Category: Pests

AAA shares pest information regularly, so that industry professionals and the public can stay informed and help protect Hawaii's trees.

Pest of the Month August 2010 – Cuban Laurel Thrips

 Host:  Ficus sp., citrus, and occasionally orchids Distribution: Hawaii, Florida, California, Texas, Guam, and other tropical areas Symptoms:  Sunken purplish spots along midrib and tight curling of young leaves, which become hard and tough and eventually fall off.  Young leaves are susceptible. Management:  Biological control including green lacewing larvae and ladybird beetles.  For ornamental trees, …

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Pest of the Month July 2010 – Colletotrichum Leaf Spot on Red Sealing Wax Palm

Host:  Red sealing wax palms (Cyrtostachys renda Blume) Symptoms:  Small, water-soaked dark green spots that expand into circular spots with tan to light brown centers bordered by water-soaked tissue on foliage.  The size of necrotic areas increases as spots coalesce.  Young leaves are susceptible.  Leaf petioles and sheaths are also infected. Spread by: water splashing …

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Pest of the Month June 2010 – Monkeypod Moths

Monkeypod Moths (Melipotis indomita, Ascalapha odorata, and Polydesma umbricola) Distribution:  all major Hawaiian Islands Hosts:  Monkeypods (M. indomita also attacks kiawe) Symptoms:  Defoliation.  Webbing with frass on trunk bark. Management:  Management is not usually necessary.  If a tree is particularly stressed, insecticide can be applied to the trunk bark. Sources: Description and Life Cycle of …

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Pest of the Month May 2010 – Pacific Beetle Roach

Distribution: Asia, Pacific Islands, and Hawaii Hosts: Cypress and juniper Symptoms:  Dead areas in crowns (orange/brown).  Roaches girdle branches by eating the bark. Management:  Remove leaf litter from crown and below tree (nesting area for roaches). Sources: Pacific beetle mimic Diploptera punctata Norfolk Island Pine Culture, University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service Circular 453, March 1972, p. …

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Pest of the Month April 2012 – Black Twig Borer

Black Twig Borer Xylosandrus compactus (Eichoff) Distribution: Hawaiian Islands. Native to Asia, found in coffee growing areas of the world Hosts:  Over 200 plant species including coffee, avocado, citrus, cacao, paperbark, Eucalyptus robusta, haole koa, guava, Christmasberry, lychee, macadamia, mango, mahogany, hibiscus, kukui,Surinam cherry, and podocarpus. Symptoms:  Pin-sized entry holes, twig death.  Severe infestations can kill …

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Pest of the Month March 2012 – Banana Moth

Distribution: Islands of Oahu and Hawaii Host:  Mortality in Hawaii has been found in Pritchardia sp., floribunda palm, foxtail palm, Manila palm, and coconut palm.  Alternate hosts include grasses, banana, and coffee as well as in any decaying vegetation Symptoms:  Browning of leaves, heart leaves easily pulled out with necrosis of living stem tissues beneath, heart …

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Pest of the Month February 2010 – Nettle Caterpillar

 Hosts:  Over 45 species of plants in 22 families.  Monocots preferred over dicots.  Common in palms, various grasses, ti leaf, iris, and most lilies including mondo.  Range: Most of east side of BigIsland, Kona district and Kohala district; Oahu (Central Oahu, Waimanalo, Waialua); and Maui (Haiku, Paia, Makawao, Wailuku, and Kihei) Symptoms:  Heavily damaged leaves, …

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Pest of the Month January 2010 – Sooty Mold

Hosts:  Any plant that hosts phloem-feeding insects and has honeydew on it Range: Throughout the world’s temperate and tropical regions Symptoms:  A black, non-parasitic superficial growth on plant surfaces that can be completely rubbed off with your fingers to reveal healthy plant tissue Spread through: airborne sooty mold spores Control: management is only warranted when …

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Pest of the Month November 2009 – Coconut Leafroller

Hosts:  Coconuts, bananas, native Pritchardias Range: All major Hawaiian Islands. More prevalent in windswept areas, possibly due to wind interference with parasitoids. Believed to be endemic to Hawaii. Symptoms:  Young larvae feed on underside of leaves beneath a protective thin web of silk. They leave the opposite epidermis intact. As they get older, they feed …

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Pest of the Month October 2009 – Phytophthora cinnamomi

Hosts:  Numerous, including koa, ohia,Norfolk pine, Eucalyptus sp., macadamia nut, hala, avocado, and strawberry guava Range: Hawaii, and most of the rest of the world (Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America, Central America, Caribbean, Micronesia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea) Symptoms:  primarily root rot in Hawaii plants, leading to dieback and death.  …

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