MA brought to our attention an outreach effort in that town advising against spraying. Our Eco-Pros respond.
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Winter Moth
November 17, 2014 in Eco-Answers, Pest Management
Winter Moth decimated shrubs and trees in my yard this spring, from blueberry bushes to maple trees. Are there eco-friendly options for control in the fall? Do I have to spray?
Controlling Grubs: Milky Spore Disease or Beneficial Nematodes?
May 15, 2014 in Pest Management
by Paul Sachs Both milky spore disease and beneficial nematodes help control grubs in lawn and garden. Depending on the species of grub, you may want to use both. Scarab grubs, the broad group of white grubs that feed on grass roots, are difficult to differentiate. The only sure way to identify one positively is…
