ORNAMENTALSAND
TURF
ORNAMENTALS
The information and recommendations in this newsletter are applicable to North Carolina and may not apply in other areas.
Hollywood has conveniently timed the release of the movie Godzilla with the emergence of the giant resin bee (Megachile sculturalis). This introduced bee lives in old carpenter bee holes, or any narrow cavity or tube 5/16 inch wide or wider. It slightly resembles a bumble bee, but is much slimmer. These bees generally, do not sting, and do not do damage to buildings they inhabit. They do pollinate trees and shrubs, such as goldenrain tree, privet, kudzu and others. No control measures would seem necessary. For more information, consult Ornamental and Turf Insect Note No. 110.
Japanese beetles are developing underground and should be emerging soon. A good soaking rain will help to release them from the soil. When used properly, Japanese beetle traps can suppress Japanese beetle populations up to 30 percent if a large enough area is trapped (perhaps a whole neighborhood). The problem is that the traps are so much better at attracting the beetles than actually catching them so you get more beetles in the vicinity of the trap than in the trap. This is especially true if the bags are not emptied regularly. Once the beetles begin to rot in the bag, ammonia repels live beetles from the immediate vicinity of the trap. However, the bait keeps on calling the beetles for a much greater distance than the ammonia repels them. If you use traps at least place them away from plants that are to be protected and empty them every day.
Sevin and other pesticides are labeled for Japanese beetles and are effective in controlling them as long as the residue remains on the plant. It is recommended that persons do not try to control Japanese beetles on flowers using chemicals. There is additional information on the biology and control of Japanese beetles in Ornamentals and Turf Insect Note No. 44.
The cottony maple leaf scale insect and the cottony camellia scale insect are the two most common Pulvinaria scale insects in North Carolina. The cottony maple leaf scale sometimes infests holly and maple, but it seems to be most common on dogwoods in North Carolina. The cottony camellia scale infests camellia and taxus. Heavily-infested trees may exhibit dieback. The month of June is a good time to spray insecticide for Pulvinaria scales as the lady beetles that specialize on feeding within the egg sacs of the scales will have then departed for their aestivating sites and the crawlers and young scales are exposed on the leaves. Sevin is very effective. Ornamentals and Turf Insect Note No. 37 provides more information on the biology and control of Pulvinaria scales, and should be available in county extension centers in North Carolina.
The oak lecanium scale is one of our largest soft scale pests of oaks. Oak lecanium scales are not easy to control during most of the year, apparently because these insects are protected by a thin layer of wax that repels pesticides. In April and May the eggs are laid under the mother scales. The eggs resemble fine pollen. Because of the shelter of the dead mother scale, the eggs are protected from pesticides. However, in May their eggs hatch and by late June the crawlers are out from under the dead mother scales and are exposed and susceptible to pesticides. Diazinon is specifically labeled for lecanium scale insects, but malathion, Mavrik, Orthene, Sevin, and Talstar are labeled for scale insects or scale crawlers. Any of these pesticides should give adequate control if applied thoroughly. Ornamentals and Turf Insect Note No. 36 offers additional information on the biology and control of lecanium scale insects.
Euonymus scale has been active for a while, but it is not too late to spray. This is the most important pest reported on euonymus. Ornamental and Turf Insect Note No. 15 has more information about the life history of this pest.
Wax scales secrete a noticeable white, sticky covering. Our most
common wax scale is called the Indian wax scale because of its
origin in India. June is the optimum time to spray insecticide for
management of this pest as the crawlers are exposed on the bark.
Sevin will provide excellent control. Ornamentals and Turf Insect
Note No. 13 provides more information on the biology and control
on the Indian wax scale, and should be available in the county
extension centers in North Carolina.
Web page last updated on June 8, 1998 by Stephen J. Toth, Jr..
