Exam 5 Insect Descriptions

Insect Details and Description

Emerald Ash Borer

  • Origin: Native to China
  • Lifecycle: Larvae live in wood
  • Introduction to U.S.: Accidentally brought into the United States in crates, pallets, etc.
  • Impact:
    • Forms tunnels in ash trees
    • Kills the trees
  • Monitoring: Uses purple traps
  • Management:
    • Chemical treatments such as systematic insecticides
    • Use of parasitoid wasps to manage pest populations

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

  • Appearance: Characterized by white fuzz
  • Origin: Accidentally brought to the eastern U.S. from infested nursery stock from Japan
  • Type: Tiny true bug
  • Impact: Feeds on and kills hemlocks
  • Management:
    • Chemical treatments that work well
    • Can protect trees for years
    • A predator beetle has been found for biological control

Spongy Moth

  • Origin: From Europe, initially wanted for silk production
  • Introduction to U.S.: Brought to the U.S. on purpose, some escapements occurred
  • Year of Escape: 1890
  • Control Methods:
    • Delta traps used for control
    • Synthetic sex pheromones attract male moths; sticky traps kill them

Fire Ants

  • Origin: From South America
  • Introduction to U.S.: Introduced accidentally in Alabama in the 1920s via cargo
  • Impact:
    • Damage electrical equipment
    • Attack native insects, wildlife, and livestock
    • Infamous for their bite which lets them sting better
  • Identification: Not all red ants are fire ants; variations exist
  • Behavior: Known to raft over water

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

  • Appearance:
    • White banding on antennae
    • White-black banding on the abdomen
  • Origin: From Asia
  • Introduction to U.S.: Accidentally brought in crates
  • Impact:
    • Damages fruits and vegetables
    • Invades homes in fall
  • Control Measures: Can be managed by using screens

Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB)

  • Origin: Brought from China
  • Impact:
    • Tunnels deep into several tree species
    • Causes tree mortality
  • Management:
    • Chemicals cannot save infected trees
    • Prevention methods employed
    • Removal of infected parts necessary to save trees
    • Detection through specialized dogs, which can sniff them out
    • Eradication may take up to 10 years

Spotted Lanternfly

  • Origin: From Asia
  • Introduction to U.S.: Came through an egg mass brought in on stone
  • Impact:
    • Damages grapes and hops
    • Considered a nuisance due to sticky honeydew excrement

Northern Giant Hornet

  • Origin: From Asia
  • Introduction to U.S.: Came via imports
  • Reputation: Known as "murderers" of honeybees
  • Impact on Honeybees:
    • Each hornet can kill 1 bee every 14 seconds
    • Capable of slaughtering 30,000 bees in a single attack
  • Unique Behavior of Honeybees in Asia:
    • Honeybees can "cook" hornets to death by forming a ball of bees around them
  • Physical Description:
    • Size: Ranges from 1.5 to 2 inches long
    • Sting rated at 1