Q: Last evening, I had a beautiful penta plant and this morning it was 75% stripped. Close examination identified two caterpillars which are about 3″ long, 1/2″ diameter, primary upper (top) body color earthy-brown-green (dark) with highlights consisting… Read More
Q: We have been troubled with a bug our pesticide company has identified as a sowbug. My pesticide company has been to our home 3 times so far to spray and they cannot seem to get rid of… Read More
A: The insect may be a scale insect called the cycad aulacaspis scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui. It apparently originated from Thailand but it is kept in check overseas by local parasitoids. Of course, here in the U.S. this scale… Read More
Q: I have scale insects on my maple tree leaves. They look like cottony cushion scale but I have never heard of it on maple. What do you think? How can I control it? My trees are 30… Read More
A: Thanks for bringing in a sample. The pest is actually called a cochineal insect. Prickly pear cacti (Opuntia spp.) are native to the Americas. They are easy to grow and propagate making them an excellent choice for… Read More
A: The bad kind – German cockroaches, Blattella germanica. While none of us like to have cockroaches in our house, the German cockroach is a true pest and the kind of insect that gives all insects a bad… Read More
A: The insect you found is called a palmetto weevil, Rhynchophorus cruentatus , which is the largest native weevil in Florida. It is found from South Carolina to Texas and feeds on many palms such as our Cabbage… Read More
The structures are called galls and are generally caused by insects. Bacteria, fungi, mites or nematodes can cause galls to form as well. Sixty percent of all known insect galls occur in the oak family and 30 percent… Read More
Q: My corn plant is an indoor house plant and I have had it for years. This past year, it has been doing poorly and I want to know what is wrong with it. A: After looking at… Read More
Q: I have been finding these large brown bugs with a white stripe across their back on my shrubs. Can you tell me what they are? A: Leaf-footed bug, Leptoglossus [= Theognis] phyllopus is a widespread and conspicuous… Read More
