Landscape Pests

Do not plant infected material

Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Agrobacterium tumefaciens causes crown gall disease, characterized by tumor-like galls forming at the base of shrubs and woody plants. These galls dis...

A planthopper nymph among waxy filaments.

Cluster of planthopper adults.

Small, wingless nymphs covered in white, waxy filaments often cluster on the undersides of leaves, while adults are more mobile with prominent wings. ...

Acephate (Lepitect) as a systemic soil

Acephate (Lepitect) is a systemic soil insecticide effective against a wide range of lawn pests such as grubs, chinch bugs, and caterpillars commonly ...

Acephate (Lepitect) soil drench provided

Acephate (Lepitect) soil drench is an effective systemic insecticide used to control a variety of pests such as aphids, whiteflies, and caterpillars t...

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements in lawn care typically refer to recognizing the presence and impact of various pests that affect turf health in Middle Tennessee area...

Algal Leaf Spot

Silvery gray, green or tan raised spots

Silvery gray, green, or tan raised spots on leaves often indicate algal leaf spot, a common issue affecting turfgrass and ornamentals in Middle Tennes...

An overview of scale insects

Apterous females, winged males

Sexual and parthenogenic reproduction Virus vectors (vine, coconut, pineapple..) (ca.30) semi-persistent transmission One of the most damaging Hemipte...

Anatomy

have own specially derived form of a Unusual insects. The "adult" females are sexually mature nymphs that lack wings, Males are insect-like but most l...

Anatomy and morphology

Scale insects

Covering not part of the body Soft scales: Armored scales: integral part...

Anatomy: different shapes

Azalea bark scale,

Margarodidae Eriococcidae-scales & felt scales, Eriococcus azaleae Cottony cushion scale sometimes produce a felt-like ovisac...

and mating disruption

Sex pheromone

“Microencapsulated” sex pheromone vine / 2 mi...

Annual

Annual cicada adult.

These annual cicadas are medium-sized insects with prominent red eyes and transparent wings, often heard during the warm months in Middle Tennessee ar...

Ants and -Enemy-free Space

– Seasonal availability or “exposure periods” of VMB. Again, – Ants impact VMB natural enemies (regional differences). attack from natural enemies; t...

Ants tending

Small, social insects often seen tending to aphids or scale insects, ants protect these pests in exchange for honeydew, which can lead to increased pl...

Aphid

Mite Attack,...

Aphid Management

Tiny, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth, aphids can cause distorted leaves and stunt plant development by sucking sap. They commonly infe...

Aphid Parasites

Tiny wasps lay their eggs in aphids.

Tiny wasps that parasitize aphids play a crucial role in controlling aphid populations in Middle Tennessee lawns and gardens, including areas like Fra...

Aphid Predators

Small beneficial insects such as lady beetles, lacewings, and parasitic wasps play a key role in controlling aphid populations by feeding on these sap...

Apples: refuge sites

Many refuge

sites in galled roots caused by woolly apple No refuge sites on smooth bark ,...

Apply four sprays on a 7

10 day interval...

Apply Merit to the soil

not mulch) in...

Apply to foliage thoroughly

kills...

April

August. Two sprays 10 days apart...

Armored scale anatomy

Armored scales are small, hard-bodied insects that attach firmly to plant stems and leaves, often appearing as tiny, rounded bumps. These pests feed b...

Armpit (between main stem and

New shoots

secondary branches) secondary branches) Fruit (inside calyx) Percentage mealybugs found on each plant part through the season in three deciduous fruit...

Asana XL

Christmas tree plantings, forest...

Ash

Ash plant bug adult.

Small, greenish-yellow insects about 1/4 inch long, ash plant bug adults feed on the leaves of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.), causing stippling, yellowing...

Asian Ambrosia Beetles

These small, dark beetles bore into the wood of stressed or weakened trees, creating tunnels that introduce fungal infections, leading to branch dieba...

Asian Long Horned Beetle

Pest from China

This invasive beetle, recognizable by its shiny black body with white spots and long antennae banded in black and white, poses a serious threat to har...

Augmentation

Planococcus ficus

) infestation and C peregrinus (x10 000) control block release block releases in a table grape vineyard in the Hex...

August

September...

Auto Spill Response Kit

An Auto Spill Response Kit is an essential tool for quickly managing chemical spills during lawn care treatments, especially in areas like Franklin an...

Avid

*...

Azalea

Azalea lace bug damage. Note conspicuous leaf speckling.

Tiny, sap-sucking Azalea lace bugs cause conspicuous speckling on leaves, leading to a bleached or stippled appearance that weakens azaleas and other ...

AzaleaRhododendron species

These shrubs, commonly found in Middle Tennessee landscapes like Franklin and Brentwood, are often targeted by lace bugs (Stephanitis pyrioides), whic...

Azalea - Key Pests

Azalea caterpillar

These brightly colored caterpillars can rapidly defoliate azaleas, posing a common threat to shrubs in Middle Tennessee landscapes like Franklin and B...

Azalea Caterpillar

These caterpillars, often found in Middle Tennessee areas like Franklin and Brentwood, are recognized by their bright yellow bodies with black stripes...

Azalea Gall

Thickened or fleshy leaf galls

Thickened or fleshy leaf galls on azaleas are caused by the fungus Exobasidium vaccinii, resulting in swollen, distorted leaves that may appear pale g...

Azalea Lace Bug

One of the most frequently reported insect pest

Tiny insects with white, lace-like wings, azalea lace bugs (Stephanitis pyrioides) feed on the undersides of azalea leaves, causing stippling, yellowi...

Azalea Lacebug

Monitor populations

Tiny insects with mottled black and white wings, azalea lacebugs (Stephanitis pyrioides) feed on the underside of azalea leaves, causing stippling, ye...

Azalea Leafminer

Dry, brown spots on leaves

Tiny larvae of the Azalea Leafminer (Caloptilia azaleella) create dry, brown blotches on azalea leaves by mining between the leaf surfaces, leading to...

bacterial disease

Bacterial diseases in lawns and landscapes often manifest as water-soaked lesions, wilting, or discoloration on leaves and stems, leading to weakened ...

Bagworm Management

Hand picking anytime

These pests are easily identified by their spindle-shaped bags covered with twigs and leaves, hanging from trees and shrubs. Bagworms primarily damage...

Bagworms

These pests create distinctive spindle-shaped bags covered with twigs and leaves, hanging from trees and shrubs. Bagworms (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeform...

Bald

cypress...

Bark Aphids

Small, soft-bodied insects often found on tree bark, bark aphids feed by sucking sap, leading to weakened branches and sooty mold growth from their ho...

Bark Beetles

Needles turn yellow from tips back

Tiny bark beetles bore into tree bark, causing needles to yellow from the tips backward as they disrupt nutrient flow. These pests commonly attack pin...

Bayer Advanced 2-in

1 Systemic...

Beetle

formerly...

Beetles

Beetles are a diverse group of insects that can vary widely in appearance but often have hard, shell-like wing covers. Many species feed on leaves, fl...

Best control on young larvae from mid

Targeting young larvae during mid-development stages is crucial for effective pest control in Middle Tennessee lawns and gardens. Early intervention h...

Birch

Bronze birch borers (Agrilus anxius) are metallic green beetles that infest birch trees, causing branch dieback and thinning foliage. These pests targ...

bore through the bark and into the sapwood

These pests bore through the bark and into the sapwood, causing significant damage by disrupting the tree’s nutrient and water transport systems. Comm...

Borer

Borers are wood-boring insects that tunnel into tree trunks and branches, causing dieback, weakened structure, and sometimes tree death. These pests c...

Borers

Branch wilt and dieback

Borers are larvae that tunnel into tree branches, causing branch wilt and dieback, particularly in hardwoods common in Middle Tennessee areas like Fra...

Bot Canker

Botryosphaeria dothidea

This fungal pathogen, Botryosphaeria dothidea, causes Bot Canker, which appears as sunken, dark lesions on tree bark, often oozing sap. It primarily a...

Boxwood

Small, glossy green leaves and dense growth make boxwoods a popular choice for hedges and borders in Middle Tennessee landscapes like Franklin and Bre...

Boxwood Leafminer

Adult midges (flies)

Tiny adult midges of the boxwood leafminer (Monarthropalpus flavus) lay eggs inside boxwood leaves, causing blistered, yellowed foliage and distorted ...

Boxwood Leafminer Management

Orthene and Merit

Leafminers cause unsightly blistered patches on boxwood leaves by feeding within the foliage, weakening the plant over time. In Middle Tennessee areas...

Cactus

Cactus scale.

Small, armored insects known as Cactus scale (Diaspidiotus spp.) appear as tiny, white or grayish bumps on cactus stems and pads, feeding on plant sap...

Camellia

These evergreen shrubs often found in Middle Tennessee landscapes, including Franklin and Brentwood, can be susceptible to camellia tea mites (Eotetra...

Carbaryl 50WP

*...

Caterpillars

Chewing mouthparts so think ‘holes’

Chewing mouthparts of caterpillars cause irregular holes and defoliation on leaves, affecting a wide range of ornamental plants and turfgrass common i...

Ceres

Mean obscure mealybugs per

Stellenbosch 100 trees on all plant parts in three deciduous fruit Fig. 1d. Mean obscure mealybugs per 100 trees on all plant parts in three deciduou...

Chlorpyrifos Pro 2

@...

Cicadas

Known for their loud, distinctive buzzing, cicadas are robust insects that emerge in large numbers, especially in Middle Tennessee areas like Franklin...

Cinera

Cinera pine aphids.

These small, soft-bodied insects cluster on pine needles and new growth, sucking sap and causing yellowing or distorted foliage. Cinera pine aphids (C...

continue learning and change with the times.

Adapting pest management strategies is essential for effective lawn care in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin and Brentwood, where pest ...

Convergent

Convergent lady beetle eating aphids

These beneficial insects, known scientifically as Hippodamia convergens, are small, dome-shaped beetles with distinctive orange and black markings tha...

Corynospora Leaf Spot

Small round leaf spots, red to brown with purple borders

Small, round leaf spots with red to brown centers and purple borders signal Corynospora Leaf Spot, a fungal disease common in Middle Tennessee lawns, ...

Crape MyrtleLagerstroemia indica

This popular ornamental tree in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin and Brentwood, is often affected by the crape myrtle aphid (Tinocallis...

Crape Myrtle Key Pests

Crape myrtle aphid

Tiny, soft-bodied insects known as crape myrtle aphids (Tinocallis kahawaluokalani) cluster on new growth and undersides of leaves, secreting sticky h...

Crape Myrtle Aphid

Sooty mold

Tiny yellow aphids feed on the sap of crape myrtle leaves and stems, excreting honeydew that encourages sooty mold growth, which appears as a black, p...

Cylindrocladium Leaf Spot

Dark purple to black circular leaf spots

This fungal disease causes dark purple to black circular spots on leaves, leading to premature leaf drop and weakened plants. It primarily affects orn...

Damage

Decrease the photosynthetic activity

Economic losses (quantity, quality) Inducing development of fungi on leaves and grapes Transmission of viruses (30 scale insects are known) Gall forma...

Dark to reddish

brown circular...

defoliator of pines

These insects, commonly found in Middle Tennessee areas like Franklin and Brentwood, strip pine trees of their needles, leading to weakened growth and...

DeltaGard G

&...

Dendrex

acephate) is labelled for use on flowering crabapple for control of aphids, tent...

Diazinon 50W

*...

Dieback

Glomerella cingulata

Dieback caused by Glomerella cingulata presents as wilting, browning, and dieback of branches in trees and shrubs, often starting at the tips. This fu...

Dilution Tables

a Guide to Accurate Measures...

Dimilin 25W

H...

Dimilin 4L

H...

Discus

*...

Dogwood Borers

Clear winged moth

Clear-winged moth larvae, known as dogwood borers, tunnel into the bark and cambium of dogwood trees, causing dieback and weakening the tree's structu...

Dogwood Club Gall Midge

Causes spindle-shaped swellings

Tiny, orange larvae of the Dogwood Club Gall Midge (Contarinia spp.) cause distinctive spindle-shaped swellings on dogwood twigs, disrupting normal gr...

Dormant

Before Growth Starts...

Douglas

fir...

Dry Formulations

Dry formulations in pest control are powdered or granulated products designed for easy application and targeted pest management. These formulations ar...

Dursban

use ambrosia beetle rate), Onyx,...

Dursban 50W

H...

Dursban Pro

H...

Dursban TNP

@...

Dylox

*...

Early

May, mid-June...

Early May

mid-June...

Eastern Tent

This pest is known for its large, communal silk tents constructed in the branches of hardwood trees, especially oak and hickory, common in Middle Tenn...

Ecology

Scale insects

Covering not part of the body Soft scales: Armored scales: integral part...

Ecology, control

Scale insects

Soft scales: Armored scales: integral part Waxy covering, over body, not...

Elm

Small to medium-sized trees common in Middle Tennessee landscapes, elms (Ulmus spp.) are valued for their graceful, arching branches and serrated leav...

Elm Gall

Small, rounded growths called galls often appear on elm leaves in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin and Brentwood, caused by tiny erioph...

Elm Leaf Beetles

Small, yellow-green beetles with black stripes, elm leaf beetles (Xanthogaleruca luteola) feed on elm tree foliage, skeletonizing leaves and causing p...

Entomology 462

Small, reddish-brown insects known as Entomology 462 commonly infest turfgrass and ornamental plants in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Frankli...

Entomosporium Leaf Spot

Dark leaf spots with purple borders

This fungal disease causes dark leaf spots with distinctive purple borders, primarily affecting photinia and other ornamental shrubs common in Middle ...

European Hornets

European hornets (Vespa crabro) are large, reddish-brown wasps with yellow markings that can reach up to 1.5 inches in length. They often build paper-...

Exclusion techniques to keep ants out

Exclude ants from vines

Pesticide stem barriers once a season (SA) by applying Tanglefoot every 1-2 wks....

Fall Webworm

These hairy caterpillars appear in late summer

Late summer in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin and Brentwood, often brings infestations of fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), recognizab...

Fall Webworm Management

Fall webworms (Hyphantria cunea) create large, unsightly webbed nests on tree branches, primarily attacking hardwoods like hickory, walnut, and pecan....

Fall Webworms

Fall webworms are caterpillars that create large, unsightly silk webs around tree branches, primarily feeding on the leaves of hardwood trees such as ...

February

early April for Merit, Marathon...

February to mid

April...

Februay

March...

Fine

Mist Spray...

Fire

Fire ants prefer

Aggressive and reddish-brown, fire ants build large, dome-shaped mounds in sunny areas such as lawns and gardens around Columbia and other Middle Tenn...

Fire Ant Management

Sevin or

Fire ants are aggressive pests known for their reddish-brown color and painful stings, commonly infesting lawns and gardens throughout Middle Tennesse...

Fletcher

Fletcher insects are small, winged pests known for feeding on a variety of ornamental plants, causing leaf discoloration and distortion. Their presenc...

Flower Blight

Ciborinia camellia

This fungal pest, Ciborinia camellia, causes flower blight primarily on camellias, leading to brown, water-soaked spots that quickly expand and cause ...

focus on the task at hand…

Small, reddish-brown insects with piercing mouthparts, aphids often cluster on new growth and leaves, causing curling, yellowing, and stunted developm...

Foliage

needles) on red, pitch,...

Foliage of azalea

see also...

Foliage of maple yellowish

Yellowing foliage on maple trees often indicates an infestation of pests such as aphids or scale insects, which feed on sap and weaken the tree. These...

Foliagefeedcatrpllrill

This caterpillar is a common foliage feeder that targets a variety of landscape plants, chewing holes in leaves and potentially causing significant de...

Forest

Forest and Shade Tree Pests

Common forest and shade tree pests in Middle Tennessee, such as Columbia and Franklin, include insects like aphids, scale, and caterpillars that damag...

found at the tips of pine tree stems

Tiny, reddish-brown insects often cluster at the tips of pine tree stems, feeding on sap and causing needle discoloration or dieback. These pests, com...

fungi feeds on living host tissue

Fungi that feed on living host tissue often appear as discolored spots, wilting, or moldy growth on plants, causing significant damage to leaves, stem...

Furadan 4F

H...

Fusiform Rust

Spindle shaped galls on branches or stems

Spindle-shaped galls on branches or stems often indicate fusiform rust, a common fungal disease affecting pine trees in Middle Tennessee, including ar...

Gall

Making Maple...

Gall Makers

Tiny insects known as gall makers induce abnormal growths, or galls, on trees and shrubs by injecting chemicals into plant tissues. These swollen, oft...

Galls

Abnormal growths commonly found on oak trees and other hardwoods, galls are caused by tiny insects or mites that inject chemicals into plant tissues. ...

Generalized

Common landscape pests in Middle Tennessee, including Columbia and Franklin, often include insects like aphids, scale, and caterpillars that damage pl...

Grape

white/clear Grape & Obscure Mealybugs w/ Ostiolar Excretion...

Grape, Obscure & Longtailed MB Damage

Small moths like the obscure and longtailed grape berry moths (Paralobesia viteana and Endopiza viteana) cause significant damage to grapevines in Mid...

Guthion 2S

H...

Gypsy Moth

This invasive pest is known for its hairy caterpillars that can defoliate oak and other hardwood trees, causing significant damage in Middle Tennessee...

Hand-lens Comparison

Vine mealybug:

Grape Mealybug “Complex” grape mealybug vine mealybug (except for obscure mealybug) long “tail” or caudal wax filament...

Harpoon

oxydemeton-methyl) is labeled for the following trees and pests: cedars (bark...

harvest

Mean count

Stellenbosch Fig. 1e. Mean obscure mealybugs per 100 trees in three deciduous fruit production areas during 2005/2006....

Hemlock

Small, reddish-brown insects known as hemlock adelgids (Adelges tsugae) infest hemlock trees by sucking sap from needles and twigs, causing needle yel...

Hexygon 50-WP

*...

HollyIlex species

Small, bright red berries and glossy, spiny-edged leaves make hollies (Ilex species) a popular landscape shrub in Middle Tennessee areas like Franklin...

Holly - Key Pests

Florida wax scale

Small, white, waxy insects known as Florida wax scale (Ceroplastes floridensis) commonly infest holly plants, especially in Middle Tennessee areas lik...

Honeylocust

Honeylocust leaflet distorted.

Leaflet distortion on honeylocust trees (Gleditsia triacanthos) often results from insect pests like leafhoppers or aphids feeding on foliage, causing...

IFAS Leon Co.

Small, soft-bodied insects commonly found on the undersides of leaves, these pests feed by sucking plant sap, causing yellowing, curling, and stunted ...

Imidan 70-WSB

*...

Indian Hawthorn Key Pests

Florida wax scale

Florida wax scale (Ceroplastes floridensis) appears as white, waxy coverings on stems and leaves, often infesting Indian Hawthorn shrubs in Middle Ten...

Indian Hawthorn Raphiolepis indica

This dense, evergreen shrub is commonly affected by leaf spot diseases caused by fungal pathogens, which create brown or black spots on the glossy lea...

Inject-A-Cide

H...

Inject-A-Cide B

H...

Insect

Insect notes are excellent references.

Small, often winged insects like aphids, scale, and whiteflies can cause significant damage to ornamental plants and turf in Middle Tennessee, includi...

Insectary rearing in Letsitele

Coccidoxenoides perminutus

South Africa, Walton 2000...

Insects

Insects of Trees

Many insects that infest trees in Middle Tennessee, including Columbia and Franklin, can cause significant damage by feeding on leaves, bark, or roots...

Integrated Pest Management

A strategic approach combining monitoring, biological controls, and targeted treatments to manage pests effectively while minimizing environmental imp...

Japanese

Japanese holly

This dense, evergreen shrub is often targeted by the Japanese holly leafminer (Phytomyza ilicicola), a small fly whose larvae tunnel within leaves, ca...

Japanese Beetle

Foliage can be protected with various pesticides.

These metallic green and copper beetles are notorious for skeletonizing leaves and damaging flowers and fruits on a wide range of plants. Japanese bee...

Japanese Beetle Management

These metallic green and copper-colored beetles feed on the leaves, flowers, and fruits of over 300 plant species, causing significant damage by skele...

Japanese Beetles

These metallic green and copper-colored beetles are notorious for skeletonizing leaves and damaging flowers in gardens throughout Middle Tennessee, in...

Japbeetle

This invasive pest is easily recognized by its metallic green body and bronze wing covers. Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) feed on the leaves, fl...

John Davidson

This pest, known scientifically as John Davidson, is characterized by its small, dark body and rapid movement, often found infesting turfgrass and orn...

July

September...

June

early September...

June or treat stumps in March

Treating tree stumps in March is ideal for preventing pest infestations, as many wood-boring insects become active in late spring and early summer. Pr...

June to mid

July. Prune below...

JuniperJuniperus species

These evergreen shrubs or small trees feature needle-like or scale-like foliage and are common in Middle Tennessee landscapes, including areas like Fr...

Juniper - Key Pests

Spider mites

Tiny spider mites often infest junipers, including those in Middle Tennessee landscapes like Franklin and Brentwood, causing stippled or bronzed folia...

Kelthane 50 WSP

*...

Key Plants and Key Pests in Alabama Landscapes

Homeowners in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin and Brentwood, should be aware of common landscape pests such as the emerald ash borer (...

Lab search &

Field collection

Effective lawn pest management in Middle Tennessee begins with accurate identification through lab search and field collection. This process involves ...

Lace

Lace bug nymphs.

Lace bug nymphs are small, dark insects with spiny bodies that feed on the undersides of leaves, causing stippling and yellowing damage. They commonly...

Lace Bug Management

Tiny insects with lace-like wing patterns, lace bugs feed on the undersides of leaves, causing stippling, yellowing, and premature leaf drop. They com...

Lacewing

Recognizable by their delicate, transparent wings and slender green or brown bodies, lacewings are beneficial insects commonly found in Middle Tenness...

Landscape

Landscape professionals must take care of their equipment…

Landscape professionals in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin and Brentwood, must diligently maintain their equipment to prevent pest inf...

Landscape Plants… and their Pests

Common landscape pests in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin and Brentwood, often target popular ornamental plants by feeding on leaves, ...

Late April

early May, mid-July...

Late March

May or when attack is seen....

Late March-April

early...

Late-April and mid

July....

Leaf Miners

Tiny larvae that tunnel between leaf surfaces, leaf miners create winding, translucent trails that damage ornamental plants and turf in Middle Tenness...

Let’s

Let’s do better than this…

Small, soft-bodied insects known as aphids cluster on new growth, causing distorted leaves and sticky honeydew deposits that attract sooty mold. These...

Ligustrum

This common landscape shrub pest targets Ligustrum species, causing leaf discoloration, distortion, and defoliation that can weaken the plant over tim...

Ligustrum - Key Pests

White peach scale

White peach scale (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona) appears as small, white, waxy bumps on foliage and stems, feeding on sap and causing yellowing, leaf dro...

Liquid Formulations

Liquid formulations offer a versatile and effective method for controlling landscape pests by delivering active ingredients in a concentrated, easy-to...

Magnesium Deficiency

Distinct yellow, inverted V pattern

Magnesium deficiency in lawns often shows as a distinct yellow, inverted V pattern on grass blades, indicating reduced chlorophyll production. This nu...

Magnolia - Key Pests

Magnolia white scale

Tiny, white, cottony insects known as Magnolia white scale infest magnolia trees, feeding on sap and causing yellowing leaves, branch dieback, and ove...

Magnolia White Scale

White armored scales, yellow-brown bodies underneath

White armored scales, such as Magnolia White Scale, have yellow-brown bodies hidden beneath a white, waxy covering and commonly infest magnolia trees ...

Males and females look different

Leptomastix dactylopii

Leptomastix dactylopii Leptomastix dactylopii (Walton 2005)...

March

April, August...

Mauget System

The Mauget System is a specialized pest control method used primarily for managing borers and other wood-boring insects in trees. It delivers insectic...

May to mid

June...

May-June

October...

Metallic Beetles

Small blue beetles

Small metallic blue beetles, often found in Middle Tennessee areas like Franklin and Brentwood, can cause damage by feeding on the leaves of various o...

Micro

Injection of Systemic Insecticide Into Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10...

Mid-April and mid

July for ash. Prune...

Mid-March to Mid-June or late August

During the periods from mid-March to mid-June and late August, homeowners in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin and Brentwood, should be ...

Mid-May

Mid-July, August-October...

Mid-to

late March...

Mite

Rust Mites...

Mites -

Upper surface/ lower surface/ both

Tiny and often difficult to see, mites infest both the upper and lower surfaces of leaves, causing stippling, yellowing, and sometimes webbing. These ...

most destructive insect pest of pine in the U.S.

This destructive insect pest, known as the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis), causes extensive damage by burrowing into pine trees and dis...

Mushroom Root Rot

Slow decline, thinning of canopy

Mushroom root rot, caused by fungi such as Armillaria spp., leads to slow decline and thinning of the canopy in trees and shrubs. This disease attacks...

Nantucket Pine Tip Moth

Small orange moth

This small orange moth, known as the Nantucket Pine Tip Moth, targets pine trees by boring into new shoots and causing dieback, which can weaken the t...

Needed

Gallons...

Nipple

shape gall on underside...

Normal

Commonly found in Middle Tennessee lawns, normal turf pests like grubs and chinch bugs can cause significant damage by feeding on grass roots and blad...

Nuisance Pests

Common nuisance pests like ants, spiders, and earwigs often invade homes and landscapes in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin and Brentwo...

Oaks

Common in Middle Tennessee landscapes like Franklin and Brentwood, oak trees (Quercus spp.) often face threats from pests such as oak wilt beetles and...

On main trunk

Inside fruit

calyxes, 62% Most suitable plant parts for mealybugs, SA findings...

One-third to one

fourth inch...

Onyx

&...

Onyx Pro

H...

Open

Common landscape pests in Middle Tennessee, such as Columbia and Franklin, often include insects like aphids, scale, and caterpillars that feed on lea...

Orange Striped Oakworm

The Orange Striped Oakworm (Anisota senatoria) is a colorful caterpillar with bright orange stripes and a fuzzy body that feeds heavily on oak leaves,...

Other Insects

Miscellaneous damage, but is it really necessary to control?

Various miscellaneous insects can cause minor damage to lawns and landscape plants in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Columbia and Franklin. Wh...

Ovulinia Petal Blight

Small, water-soaked spots on petals

This fungal disease causes small, water-soaked spots on flower petals, leading to rapid browning and petal collapse. Commonly affecting azaleas and ot...

Oyster

shell shaped overlain by...

p e e

Scale insects / 5 min. sample

Complete Ant Control Ant-tending Affects Parasitism: Parasitism (%) / 5 min. sample Ant-excluded Edna Valley, 1998...

Pales weevil

adults...

Parasites are different sizes

Coccidoxenoides perminutus

diversicornis Anagyrus spp Anagyrus spp. Neoplatycerus kemticus (Walton 2005)...

Parasitoids

Anagyrus pseudococci

Leptomastidea abnormis Leptomastidea abnormis...

Pear

Pear thrips on maple leaf.

Tiny, slender pear thrips (Taeniothrips inconsequens) cause damage by feeding on leaf tissue, resulting in silvery or bronze discoloration and distort...

perennial vine of the legume family

This perennial vine from the legume family features twining stems and compound leaves, allowing it to climb fences and structures quickly. It can beco...

Periodical

Periodical cicada adult emerging from nymphal skin.

These periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) emerge in large numbers every 13 or 17 years, leaving behind their nymphal skins on trees and shrubs. Adult...

Perm

Up and others), Talstar, DeltaGard,...

Permethrin

Astro, Perm-Up and others...

Pest Control Calendars

A pest control calendar helps homeowners in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin and Brentwood, plan timely treatments to manage common law...

Pheromone Monitoring

VMB per 5 min sample

MB males / t...

Phlox

Phlox leafhopper nymphs on leaf undersurface.

Small, pale green nymphs of the Phlox leafhopper often cluster on the undersides of leaves, feeding on plant sap and causing stippling or yellowing. T...

Photo

Photo credits-

Small, sap-sucking insects known as aphids often cluster on tender new growth, causing distorted leaves and sticky honeydew deposits that attract soot...

Pine

Pine spittlebug mass on Scotch pine branch.

Small, frothy masses on Scotch pine branches signal the presence of pine spittlebugs, which feed on sap and can cause twig damage and needle discolora...

PinePinus species

These evergreen trees, common in Middle Tennessee landscapes including areas around Franklin and Brentwood, can be affected by pine bark beetles (Dend...

Pine Bark Beetles

Pitch tubes and/or boring dust on bark

Tiny but destructive, pine bark beetles bore into tree bark, leaving behind pitch tubes—small, resinous masses—and boring dust at the base of infested...

Pine Chlorosis

Mulch pine stands

Yellowing needles and stunted growth in mulch pine stands often indicate pine chlorosis, a condition caused by nutrient deficiencies or poor soil drai...

Pine Chlorosis and Decline

Gradual yellowing of foliage

Gradual yellowing of pine needles often indicates Pine Chlorosis and Decline, a condition where nutrient deficiencies or root damage reduce chlorophyl...

Pine Sawflies

Larvae look like caterpillars

Larvae resembling caterpillars but with more legs, pine sawflies feed on the needles of pine trees, causing defoliation that weakens the tree over tim...

Pine Tip Moth

Needle drop, dying tips, color change

This pest targets pine trees by feeding on new shoots, causing needle drop, dying tips, and discoloration. The larvae of the Pine Tip Moth (Rhyacionia...

Pines - Key Pests

Pine bark beetles

Pine bark beetles are small, dark insects that tunnel under the bark of pine trees, disrupting nutrient flow and causing branch dieback or tree death....

Pitch Tubes

Beetles are sometimes ‘stuck’ in pitch

Small, reddish-brown beetles often become trapped in pitch tubes—resin masses exuded by pine trees in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin ...

Placement?

Fine root density is highest adjacent to the trunk.

Fine root density is highest directly adjacent to the tree trunk, making this zone critical for nutrient and water uptake. Homeowners in Middle Tennes...

Plant

Feet...

Planting Depth

Chlorosis, slow growth, decline

Improper planting depth can lead to chlorosis, slow growth, and overall plant decline by restricting root development and nutrient uptake. In Middle T...

Poison Ivy

Recognizable by its clusters of three glossy, green leaflets that turn red in fall, poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) causes itchy, blistering skin ...

Pounce 25WP

H...

Predatory beetles

Kill fewer larger mealybugs

• not efficient at low host densities • temperature and humidity • found coastal in high densities Kill fewer larger mealybugs Field delivery must be ...

problem in pastures and on roadsides

This common pest in pastures and roadsides appears as small, sap-sucking insects that can cause significant damage by weakening grasses and forage pla...

Products with

*) are designated...

Protection against natural enemies

Mature adult

cast “skin” just molted During molts, MB lose wax – including “tails”...

Psyllids

hackberry...

Pyrethrin

+PBO...

Quantity of emulsifiable concentrate

EC...

Release of mass reared parasities

Insectary operations in Hermosillo, Mexico for

Leptomastidea Anagyrus pseudococci...

Rhododendron Gall Midge

Leaf curling and distortion of new growth

Tiny larvae of the Rhododendron Gall Midge cause new leaves to curl, distort, and become stunted, reducing the overall vigor of these popular shrubs. ...

Round

headed...

Sampling follows mealybug colonization

Mealybugs are small, soft-bodied insects covered with a white, powdery wax that often colonize the undersides of leaves and stems, causing yellowing a...

Sawflies

Feed in groups

Sawfly larvae, often mistaken for caterpillars, feed in groups and can rapidly defoliate trees and shrubs common in Middle Tennessee landscapes like t...

Saybolt reading of 45

85...

Scale

cottony...

Scale insects found on: Leaves, Canes, trunk, fruit

Malakar-Kuene courtesy of R. M...

Scales – Soft, Armored, Pit, Oystershell, etc.

Piercing sucking

These small, immobile insects attach to stems and leaves, feeding by piercing plant tissues and sucking sap, which weakens plants and can cause yellow...

Scimitar WP

*...

Seiridium

Seiridium canker

This fungal disease causes sunken, dark cankers on branches and trunks, often oozing resin, leading to dieback in susceptible trees like Leyland cypre...

Selectivity: Imidacloprid is effective against:

Sucking insects: plant bugs, lace bugs,

Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide that effectively controls sucking insects such as plant bugs and lace bugs, which commonly damage ornamental pl...

September

late through October...

Shuttle

for twospotted spider mites...

Slug

Geta...

Soft Scale external anatomy

Soft scales have a smooth, often waxy and rounded external covering that can vary in color from brown to yellow or green. These pests attach themselve...

Southern Pine Beetle

These small, reddish-brown beetles (Dendroctonus frontalis) infest pine trees, burrowing into the bark and disrupting nutrient flow, which can cause r...

Southern Pine vs. Black Turpentine Beetles

Size compared to a grain of rice

These tiny beetles, smaller than a grain of rice, pose a serious threat to pine trees in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Franklin and Brentwood...

Southern Red Mite

Southern red mites

Tiny and reddish, Southern red mites (Oligonychus ilicis) infest a variety of landscape plants, including hollies and azaleas common in Middle Tenness...

Spider Mite Management

Tiny and often reddish, spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions and feed on plant sap, causing stippling and yellowing of leaves. These pests can s...

Spin

Spinosyn...

Spiny Witch

hazel...

Spittle Bug

These small insects produce frothy, white masses on plant stems, often mistaken for harmless foam but signaling their presence. Spittle bugs feed on p...

spreads by seed

This pest spreads rapidly by seed, allowing infestations to expand quickly across lawns and garden beds. Often found in residential areas like Frankli...

Spruce

Colorado) eriophyid mite, spruce spider mite...

Spruce Spider Mite

Tiny and often reddish, spruce spider mites (Oligonychus ununguis) cluster on the undersides of spruce needles, causing stippling and needle discolora...

Stephen B. Bambara

Prepared by

Stephen B. Bambara is an expert in landscape pest management, specializing in identifying and controlling common pests that affect lawns and gardens i...

Sucking Insects

Needle-like mouth so think yellowing, wilting and deformity

Sucking insects use needle-like mouthparts to feed on plant sap, causing yellowing, wilting, and leaf deformities in lawns and garden plants common th...

Sucking Pests

Plant/Leaf bugs, Lace Bugs

Sucking pests like plant and leaf bugs, including lace bugs, feed on plant sap by piercing leaves, causing stippling, yellowing, and premature leaf dr...

Sucking Pests - Aphids

Small, soft-bodied insects often found on new growth, aphids feed by sucking sap from plants, causing distorted leaves and stunted growth. These pests...

Sucking Pests - Cicadas

These large, noisy insects feed by piercing plant stems and sucking sap, which can cause twig dieback and stress in young trees and shrubs. Cicadas, e...

Sucking Pests - Leafhoppers

These small, wedge-shaped insects feed by piercing plant tissues and extracting sap, often causing stippling, yellowing, or leaf curling on a variety ...

Sucking Pests - Mealybugs

Small, white, cottony insects known as mealybugs feed by sucking sap from plants, causing yellowing, wilting, and stunted growth. They commonly infest...

Sucking Pests - Planthoppers

Tiny, wedge-shaped insects known as planthoppers feed by sucking sap from plant stems and leaves, causing yellowing, wilting, and distorted growth. Th...

Sucking Pests - Psyllids

Sometimes called jumping plantlice.

Tiny, sap-sucking insects known as psyllids (jumping plantlice) can cause leaf curling, yellowing, and stunted growth on a variety of landscape plants...

Sucking Pests - Scales

Small, immobile insects that attach to plant stems and leaves, scales feed by sucking sap, causing yellowing, wilting, and sometimes sooty mold growth...

Sucking Pests - Signs

Dead spots

Yellowing or dead spots on your lawn in Columbia or surrounding Middle Tennessee areas often indicate damage from sucking pests like aphids or spider ...

Sucking Pests - Spittlebugs

These small, soft-bodied insects produce frothy masses called spittle on plant stems and leaves, which protect their nymphs as they feed by sucking sa...

Sucking Pests - Thrips

Cause streaking of flowers or spotting of foliage.

Tiny, slender insects known as thrips feed by piercing plant tissues, causing streaking on flowers and spotting on foliage. These pests often target o...

Sucking Pests – Lace Bugs

Tiny insects with delicate, lace-like wings, lace bugs feed by piercing plant leaves and extracting sap, causing stippling and yellowing on foliage. T...

Sucking Pests – Plant/Leaf Bugs

Sucking pests like plant and leaf bugs feed by piercing plant tissues and extracting sap, causing stippling, discoloration, and distorted growth on le...

Summer

gouty oak gall on twigs and...

SunSpray Ultra

Fine Oil...

Sycamore Lacebug

Tiny, lace-like insects feed on the underside of sycamore leaves, causing stippling and yellowing that can reduce the tree’s vigor. Sycamore lacebugs ...

Systemic Basal Trunk Sprays

Systemic basal trunk sprays target pests by applying insecticides directly to the lower trunk, allowing absorption into the tree's vascular system for...

Systemic Insecticide Technology for Tree Care

Department of Entomology

Systemic insecticide technology delivers active ingredients through a tree's vascular system, effectively controlling pests like aphids, borers, and s...

Talstar 10WP

*...

Taxonomy

Estimated Number Estimated Number of Species & Subspecies Family Name Diaspididae...

Tea

Tea scale

Tea scale (Fiorinia theae) appears as small, white to brownish, oval-shaped insects on the undersides of leaves, causing yellowing and premature leaf ...

Teascale

This small grasshopper, commonly found in Middle Tennessee areas like Franklin and Brentwood, is known for its distinctive, mottled brown appearance a...

Ten Most Common

Many common landscape pests in Middle Tennessee, including Columbia and Franklin, can damage lawns and ornamental plants by feeding on leaves, stems, ...

Tent Caterpillars

Spring pest

In early spring across Middle Tennessee, including Columbia and Franklin, tent caterpillars create noticeable silk tents in the branches of hardwood t...

The Real Boring Insects

Chewing mouthparts, so think ‘holes’

These boring insects have chewing mouthparts that create visible holes in leaves, stems, or bark, often leading to structural damage in landscape plan...

Thia

thiazolidinone...

Thiodan 3EC

*...

Thiodan 50WP

*...

This

Small, soft-bodied insects often found on the undersides of leaves, these pests feed by sucking plant sap, causing yellowing, wilting, and stunted gro...

Three generations

treat when crawlers...

Tiny

Tiny insects, often less than 1/8 inch long, can be challenging to spot but cause significant damage by feeding on plant sap, leading to curled leaves...

Tip Blight

Control of Diplodia

Prune away diseased parts. Avoid lawn watering during night. Apply fungicides in spring when candles show new growth....

Tips

Tips for Baiting

Effective baiting techniques are essential for controlling landscape pests like ants and snails commonly found in Middle Tennessee lawns. Use slow-act...

Trade Name

s...

Treat when nymphs first appear in April

Early treatment of nymphs in April is crucial to controlling landscape pests like aphids and scale insects before they cause significant damage. These...

Trunk Injections

Trunk injections deliver targeted treatment directly into a tree’s vascular system to combat pests like emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle....

Trunk-

Trunk and Stem Cankers “bleeding” cankers - maple

mid and lower, 1/4 inch...

Twig Girdler

female lays eggs...

Typical

Typical leaf speckling from rose leafhoppers.

Tiny, wedge-shaped insects cause typical leaf speckling by feeding on rose foliage, resulting in stippled, pale spots that reduce the plant’s vigor. T...

Typical Scale Insect lifecycle

Walton 2003...

typically attracted to weak or dying trees

These pests are often drawn to weak or dying trees, where they lay eggs and their larvae feed beneath the bark, causing further decline. Homeowners in...

Under

Under the Bark

Tiny insects and larvae living under the bark of trees can cause significant damage by feeding on the cambium layer, disrupting nutrient flow and weak...

Urban Forestry Certification Program

This program trains professionals to manage and protect urban trees, focusing on pest identification, disease prevention, and sustainable care practic...

Various Wood Boring Beetles

Attack various trees

These wood boring beetles infest a variety of trees by tunneling into the wood, causing structural damage and weakening limbs. Infestations often resu...

Vivid II

abamectin) is labeled for use on ornamental trees (including forest, non...

Volck

Saybolt reading of...

Wait until mid

May to make foliar...

Wet Root Rot

Correct cultural problems

Wet root rot, often caused by waterlogged soil conditions, leads to decayed roots that appear brown and mushy, severely damaging turfgrass and landsca...

Wet Root Rots

Poor growth, thinning canopy

Wet root rots, caused by various soil-borne fungi, lead to poor growth and thinning canopies in many landscape plants by damaging roots and impairing ...

When

When looking at damage:

These small, soft-bodied insects often cluster on the undersides of leaves, causing yellowing, distortion, and stunted growth in a variety of landscap...

White

White peach scale

Banded...

White Peach Scale

Heavy infestation forms white crust on stems and twigs

Heavy infestations of white peach scale (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona) create a distinctive white crust on stems and twigs, weakening trees by sucking sa...

Wooly Alder Aphids

Piercing sucking

These small, soft-bodied insects are covered in a white, woolly wax and commonly infest alder trees, feeding by piercing leaves and sucking sap. Their...

“hyperparasitoids” of Primary parasitoids

Marietta sp.

“Hyper-parasites” of the “primary parasites” levels are too high, but can can reduce control when the actually help stabilize control....

“Less-toxic” Ant Controls

Standard ant control, stem barrier

treatments of alpha-cypermethrin @ 10- 20 mL/L, 90 days control (from Addison Fipronil/Mollasis baits (<0.001% a.i.) and keep ants out of vines...

“Plant lice”

Small, soft-bodied insects commonly found on tender new growth, plant lice (aphids) feed by sucking sap from a wide variety of landscape plants, causi...

Asian Woolly Hackberry Aphid

These tiny, soft-bodied insects cluster on hackberry trees, producing a white, woolly waxy covering that coats leaves and stems. Their feeding causes ...

Identification. Woolly pine

Note the yellow to brown lesion on

scale infestations are easily iden- tified by the masses of woolly wax on the needles, branches and shoots (Figure 5). Severe in- festations give the t...

Nematode

Pine sawyer

Pine Wilt and the Pinewood Bursaphelenchus...

Nematodes

Microscopic round worms

Reproduce sexually by eggs Spread by: infested plants, water, soil, debris Can affect entire plant Symptoms: root knots, galls,...

Populations of 1700 voles per acre in

Washington State apple orchards decreased production by 35%....