Filtering by tag: urban trees ✕

Calico Scales About to Hatch!

Calico scale, Eulecanium cerasorum, was accidentally introduced to California from Asia in the 1920s. It has now become established in many eastern and north-central states. Calico scales attack…

Imported will leaf beetle on willow. Photo: SD Frank

Imported Willow Leaf Beetles

Imported willow leaf beetle (Plagiodera versicolor) are common on willows in landscapes and natural areas. Most of year adults and larvae are feeding on willows. The adults are iridescent black to…

Tulip tree aphids with a brown parasitized aphid mummy and yellow lady beetle eggs. Photo: SD Frank

Tulip Tree Aphids and Scales Feeding and Dropping Honeydew

Tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) have two primary pests both of which produce honeydew and both of which are actively feeding now. Tulip tree scales are brown bumps that live and feed on…

Eastern tent caterpillar feeding on a cherry leaf. Photo: SD Frank

Eastern Tent Caterpillars

Eastern tent caterpillars are common native insects that create silk webs or 'tents' in the branch crotches of some tree species. Their favorites are rosaceous species such as cherry and apple. I…

Rosy maple moths are about an inch long and are pink and yellow. Photo: J. Baker

Prepare for Greenstripped Mapleworms

I got reports of rosy maple moths spotted around lights over the weekend. These beautiful moths are the adult form of greenstripped mapleworms which feed on maples each summer. They are many…

Crape myrtle bark scales on a branch collar of crape myrtle. Photo: SD Frank

Time to Scout for Crape Myrtle Bark Scale

Crape myrtles have typically been almost maintenance free (unless you top them) but with the new crape myrtle bark scale the will will require some pest management to stay healthy and beautiful.…

Oak eriococcid scales on a willow oak twig. Photo: AG Dale

Felt Scales on Oaks

Felt scales are a family of scales that include azalea bark scale (Acanthococcus azaleae), crape myrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae), European elm scale (Gossyparia spurius), and oak…

Oak lecanium scales and eggs on willow oak. Photo: SD Frank

Lecanium Scales Full of Eggs

Oak lecanium scale and European fruit lecanium are nearly identical soft scales that infest oaks and many other tree species including redbud, dogwood, maple, fruit trees, and others. In spring…

Cottony maple leaf scale, Pulvinaria acericola, ovisacs on dogwood leaves. Photo: SD Frank

Cottony Maple Leaf Scales Producing Eggs

Cottony Maple Leaf Scale is one of several cottony scales in the genus Pulvinaria. Cottony camellia scale and cottony maple scale are the other common species. You can find these now on their most…

Hypoaspis spp. larvae on willow oak bark. These are larve of specialist lady beetles that eat scale insects. Photo:SD Frank

Watch for Predators That Look Like Pests

Yesterday on campus willow oak trees I found lots of insects that looked like mealybugs. But they were faster than mealybugs and constantly moving around the tree bark. Mealybugs don’t move much. It…