Mouthparts
and Feeding
Damage of
Ornamental Pests
The Head. The insect head serves a number of functions,
such as feeding and sensory perception.
Haustellate (sucking)
mouthparts
Mandibulate (chewing)
mouthparts
The Thorax. The thorax is primarily responsible for locomotion.
Made up of 3 segments, the prothorax, mesothorax, and
metathorax. A pair of legs arise from each segment. Wings,
if present, arise from meso-, and meta-thorax.
The Abdomen is responsible for excretion, and reproduction.
Proper identification is
essential in pest
management
Pests
of
Ornamentals
Different types of mouthparts:
• Sucking
• Rasping
• Chewing
• Foliage feeders
• Skeletonizers
• Borers
Results in different types of damage
Sucking & Rasping
Mouthparts
Feeding: may be specific sites required
Damage
Foliage appears bronzed, or stippled. Often looks like
nutrient or disease problem
Can result in wilting, and curling…even at uninfested locations
Aphids
Palm aphid
Asian Wooly Hackberry Aphid
S. Halbert
Aphid Damage
UF - IFAS
Sooty Mold
Lacebug
UF - IFAS
Lacebug Nymphs
UF - IFAS
Lacebug Damage
UF - IFAS
Leafhopper Nymph and Adult
Flanders-Auburn
Thrips
Thrips Nymph
UF - IFAS
Thrips Damage
UF - IFAS
Whitefly Adult
UF - IFAS
Whitefly Nymphs
UF - IFAS
Whitefly Damage
UF - IFAS
Silverleaf Whitefly
Scale Insect
Armored Scales: Florida Red Scale
UF, IFAS
Armored Scales: Tea Scale
UF - IFAS
Magnolia White Scale
UF - IFAS
Cycad Scale
Soft Scales: Florida Wax Scale
UF - IFAS
Soft Scale: Green Scale
UF - IFAS
Soft Scales: Hemispherical Scale
UF - IFAS
Soft Scales: Pyriform Scale
UF-IFAS
Mealybugs
UF - IFAS
Some predators may appear as pest
Two-Spotted Spider Mite
UF - IFAS
Spider-Mite Damage
UF - IFAS
Spider-Mite Webbing
UF - IFAS
Broad and Cyclamen Mite Damage
UF - IFAS
Chewing
Mouthparts
Foliage Feeders
Cabbage Palm Caterpillar
Oleander Caterpillar, Syntomeida epilais
Tussock Moth Caterpillars
Bagworms
Stinging Caterpillars
Io Moth Caterpillar
UF - IFAS
Saddleback Caterpillar
UF - IFAS
Eastern Lubber Grasshopper Nymph
UF - IFAS
Beetle Damage
Skeletonizers
Feed on leaf surface, leaving veins intact
Palm Leaf Skeletonizer
Borers
• Trunk and stem borers
• Leaf miners
Ambrosia Beetles
Damage: usually secondary
to other problems
Palmetto Weevil
Citrus Leafminer
Gall Wasp
Author: Tom Weissling, University of Florida
Photos:
University of Florida,
Auburn University
University of California
S. Halbert, DPI, FDACS
J. Brushwein
J. DeFilippis
Entomology And Nematology Department
Copyright University of Florida 2000
For more detailed information see the Featured
Creatures WWW site at
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/