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Ornamentals and Turf |
Boxwood leafminer adults are taking wing. The tiny flies emerge as the new tender, pale foliage of the boxwood expands. The female mosquito-sized midge will lay an egg in the underside of the leaf. As the tiny fly larva feeds between the leaf surfaces, discolored spots will appear on the upper leaf surface. An application of Orthene now or in the coming weeks will minimize the effect of this insect. Merit (imidacloprid) is also very effective but expensive, so it might be used more for high value or specimen shrubs. Ornamental and Turf Insect Note No. 16 contains aditional information on boxwood leafminers.
It is not common, but if conditions are right hoards of collembola (springtails) may cover lawns, sidewalks or driveways. Springtails are among the smallest insects in the home landscape. They are flea-like and barely visible. Springtails possess a forked structure folded under the body that when flicked, allows it to catapult around quite well. Springtails may differ in size, shape and color. They are slightly smaller than a flea and do not bite. Springtails prefer moist environments and feed on decaying plant material, fungi, etc. and are most often seen in mulch. Sometimes they may annoy people if they occur by the millions in a yard and show up on the foundation, the driveway or in the swimming pool. If they are very prolific, they may occur indoors on floors.
Control measures are not very effective. If desired, they can be hosed off of hard outdoor surfaces with or without a little soap added. Infestations are short lived and rarely justify the expense of control. Determined homeowners may use one of the available lawn products containing a pyrethroid such as permethrin, bifenthrin or cypermethrin. For more information, see Ornamental and Turf Insect Note No. 123.
Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
Last modified on April 26, 2004 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr.