Category: News

Pest of the Month November 2012 – Ficus Whitefly (Singhiella simplex) – (Pest Alert)

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 …

Continue reading

Pest of the Month September 2012 – Rust on Tree Heliotrope

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: …

Continue reading

Pest of the Month August 2012 – Asian Citrus Psyllid

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 …

Continue reading

Pest of the Month July 2012 – Plumeria Stem Borer (Lagocheirus undatus)

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 …

Continue reading

Pest of the Month June 2012 – Laurel Wilt

Fungus: Raffaelea lauricola Hosts: avocado, camphor (Lauraceae family) Distribution: Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina Symptoms: Infects the sapwood, restricting the flow of water and causing the leaves to wilt.  Wilted trees may exhibit small dowels or “toothpicks” of sawdust protruding from the stem produced by the ambrosia beetles as they bore into the wood Vector: …

Continue reading

Pest of the Month May 2012 – Asian Long-Horned Beetle (Pest Alert)

Hosts: hardwood trees (primarily genera Acer, Populus, Salix, and Ulmus, but also Aesculus, Albizia, Betula, Cercidiphyllum, Fraxinus, Platanus, Prunus, and Sorbus).  Acer is the most common. Distribution: Native to China and Korea.  First discovered in the U.S.in 1996.  Has been found in New York, Calfornia, Washington State, Illinois, and New Jersey. Symptoms: Dead trees due …

Continue reading

Pest of the Month April 2012 – Hibiscus Erineum Mite

Hosts:  Hibiscus spp., particularly the Chinese red hibiscus Distribution: Hawaii- all of the major islands; Tonga, Fiji, and other Pacific areas; Australia Damage: (1)  Unsightly leaf, stem, and twig galls Management: (1)  Biological control – predatory mites (2)  Cultural control – consider replacing with another type of hibiscus less susceptible or with another type of plant. (3) …

Continue reading

Pest of the Month March 2012 – South American Palm Weevil

Hosts: Coconut, sago palm, Canary Island date palm, date palm, sugarcane, papaya, citrus, mango, guava, Fosberg breadfruit, banana, avocado, cocoa, and many others Distribution: South America, Mexico, Caribbean.  It has been found in California and Texas but does not appear to be well-established. Description: Large, black weevil 1.3” long and 0.6” wide.  Shiny when it …

Continue reading

Pest of the Month February 2012 – Fiorinia phantasma

Hosts: Most commonly palms (coconut, Manila, areca, foxtail, and bottle palms) as well as kamani, shower tree, Ficus benjamina, maio, Madagascar olive, hala, mock orange, wax leaf privet, and traveler’s palm Distribution: Philippines, Oahu, and Kihei/Wailea area of Maui Description: Armored scale.  Adult females inconsistently show red stripes the width of the scale covering with …

Continue reading

Pest of the Month January 2012 – Bacterial Leaf Spot of Hibiscus

 Host: Hibiscus and others, most commonly Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Distribution: Particularly in high rainfall areas like Kurtistown on the Big Island Symptoms: Lesions from 2-10 mmin diameter, usually surrounded by a two-color border (black next to tan-colored necrotic center and purplish-red next to the black)  Dispersion:  Primarily by splashing or windblown rain.  Infects through wounds …

Continue reading