Insect pests

  • Interested in learning about integrated pest management options for blueberries? Need pesticide credits? Register for the Virtual Extension IPM Blueberry Field Day and join in next Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (EST). Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1714103849236858380

    Posted in: , , , , , , , , ,
  • Lesser cornstalk borer

    Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Zeller) Credit: Adaptation from original fact sheet published by University of Florida, 2020 Sydney Weigand (Ed.), 2025 Description Immature stages: Borer eggs are oval, measuring about 0.6 mm in length and 0.4 mm in width. When first deposited, they are greenish, soon turning pinkish, and eventually reddish. The number of instars, or developmental…

    Posted in: , , , , ,
  • A close-up shot of a fly on a white background. It is reddish-brown with red eyes and translucent wings.

    Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) Author: Ash Sial, Entomologist, University of Georgia, 2022 Description Immature stages: Larvae are white with a cylindrical body that tapers on one end, only 1/8”. Adult stages: Adults have a brownish-yellow thorax, black stripes across the abdomen, and distinct red eyes. Males have dark spots on wingtips and black combs on forelegs.…

    Posted in: , , , , , , ,
  • Mosquitoes

    A black bug with a long torso and six legs sits atop skin. Its mouthpiece pokes downwards to the skin.

    Diptera: Culicidae Author: Elmer Gray, Public Health Specialist & Entomologist, University of Georgia, 2022 Sydney Weigand (Ed.), 2025 Description Immature stages: During their first stage of development, larvae are small (about 1 mm) and almost see-through. As they progress through subsequent stages, they grow to nearly 1 cm. The pupal stage appears with the fourth…

    Posted in: , , , ,
  • Blueberry gall midge

    A close-up of a light brown bug with six long legs and a dark brown head.

    Dasineura oxycoccana (Johnson) Author: Craig Roubos, Ash Sial, Entomology, University of Georgia Description Immature stages: Eggs are oval-shaped, transparent and very small. Larvae are legless and white in color when newly hatched. As larvae mature, they darken and become orange by the time they are ready to pupate. Mature larvae have a unique feature called…

    Posted in: , , , , , ,
  • Cat flea

    A close up of a bug suspended in liquid. It is reddish-brown and has six legs, the back two of which are much longer than the others.

    Ctenocephalides felis (Bouche) Credit: Modification from UFL IFAS Feature Creature Publication, 2021 Description Immature stages: Cat flea eggs are oval, smooth and about 0.5 mm in length. Because the female flea is on the host, when she produces eggs they sift through the host’s fur and fall into the environment, collecting in areas where the…

    Posted in: , ,
  • Plum curculio

    A brown, white, and black bug with two segments.

    Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) Author: Brett Blaauw, Fruit Entomologist, University of Georgia, 2021 Description Immature stages: The larvae tunnel and feed in developing fruit, usually boring to the pit. Larvae are yellowish-white, legless, brownheaded grubs, about 3/8 inch (6-9 mm) long when fully grown. Adult stages: Adults are small, about 1/4 inch (4-6 mm) long, brownish-black…

    Posted in: , , ,
  • San Jose scale

    A close-up view of a purple-ish branch that is covered in round gray and white growths.

    Comstockaspis perniciosus Author: Brett Blaauw, Fruit Entomologist, University of Georgia, 2021 Description Immature stages: The mobile stage of San Jose scale (SJS) immatures, known as ‘crawlers,’ are yellow, somewhat oval, and minute at about 1/100 inch long. Adult stages: Adult females are yellow, circular, sac-like insects. They secrete and live beneath a protective round gray-brown…

    Posted in: , ,
  • Coleoptera: Scolytidae Authors: David Coyle, Brady Self, James Floyd, John Riggins, Southern Regional Extension Forestry (SREF), 2018 Description Four species of Ips bark beetles (commonly known as Ips engraver beetles or Ips beetles) occur throughout pure and mixed pine forests in the southeastern U.S.: the six-spined ips (Ips calligraphus), the pine engraver (Ips pini), the…

    Posted in: , , , ,
  • Cowpea curculio

    A round black bug with faint white markings. It sits on top of a bean pod. It has six legs and a probiscus.

    Chalcodermus aeneus (Boheman) Author: David Riley, Stormy Sparks, and Sydni Barwick, University of Georgia, 2019 Description Immature stages: Females lay eggs, which are white, oval in shape, and are less than a centimeter in length, into pods. These consequently hatch into small white grubs that damage the seed (middle image). The duration of the egg…

    Posted in: , , , ,