AAA shares pest information regularly, so that industry professionals and the public can stay informed and help protect Hawaii's trees.
Apr 16
Distribution: Widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical Pacific, in Australia, and Asia Hosts: Croton, castor bean, Ficus, macadamia, and others. Damage: Caterpillar feeds on the leaves of hosts, leaving veins and petioles Control (a) There are several biological controls in Hawaii. (b) Some chemical control has been achieved using pyrethroids insecticides. Reference: Achaea …
Mar 18
Distribution: Southern California. Widespread in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Believed to have originated in Southeast Asia or Africa. This species appears to be a new, unnamed species so not much is known. It has also been found in Israel where it has done severe damage to avocado groves. Hosts: Avocado, castor bean, others. Attacks …
Feb 26
Most of the info below is for B. longissma. Distribution: Native to Indonesia andPapua New Guinea. Found in Australia, many Pacific Islands, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, the Maldives, Myanmar, and China Hosts: Coconut palms preferred, attacks more than 20 palm species including royal palm, Alexandra palm,Californiafan palm, Mexican fan palm, bottle palm, Chinese …
Feb 07
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has requested that the green waste generated from pruning or removing a Lobate Lac Scale (LLS) infested plant be left at the site where it originated to reduce the risk of spreading this pest around Oahu. For example, chipped green waste from a tree can be left as …
Feb 01
Symptoms: Light-colored or brown necrotic speckling, and scorching of the leaf tips or margins. Show on lower, older leaves first. Advanced symptoms include reduced crown size and smaller trunk diameter (penciling). New leaves may be small, frizzled, and chlorotic. Plant death is possible. Causes: Soil is infertile and inherently low in K Potassium in soil …
Feb 01
Lobate lac scale (Paratachardina pseudolobata) was discovered on Oahu at Moanalua Gardens during the Hawaii Tree Climbing Championship the first weekend in October 2012. To the large gathering of arborists, it was obvious that something was wrong with a weeping banyan (Ficus benjamina) there. It had major dieback and the part that wasn’t dead was …
Jan 11
Distribution: Native to southeastern Asia. Introduced to U.S. – Florida (2007), California (2012) Hosts: various Ficus species (F. bengalensis, F. benjamina, F. microcarpa), Rhododendron indica Damage: Feeding may cause yellowing of leaves, defoliation, and branch dieback. High populations stunt growth of young trees. Field ID: adults have white wings with faint grayish-brown markings and dark …
Oct 22
Distribution: Hawaiian Islands – Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai. However, it only infects trees in a few locations on each island. Damage: Small leaves with powdery cinnamon to dark chocolate rust pustules on top and bottom leaf surfaces; brown, necrotic leaf spots; leaf curling and yellowing; leaf death, premature defoliation, tree decline Management: …
Sep 19
Hosts: Restricted to Citrus and closely related Rutaceae, such as mock orange Distribution: Hawaiian Islands – Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai. Other U.S. – Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, Puerto Rico, andGuam. Also found in southeast Asia, South America, Middle East, and the Caribbean Damage: Stunting and twisting of …
Sep 19
i) Hosts: Plumeria spp. ii) Symptoms: Small hole(s) in the side of the stem with black ooze dripping out, shriveled stems iii) Control: Prune the affected branch from the plant and destroy completely. Insecticides are ineffective. References: Plumeria, University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Cooperative Extension Service, Ornamental Flowers …