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Planthoppers are sucking insects of the Fulgoridae family and related to leafhoppers and spittlebugs. They go by many names fulgorids, lightning leafhoppers, lanternflies and mealy flata. They are similar to, but larger than the leafhopper and are commonly found throughout the United States and southern Canada, but are probably more common in the southern states. The citrus Flatid planthopper feeds on many different trees and shrubs including ash, azalea, birch, camellia, cherry, citrus, dogwood, elm, holly, hickory, laurel, linden, magnolia, maple, pecan, privet, oak, redbud, seagrape, viburnum and all flowering fruit trees. The injury caused to ornamental plants is relatively minor, but young stems can be killed from slits made in the bark by females laying eggs. The nymphs which can be mistaken for mealybugs, because they are white and covered with long filaments of white waxy material that looks like cotton, can make the plant unsightly and affect its overall appearance. Eggs overwinter in the bark and hatch in the Spring, nymphs begin feeding on the underside of succulent leaves or tender young shoots. If disturbed they jump quickly like leafhoppers. Adults can vary from brown to gray and are attracted at night to ultraviolet light. Another species, Ormenis septentrionalis is commonly found throughout most of the United States east of the Great Plains and feeds on shrubs and woody vines that include boxwood, catalpa, Japanese cherry, dahlia, hawthorn, honeysuckle, lilies, mulberry, privet and especially, viburnum. Trunks and branches become unsightly from the white filament covering that conceals the young green nymphs. The adults which can be found in the garden in August and September are larger than the Citrus Flatid planthopper and have prominent blue-green wings. There is only 1 generation per year and control is seldom necessary.
Psyllids, often known as jumping plant lice, are small sucking insects, usually less than 1/4" in size, they are related to aphids and belong to the Psyllidae family. Most psyllids are host specific, if not to the species, then to the genus. Willow is a host to more species of Psylla than any other plant group in North America. There are 29 genera and about 161 species of psyllids in the Americas. Most species feed on ornamental trees and shrubs and include alder, apple, arborvitae, birch, boxelder, boxwood, ceanothus, currant, hazel, laurel, maple, mimosa, pear, pine, plum, raspberry, redbay, spruce, sumac, willow and others. Some psyllids such as the Pear psyllid feed on foliage, others such as the Boxwood psyllid feed on both buds and new leaves. The Hackberry psyllid, as well as several others, cause galls to form on the leaves and buds. Heavy feeding causes leaves to cup or curl, buds may not develop properly and there may be partial defoliation. Honeydew excretions may cover the foliage when populations are high and provide the medium for sooty mold fungus. For control insecticidal soap, orthene and malathion are recommended.
Rootworms are the larvae of beetles that feed on the roots of plants, but in their adult stage the beetles can be quite injurious to the foliage. In their adult stage they may be identified as beetles, but in the larvae stage they are identified as rootworms. For instance, the Southern Corn rootworm is the larvae of the Spotted Cucumber beetle. The two most troublesome to the garden (in the beetle stage) are the Cranberry Rootworm, which can be a serious problem for rhododendrons, camellias and other ornamentals and the Strawberry Rootworm, which affects strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, roses, peach trees, apple, walnut, butternut, Mt. Ash and several other hosts. |
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