Insects of Roses Prof. Robert L. Morris Area Horticulturist, UNCE, Emeritus Adapted from University of California IPM Project http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7466.html
COMMON INSECT AND MITE PESTS The key to control: • careful selection of varieties • good attention to appropriate cultural practices • occasional handpicking or using soap and water to spray away pests • control weeds • keep an eye out for rising populations of natural enemies and encourage them
Aphids
Natural Pest Control
Chemicals 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Water Soap and water ½ and ½ solution of Listerine and water Neem Imidacloprid (Bayer)
Insects and Mites That Cause Leaves to Stipple or Yellow • Spider mites • Rose Leafhopper
Spider Mites - leaf scorch, leaf bronzing, dusty
Non chemical Control • Insect screens • Yellow sticky traps
Rose Leafhopper - stippling
Insects That Distort or Discolor Blossoms • Western Flower Thrips
Insects That May Chew Blossoms and/or Leaves • • • • • • •
Leafcutter bees Caterpillars Earwigs Rose curculio Fuller rose beetle Hoplia beetle Rose slug
Leafcutter Bees – cuts circles in leaves and petals
Caterpillars – feed on rose leaves and may tie leaves
Rose Curculio – punches holes in flowers and buds
Fuller Rose Beetle – chews flowers and leaf edges
Hoplia (June) Beetle – chews holes in flower petals
Rose Slug – skeletonize leaf surface and holes in leaves
Insects That Cause Canes to Die Back
• Borers • Scale insects • Raspberry horntail
Flatheaded and Cane Borers cane dieback
Borer Control • Cane borer: Seal the end of the cane with Elmer’s glue
• Flatheaded borer: Prevent stress and sunburn on woody tissue
Scale Insects – stunting and dieback
Raspberry Horntail – tips of canes wilt and die
Rose Midge tip dieback and regrowth
COMMON NATURAL ENEMIES OF INSECT AND MITE PESTS IN ROSES • Aphid parasites - aphids • Minute pirate bug – mites, scales and thrips • Green lacewing –aphids and other soft bodied insects • Ladybird beetle - aphids • Soldier beetle - aphids • Syrphid fly – hover flies, aphids • Predacious mites - mites • Spiders - omnivorous
Aphid Parasites
Minute Pirate Bug
Green Lacewing
Ladybird Beetle
Soldier Beetles
Syrphid Flies
Predacious Mites
Spiders
Non Chemical Control • • • • • •
Hand picking Soap and water ½ Listerine + ½ water Pruning Water sprays Improved nutrition and water management • Mulch • Light • Air movement
Soft Pesticides • Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) Dipel, Thuricide – caterpillars
• • • • • •
Horticultural oils (aphids, scales, mites) Neem (insecticide, fungicide) Spinosad (caterpillars, thrips, leafhoppers) Insecticidal soaps (general) Diatomaceous earth (rose slugs) Pyrethroids
Hard Pesticides • • • • • • • • • •
Orthene Di-Syston Malathion Methoxychlor Sevin Mavrik Talstar Merit Floramite Hexygon
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