Insect

Identification
Guide
for Southeastern
Landscapes
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How to use
this booklet
Go to the tab that best exemplifies the damage observed on
ornamental plants or turfgrass. Some insects are not easily seen.
Sometimes a magnifying glass or a microscope is needed. The
type of damage caused can provide evidence of the culprit. Not
all insects cause damage and many benefit your garden. You will
find many of these insects in the beneficial insects section of
this book.

Key
Size of the insect:
needs magnification to be observed
1/8” to 1/2” long
1/2” long or more

Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Before choosing a course of action about an insect in the garden,
remember the four principles of IPM:
• Monitor the garden
• Identify the insect or problem
• Evaluate the situation and predict the impact of the
damage, if any
• Make a decision about the best course of action and choose
your control methods

Consult your county Extension agent and state pest control

handbook regarding the choice of control methods. Always
follow pesticide labels and use proper precautions before handling
pesticides.

authors: Skaku Nair, Kris Braman and Ellen Bauske

photographs: Bugwood.org

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Pest insects of ornamental plants

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Pretty or pest?
Some insects, especially those that cause chewing damage to
plants, are beautiful additions to the garden at later stages in their
life. Take a look at the caterpillars and see what they become
before you decide to take action.

D. Cappaert
D. Cappaert

Cabbage butterfly larva Cabbage butterfly

C.T. Bryson
P. Wirtz

Monarch butterfly larva Monarch butterfly

S. McKeever

S. Katovich

Tiger swallowtail larva Tiger swallowtail butterfly

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Chewing damage
Chewing
damage
CLUES Scraped or chewed leaves or flowers. Frass and
webbing.

Examples

S. Katovich
M. Zubrik

Dow Gardens Archive

G. Csoka

possible culprits
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Beetles

Landesforstpräsidium Sachsen
L.S. Dalen
Flea beetles (adults) Flea beetles (larvae)
D. Cappaert

J. N. Dell

Japanese beetles (adults) Tortoise beetle

P. Weston

M. Zubrik

Viburnum leaf beetle (adult) Viburnum leaf beetle (larvae)

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Caterpillars

C. Evans

E.R. Day
Azalea caterpillar Bagworm

R. F. Billings
M. Zubrik

Fall webworm Oak leaf caterpillar

D. Cappaert

G. Lenhard

Tent caterpillar Yellownecked caterpillar

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Grasshoppers & Sawflies

R. Ottens

D. Riley
American grasshopper Differential grasshopper
B. Kunkel

L. Graney

Bristly roseslug sawfly (larva) Oak sawfly (larva)

J. A. Weidhass
G.J. Lenhard

Redheaded pine sawfly (larvae) Roseslug sawfly (larva)

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Dieback
damage
CLUES Unusual wilting, drying or death of a branch or
twig on an otherwise healthy plant.

Dieback damage
Examples
L.L. Hyche

J. O’Brien
PA Dept.Conserv. Nat. Res. Forest

J. Solomon

possible culprits
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Scales
Armored Scales

Clemson Univ.-USDA Coop.Ext.

Clemson Univ.-USDA Coop.Ext.

Euonymus scale Tea scale

Soft Scales

J.A. Weidhass
A.J. Boone

Lecanium scale Wax scale

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Dieback
damage
MORE In addition to unusual wilting or drying, look for
CLUES frass in branch crotches or frass ‘toothpicks.’

Examples
Pa. Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources – Forestry Archive

J. R. Baker / S.B. Bambara

possible culprits
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Borers

D. Cappaert
D. Cappaert
Emerald ash borer (adult) Emerald ash borer (larva)

B.W. Kauffman
D. Cappaert

Flat-headed apple tree borer (adult) Flat-headed apple tree borer (larva)
D. Cappaert

J. Hulcr

Goldenrod locust borer Granulate ambrosia beetle

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Distortion
damage
Abnormally shaped or colored deformation of
CLUES plant parts. Some of these can also be symptoms
of plant diseases.

Galls

Distortion damage
R. F. Billings
S. Kinelski

INRA-Bordeaux
S. Katovich

possible culprits
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Insects & mites that
make galls

S.P. van Vuuren

W. Cranshaw

Adelgid Psyllid
S. McKeever

T. Wootten

Cynipid wasp Eriophyid mite (adult)

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C.E. Younce W. Cranshaw

Aphid

Thrips
Leaf curling Culprits

W. Cranshaw J.A. Weidhass

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Leaf mines Culprits

S.K. Braman

M. Dreiling
Azalea leaf damage Azalea leaf miner (moth)

J. Baker
J. Baker

Boxwood leaf damage Boxwood leaf miner (fly)

G. Csoka

J. Baker

Holly leaf damage Holly leaf miner (fly)

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Stippling
damage
Chlorotic spots. Also look for frass, cast skins and
CLUES webbing.

Examples

W. Cranshaw
S. Nair

Clemson Univ.-USDA Coop.Ext.

Stippling damage
W. Cranshaw

possible culprits
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Lace bugs

J. Baker
J. Baker
Azalea lace bug Hawthorn lace bug

Mites
J.A. Weidhass

F. Peairs

Southern red mites and eggs Two-spotted spider mite

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Pest insects of turf

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Pest
insects of
turfgrass

While visual evidence of insect damage to turfgrass is often seen

above ground, damage can be caused by insects that live either
above ground or below ground. Proceed to the tabbed section
that best exemplifies observable damage.

Sampling
Several techniques are used to confirm the presence of insects
in turgrass.

Sampling method key

Flotation sampling

Soap flush sampling

Soil sampling

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Above ground
Above
ground pests
CLUES Chewed or shredded leaves, leaves with
shot-holes, cut stems, abnormal yellowing or
drying of leaves. Also look for frass, webbing or
spittle-like substance on leaves.

Examples of damage

S.K. Braman
S.K. Braman

S.K. Braman

possible culprits
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Chewing pests

North Carolina Forest Service

N. Wright
Armyworm (larva) Armyworm adult (moth)

B.R.Wiseman
S.K.Braman

Fall armyworm (larva) Fall armyworm adult (moth)

J. Lawrence
J. Berger

Billbug adult Sod webworm adult (moth)

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Chewing pests

A. Sisson
A. Sisson

Black cutworm (larva) Black cutworm adult (moth)

W. Cranshaw

A. Sisson

Bronzed cutworm (larva) Bronzed cutworm adult (moth)

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

I. Kimber

Variegated cutworm (larva) Variegated cutworm adult (moth)

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Sucking pests

S..K. Braman
S..K. Braman
Chinch bug (adults) Chinch bug (nymphs)

S.K. Braman
J.N. Dell

Spittle bug (adult) Spittle bug (nymph)

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Below ground
pests
CLUES Abnormal yellow, brown, wilted or dried up
patches of turfgrass.

Below ground
Examples of damage
Photo Credit

Photo Credit
Photo Credit

S.K. Braman

possible culprits
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Possible culprits

W. Cranshaw
Billbug (larva)
D. Cappaert

T.S. Price

May-June beetle (grubs) May-June beetle (adults)

Clemson Univ. – USDA Coop. Ext.
UGA Archive

Mole crickets Mole crickets

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Beneficial insects

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Beneficial
insects in the
landscape

Beneficial insects include predators and parasitoids. They prey

on pest insects or use them as hosts for the parasitoids’ young.
Such insects are beneficial because they remove pests from
the environment.

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Predators
Predators

Predators prey on pest insects. Predators are generally

larger, faster and stronger than their prey and often
capture and eat many individuals during their life cycle.

Example

C.M. Abraham

predators
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Beetles

Clemson Univ.-USDA Coop.Ext.

J. Berger
Ground beetle Lady beetle larvae, eggs and adult

S. McKeever
J. Yuschock

Rove beetle Tiger beetle

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Dragonflies

D. Cappaert

G. Braman
Dragonfly Dragonfly

Damselflies

G. Braman
J.N. Dell

Damselfly Damselfly

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Flies

E.L. Manigault
D. Cappaert
Long-legged fly Robber fly

A.N. Sparks Jr.

S. Ellis

Syrphid fly (adult) Syrphid fly (larva) with aphid prey

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Lacewings

C. Moorehead
J. Berger

Brown lacewing Dusty wing

W. Cranshaw
F. Peairs

Green lacewing Lacewing eggs

W. Cranshaw

Lacewing larva
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Mantids

W.Cranshaw
W.Cranshaw
Praying mantid adult Praying mantid egg case

Wasps
C.M.Abraham

S.Ellis

Paper wasp Sphecid wasp

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Spiders & Mites

D. Cappaert

R. Ottens
Flower spider Green lynx spider

D. Cappaert
D. Cappaert

Spiny orb weaver Zipper spider

C. Ray

C. Ray

Predatory mite Predatory mite

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True bugs

W.Cranshaw

B.Higbee
Assassin bug Big-eyed bug

J. Ruberson
W.Beck

Damsel bug Minute pirate bug

H.A.Pase III
F.E.French

Predatory stink bug Wheel bug

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Parasitoids

Parasitoids are insects that live and develop as parasites on

other insects (hosts) and eventually kill them. Parasitoids

Parasitoids
usually complete their development on a single individual
host.

Parasitoids at work

S.K. Braman
S.K. Braman

Azalea lace bug egg parasitoid Parasitized lace bug egg with exit hole
W. Cranshaw
D. Cappaert

Mummified (top) and healthy aphids Parasitoid larva inside mummified aphid

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Parasitoids at work

K.Chamberlain
P.J.Pugliese
Parasitized caterpillar Parasitized caterpillar with eggs
F.Starr & K.Starr

parasitoids
Parasitized stink bug with egg

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Flies & Wasps

S. McKeever
R.Ottens

Tachinid fly Tachinid fly

S. Bauer

R. Ryan

Braconid wasp Eulophid wasp

USDA ARS Photo Unit
R. Ryan

Ichneumonid wasp Pteromalid wasp

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Useful terms
Bugs
“True bugs” are insects belonging to the suborder Heteroptera,
under order Hemiptera. Sometimes “bugs” is misused as a generic
term for insects.
Cast skins
Dried skins left by immature insects after they molt.
Chlorotic spots
Pale yellow, green or white spots on leaves caused when sucking
pests draw out plant sap.
Frass
Insect fecal matter.
Larva(e)
Immature insects that do not resemble the adult(s).
Nymph(s)
Immature insects that resemble the adult.
Predator
Insects or other organisms that prey on other insects. Predators
are generally larger, faster and stronger than their prey and often
capture and eat many individuals during their life cycle.
Parasitoids
Insects that live and develop as parasites on other insects (hosts)
and eventually kill them. Parasitoids usually complete their
development on a single individual host.
Flotation sampling
Method to sample turf insects (e.g., chinch bugs), done by
inserting one end of a hollow, cylindrical container into the
turfgrass and filling it with water. Insects, if present, will float to
the top and can be counted.
Soap flush sampling
Method to sample turf insects (e.g., sod webworms and
other caterpillars), done by drenching a unit area of turfgrass
(e.g., 2’ x 2’) with soapy water (2 fl. oz. liquid dish detergent in
1 gal. water). Caterpillars, if present, get irritated by the soap and
crawl to the surface, and can be counted and identified.
Soil sampling
Method to sample soil-dwelling insects (e.g., white grubs and bill
bug grubs), done by digging about 6 inches deep into a unit area
of soil (e.g., 1’ x 1’), at several points over the turfgrass. Grubs, if
present, will be exposed and can be counted.

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and
Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Award No. 2009-41530-05560.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this

publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. Cooperative Extension, the
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, offers
educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race,
color, national origin, age, gender or disability.

The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and

affirmative action.

Bulletin 1409 August 2012

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