Feeding Damage - UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County

Mouthparts and Feeding Damage of Ornamental Pests

The Head. The insect head serves a number of functions, such as feeding and sensory perception.

Haustellate (sucking) mouthparts

Mandibulate (chewing) mouthparts

The Thorax. The thorax is primarily responsible for locomotion. Made up of 3 segments, the prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax. A pair of legs arise from each segment. Wings, if present, arise from meso-, and meta-thorax.

The Abdomen is responsible for excretion, and reproduction.

Proper identification is essential in pest management

Pests of Ornamentals

Different types of mouthparts:

• Sucking • Rasping

• Chewing • Foliage feeders • Skeletonizers • Borers

Results in different types of damage

Sucking & Rasping Mouthparts

Feeding: may be specific sites required

Damage Foliage appears bronzed, or stippled. Often looks like nutrient or disease problem

Can result in wilting, and curling…even at uninfested locations

Aphids

Palm aphid

Asian Wooly Hackberry Aphid

S. Halbert

Aphid Damage

UF - IFAS

Sooty Mold

Lacebug

UF - IFAS

Lacebug Nymphs

UF - IFAS

Lacebug Damage

UF - IFAS

Leafhopper Nymph and Adult

Flanders-Auburn

Thrips

Thrips Nymph

UF - IFAS

Thrips Damage

UF - IFAS

Whitefly Adult

UF - IFAS

Whitefly Nymphs

UF - IFAS

Whitefly Damage

UF - IFAS

Silverleaf Whitefly

Scale Insect

Armored Scales: Florida Red Scale

UF, IFAS

Armored Scales: Tea Scale

UF - IFAS

Magnolia White Scale

UF - IFAS

Cycad Scale

Soft Scales: Florida Wax Scale

UF - IFAS

Soft Scale: Green Scale

UF - IFAS

Soft Scales: Hemispherical Scale

UF - IFAS

Soft Scales: Pyriform Scale

UF-IFAS

Mealybugs

UF - IFAS

Some predators may appear as pest

Two-Spotted Spider Mite

UF - IFAS

Spider-Mite Damage

UF - IFAS

Spider-Mite Webbing

UF - IFAS

Broad and Cyclamen Mite Damage

UF - IFAS

Chewing Mouthparts

Foliage Feeders

Cabbage Palm Caterpillar

Oleander Caterpillar, Syntomeida epilais

Tussock Moth Caterpillars

Bagworms

Stinging Caterpillars Io Moth Caterpillar

UF - IFAS

Saddleback Caterpillar

UF - IFAS

Eastern Lubber Grasshopper Nymph

UF - IFAS

Beetle Damage

Skeletonizers Feed on leaf surface, leaving veins intact

Palm Leaf Skeletonizer

Borers • Trunk and stem borers • Leaf miners

Ambrosia Beetles Damage: usually secondary to other problems

Palmetto Weevil

Citrus Leafminer

Gall Wasp

Author: Tom Weissling, University of Florida Photos:

University of Florida, Auburn University University of California S. Halbert, DPI, FDACS J. Brushwein J. DeFilippis

Entomology And Nematology Department Copyright University of Florida 2000 For more detailed information see the Featured Creatures WWW site at http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/