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Entomology Commons™

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Utah State University Extension

Articles 1 - 30 of 150

Full-Text Articles in Entomology

Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus Nenuphar), Kate V. Richardson, Marion Murray Jan 2024

Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus Nenuphar), Kate V. Richardson, Marion Murray

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Plum curculio is a brown weevil (beetle with a snout) native to eastern North America, where it is a major pest of pome and stone fruits. It was detected in Box Elder County, Utah, in the early 1980s, and this population remains the only known infestation in western North America, where it is occasionally found in residential and wild fruit trees. Plum curculio is a quarantine pest in western North America (U.S. and Canada), and fruit grown in infested counties is restricted from being exported. Thus, it is a threat to Utah’s fruit industry and requires ongoing monitoring and management …

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Locust Borer, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis Aug 2023

Locust Borer, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis

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The locust borer, Magacyllene robiniae, belongs to the longhorned beetle family, referring to the long antennae of most of the species in this group. In Utah, locust borer has damaged black locust trees in most northern Utah counties. The only host is black locust; honeylocust and other trees are not affected by this pest. This fact sheet describes locust borer and its life cycle, symptoms, and control.

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Poplar Bud Gall Mite, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis Aug 2023

Poplar Bud Gall Mite, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis

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The poplar bud gall mite belongs to the eriophyid mite family. These mites are microscopic and about one-fourth the size of a spider mite. Adults are about 0.2 mm in length, reddish, and spindle-shaped. This fact sheet reviews poplar bud gall mite biology and habits, damage, and control.

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Red Firebug, Kate V. Richardson, Erin Hodgson Aug 2023

Red Firebug, Kate V. Richardson, Erin Hodgson

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Red firebugs, Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae), are true bugs with vibrant red body and wing coloration. These insects are native to central Europe, but are also found in western Siberia, southwestern Mongolia, India and northwestern China. This fact sheet describes red firebug, host plants, nuisance behavior, and management.

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Poplar Borer, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis Aug 2023

Poplar Borer, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis

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The poplar borer is the most commonly submitted wood borer found in aspens and other poplars in Utah. While large trees are seldom killed by this pest, it can cause the decline of trees, weakening of branches or the bole (which promotes wind breakage), and allows the introduction of pathogens. This fact sheet describes poplar borer life cycle, damage, and control.

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Escarabajo Japonés, Lori Spears, Diane Alston, Marion Murray, Joey Caputo, Kristopher Watson, Celina Wille Aug 2023

Escarabajo Japonés, Lori Spears, Diane Alston, Marion Murray, Joey Caputo, Kristopher Watson, Celina Wille

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El escarabajo Japonés es una plaga invasora que puede ser muy destructiva para plantas ornamentales, árboles, arbustos, césped, y algunas frutas y hortalizas. El EJ probablemente se introdujo desde Japón al este de los EE. UU. en 1916 durante envíos de plantas ornamentales. Ahora está establecido en la mayoría de los estados del este y algunos del medio oeste.

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Mosca Linterna Moteada, Lori R. Spears, Ann Mull, Celina Wille, Marion Murray Aug 2023

Mosca Linterna Moteada, Lori R. Spears, Ann Mull, Celina Wille, Marion Murray

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La mosca linterna moteada es una nueva saltahojas invasiva en Norteamérica. Es originaria del norte de China y se ha extendido a otras partes de Asia, incluidos Vietnam, Japón y Corea del Sur, donde está causando daños significativos a la vid.

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Picudos En El Césped, Desireè Wickwar, Ricardo Ramírez, Marion Murray, Celina Wille Aug 2023

Picudos En El Césped, Desireè Wickwar, Ricardo Ramírez, Marion Murray, Celina Wille

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Los picudos son gorgojos, un tipo de escarabajo, del género Sphenophorus. Al menos 10 especies de picudos se reconocen como plagas del césped, y se pueden encontrar tanto en céspedes estivales como invernales en todo Estados Unidos.

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Beginner's Guide To Common Native Bees, Cody Zesiger, Elizabeth Cohen, Hannah Jarvis, Lori R. Spears, Ricardo Ramirez Jul 2023

Beginner's Guide To Common Native Bees, Cody Zesiger, Elizabeth Cohen, Hannah Jarvis, Lori R. Spears, Ricardo Ramirez

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Utah is a superb place for beginning bee enthusiasts. Over 1,000 species of native bees exist in Utah (Cane, 2015). Southern Utah alone has approximately the same number of bee species as the entire eastern U.S. coast. There are many reasons for appreciating bees and encouraging their presence in the landscape. Specifically, bees are key to a sustainable environment as they are essential pollinators of food and fiber crops. Bees can also be appreciated for their striking diversity in color and size. This fact sheet highlights the different bee species that you may see in Utah.

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Boxelder Leafroller, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis Jul 2023

Boxelder Leafroller, Marion Murray, Ryan Davis

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The boxelder leafroller, Archips negundana, is a pest of boxelder and other trees and shrubs in parts of the United States and Canada and is commonly found in Utah. Boxelder is the primary host, but damage can also occur on raspberry, birch, elderberry, white elm, and various shrubs.This fact sheet provides information on the boxelder leafroller's life cycle, symptoms of damage, and control methods.

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Ticks And Tick-Borne Diseases Of Utah, Kate V. Richardson, Ryan Davis, Ricardo Ramirez Jul 2023

Ticks And Tick-Borne Diseases Of Utah, Kate V. Richardson, Ryan Davis, Ricardo Ramirez

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This fact sheet describes ticks and tick-borne diseases in Utah. It includes a description of ticks, their life cycle, habitat, feeding, and reproduction. The fact sheet also provides information about tick bites and safety, common tick-transmitted diseases in Utah, and the status of Lyme disease in Utah.

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Balsam Woolly Adelgid, Liz Rideout, Kate V. Richardson, Diane G. Alston, Ryan Davis, Darren Mcavoy, Lori R. Spears, Danielle Malesky, Liz Herbertson, Colleen Keyes Jun 2023

Balsam Woolly Adelgid, Liz Rideout, Kate V. Richardson, Diane G. Alston, Ryan Davis, Darren Mcavoy, Lori R. Spears, Danielle Malesky, Liz Herbertson, Colleen Keyes

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This fact sheet describes balsam woolly adelgid, a tiny sucking insect that is a serious pest of true firs in forests, landscapes, and in seed and Christmas tree production. It includes a description of tree injury and symptoms, life history and identification, monitoring, management, and implications to forest health.

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Hobo Spider, Kate V. Richardson, Ryan Davis Apr 2023

Hobo Spider, Kate V. Richardson, Ryan Davis

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This fact sheet describes the hobo spider, its life cycle, habitat, medical significance, and management options.

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Carpenterworm, Dr. Jay B. Karren, Alan H. Roe, Ryan Davis Mar 2023

Carpenterworm, Dr. Jay B. Karren, Alan H. Roe, Ryan Davis

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The larval stage of the carpenterworm, Prionoxystus robiniae is a wood-boring insect that affects various ornamental trees. Unlike most other wood-boring pests of ornamentals, which are mostly beetle larvae, the carpenterworm is a caterpillar belonging to the moth family Cossidae.

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Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus Planipennis [Fairmaire]), Emily A. Parent, Lori R. Spears, Ryan S. Davis, Ricardo Ramirez Jan 2023

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus Planipennis [Fairmaire]), Emily A. Parent, Lori R. Spears, Ryan S. Davis, Ricardo Ramirez

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Emerald ash borer (Order: Coleoptera: Family Buprestidae) (EAB) is an invasive wood-boring insect that infects the true ash species (Fraxinus spp.). EAB is native to parts of China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and small areas of Russia and Mongolia. EAB was first discovered in North America in June 2002 near Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and is thought to have arrived to North America via infested wood packing material. EAB is generally established in an area for several years before it is detected and can spread over large areas through active flight and human-mediated dispersal.

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Greenhouse Biocontrol In Utah: Beneficial Insects And The Pests They Target, Marion Murray Dec 2022

Greenhouse Biocontrol In Utah: Beneficial Insects And The Pests They Target, Marion Murray

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This guide provides information on biocontrol in Utah and pests that are targeted by beneficial pests, such as aphids, fungus gnats, mealybugs, scales, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies. Symptoms, monitoring, lifecycles, and biocontrol options are included.

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Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa Mandarinia Smith), Lori R. Spears, Carson Wise, Ryan Davis Dec 2022

Asian Giant Hornet (Vespa Mandarinia Smith), Lori R. Spears, Carson Wise, Ryan Davis

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This fact sheet describes Asian giant hornet and reviews similar-looking insects, its life cycle, predatory strategies, monitoring and management, and the related public health concerns.

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Pavement Ants (Tetramorium Immigrans Santschi), Ryan S. Davis, Lori R. Spears, Austin Taylor Dec 2022

Pavement Ants (Tetramorium Immigrans Santschi), Ryan S. Davis, Lori R. Spears, Austin Taylor

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This fact sheet describes pavement ants. It covers identification, biology and habits, and management.

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Japanese Beetle (Popillia Japonica Newman), Lori R. Spears, Diane G. Alston, Joey Caputo, Erin Hodgson, Cory Stanley, Kristopher Watson Dec 2022

Japanese Beetle (Popillia Japonica Newman), Lori R. Spears, Diane G. Alston, Joey Caputo, Erin Hodgson, Cory Stanley, Kristopher Watson

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This fact sheet describes Japanese beetles and reviews damage symptoms, life cycle, monitoring, and management.

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Making And Managing Wild Bee Hotels, Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears, Sheriden M. Hansen, Andree' Walker Bravo, Ricardo Ramirez, Jaydee Gunnell Nov 2022

Making And Managing Wild Bee Hotels, Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears, Sheriden M. Hansen, Andree' Walker Bravo, Ricardo Ramirez, Jaydee Gunnell

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Bee hotels (also called "bee boxes" and "bee blocks") are popular additions to Utah backyards and commercial agriculture alike, adding nesting habitat to aid local pollination efforts and address native pollinator declines. This fact sheet provides information about the construction, placement, and maintenance of bee hotels. It also addresses monitoring of bee enemies.

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Integrated Pest And Pollinator Management, Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears, Marion Murray, Ricardo Ramirez Sep 2022

Integrated Pest And Pollinator Management, Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears, Marion Murray, Ricardo Ramirez

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An inextricable link exists between humans and pollinators, with benefits that include ecosystem health and function and human food security. Bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, and beetles are responsible for most the world's pollination services. Considering the mounting scientific evidence denoting global pollinator declines, there is a critical need to prioritize pollinators and the essential services they provide. This fact sheet provides information about integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM), which goes beyond integrated pest management (IPM) to include proactive, preventive measures that consider pollinators as well as pests in horticulture management.

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Big Bud Disease In Tomatoes And Peppers, Claudia Nischwitz, Erin Petrizzo Apr 2022

Big Bud Disease In Tomatoes And Peppers, Claudia Nischwitz, Erin Petrizzo

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This fact sheet provides information on the symptoms of big bud on tomatoes and peppers. It reviews the disease cycle and recommendations on controlling beet leafhopper and managing big bud disease in Utah.

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Spongy Moth (Lymantria Dispar Dispar Linnaeus), Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears Apr 2022

Spongy Moth (Lymantria Dispar Dispar Linnaeus), Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears

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Spongy moths (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) are invasive leaf-eating (defoliating) pests that threaten trees and shrubs in urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. The spongy moth was accidentally introduced to the U.S. in 1869 by an amateur French entomologist in Massachusetts who sought to establish a hardier American silkworm industry. These moths now commonly occur in the northeastern U.S. and are also found in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, California, Oregon, and Washington. In Utah, according to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (2021), the spongy moth is anticipated to survive and multiply rapidly …

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Billbugs In Turfgrass (Sphenophorus Spp.), Desiree Wickwar, Ricardo Ramirez Mar 2022

Billbugs In Turfgrass (Sphenophorus Spp.), Desiree Wickwar, Ricardo Ramirez

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Billbugs are weevils, a type of beetle, in the genus Sphenophorus. At least 10 billbug species are known pests of turfgrass and can be found in both warm and cool season turfgrasses throughout the United States. Though billbug adults do feed on the leaves of turfgrasses, it is the larvae that cause visible damage. Larvae feed within the stems and on roots of grasses, leading to the development of yellow or brown patches, with the potential to escalate into large patches of dead turfgrass. Billbug management in turfgrass presents a number of unique challenges, but early monitoring and informed integration …

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Factors Contributing To Bee Decline, Ann Mull, Jaydee Gunnell, Sheriden M. Hansen, Ricardo Ramirez, Andree' Walker Bravo, Cody Zesiger, Lori R. Spears Feb 2022

Factors Contributing To Bee Decline, Ann Mull, Jaydee Gunnell, Sheriden M. Hansen, Ricardo Ramirez, Andree' Walker Bravo, Cody Zesiger, Lori R. Spears

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Bees provide an important ecosystem service by contributing to the pollination of crop and wild plant species. Many factors have been attributed to bee declines, including habitat loss, improper apiary management, pesticide usage, climate change, pests and pathogens, competition among native and introduced bee species, poor nutrition, and other factors (Koh et al., 2016; Goulson et al., 2015; Graves et al., 2020; Soroye et al., 2020). Acting together, these factors intensify the pressure for survival beyond the adaptability of many species. This fact sheet reviews the factors contributing to decline in bee populations and what can be done to protect …

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Lily Leaf Beetle, Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears Nov 2021

Lily Leaf Beetle, Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears

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The lily leaf beetle (LLB) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an important pest from Eurasia that threatens native and cultivated true lilies (Lilium spp.) and fritillaries (Fritillaria spp.). It is also known as the red lily leaf beetle or scarlet lily beetle. LLB was first reported in North America in Montréal, Canada, in 1945 and in the U.S. in 1992 in Massachusetts, likely arriving via European shipments of lily bulbs. LLB has been detected in nine of the 10 Canadian provinces and 14 U.S. states, including the New England states, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Washington (EDDMapS, 2021). Based on LLB’s native distribution …

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Gambel Oak Care, Shawn Olsen, Debbie Amundsen, Shital Poudyal Sep 2021

Gambel Oak Care, Shawn Olsen, Debbie Amundsen, Shital Poudyal

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Gambel oak is commonly called scrub oak, but other common names are Rocky Mountain white oak and Utah white oak. The scientific name is Quercus gambelii, after William Gambel, an American naturalist. This fact sheet reviews Gambel oak's usability in the landscape, its care, growth requirements, diseases and pests, and maintenance.

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Fire Blight In Utah: An Annual Management Guide, Marion Murray Jul 2021

Fire Blight In Utah: An Annual Management Guide, Marion Murray

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Fire blight is a serious disease of apple and pear trees. Because this disease spreads rapidly and symptoms are not visible until two weeks after infection, it can catch growers off-guard. Having a well-executed and integrated year-round management program can reduce losses from fire blight.

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Wireworms, Ryan Davis, Jay B. Karren, Alan H. Roe Aug 2020

Wireworms, Ryan Davis, Jay B. Karren, Alan H. Roe

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Wireworms are the larvae (immatures) of click beetles. Adults are elongate, slender, hardshelled beetles that take their name from their habit of flipping into the air (sometimes with an audible clicking sound) when they are placed on their backs. This fact sheet reviews the management of wireworms.

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Plagas Frutales: Pera, Marion Murray, Diane G. Alston May 2020

Plagas Frutales: Pera, Marion Murray, Diane G. Alston

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El fuego bacteriano es causado por una bacteria llamada Erwinia amylovora. Las peras son muy susceptibles al fuego bacteriano. Flores, ramitas terminales, y a veces ramas enteras o árboles mueren. Las condiciones ambientales que favorecen la infección son los días lluviosos calientes durante la floración. La lluvia, el rocío fuerte, y los insectos propagan las bacterias exudadas a las flores, donde las nuevas infecciones se producen

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