Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab
Arthropod Samples in July 2011
Balsam Twig Aphid (Aphididae)
Scientific Name: Mindarus abietinus
Photo(s): Balsam twig aphid on a fir. Note the curled needles that are characteristic of an aphid infestation. E. Bradford Walker, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, Bugwood.org
Type: Landscape ornamentals, trees, garden
Situation: Sup-alpine fir
County: Utah
Fact Sheets: Michigan State University
Tomato Hornworm/Five Spotted Hawkmoth (Sphingidae)
Scientific Name: Maduca quinquemaculata
Photo(s): Adult tomato hornworm, Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org. Tomato hornworm larvae, William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org;
Type: Garden
Situation: In garden
County: Salt Lake
Fact Sheets: Colorado State University Extension; Colorado State University; Utah State University Extension; Garden Web Photos
Carpet Beetle (Dermestidae)
Scientific Name: Anthrenus sp.
Photo(s): Black carpet beetle adult and larvae, Clemson University, USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org; Carpet beetle larva and shed skin, Jared Kunz, Utah State University.
Type: Stored food, structural.
Situation: In Home
County: Davis
Fact Sheets: University of Florida; Penn State; University of California IPM
Big-Eyed Bug (Geocoridae)
Scientific Name: Geocoris sp.
Photo(s): Adult big-eyed bug, Jared Kunz, Utah State University.
Type: Beneficial
Situation: Alfalfa Field
County: Kane
Fact Sheets: University of California IPM; University of Arizona
Lesser Grain Borer (Bostrichidae)
Scientific Name: Rhyzopertha dominica
Photo(s): Lesser grain borer; Wheat eaten by lesser grain borer, Jared Kunz, Utah State University.
Type: Stored food, grain crops
Situation: Found in winter stored wheat
County: Washington
Fact Sheets: University of Kentucky; University of Florida; Purdue University
False Chinch Bug (Lygaeidae)
Scientific Name: Nysius raphanus
Photo(s): False chinch bug adult, Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; Chinch bug nymphs and adults, Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org.
Type: Forage and field
Situation: In Home
County: Cache
Fact Sheets: Colorado State University
Leaf Beetle (Chrysomelidae)
Scientific Name: N/A
Photo(s): Cottonwood leaf beetle larvae and adult, Lacy L. Hyche, Auburn University, Bugwood.org; Cottonwood leaf beetle larvae, Jared Kunz, Utah State University.
Type: Landscape ornamentals
Situation: On Tomatoes
County: Cache
Fact Sheets: New Mexico State University; Forest Pests
Flour Beetle (Tenebrionidae)
Scientific Name: Tribolium sp
Photo(s): Ryan Davis, Utah State University
Type: Stored grain and food pests (not typically considered hive pests)
Situation: Found in beehive
County: Cache
Fact Sheets: University of Florida; Penn State
Springtail (Collembola)
Scientific Name: N/A
Photo(s): (Left) Springtail with extended furcula, Jared Kunz, Utah State University; (Right) Springtails crawling through the soil, Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org.
Type: Tiny Nuisance
Situation: In home
County: Salt Lake
Fact Sheets: Colorado State University; University of California IPM
Horsehair Worm
Scientific Name: Phylum Nematomorphora
Photo(s): 5-6 Adult horsehair worms, Ryan Davis, Utah State University
Type: Nuisance
Situation: pastureland
County: Uintah
Fact Sheets: University of Kentucky; University of Nebraska Lincoln; Oklahoma State University
Sycamore Plant Bug (Miridae)
Scientific Name: Plagiognathus albatus
Photo(s): Adult sycamore plant bug, Marion Murray, Utah State University.
Type: Landscape ornamentals
Situation: Sycamore
County: Salt Lake
Fact Sheets: Utah State University Advisories
Wolf Spider (Lyxosidae)
Scientific Name: N/A
Photo(s): Adult wolf spider carrying her young, Circumjacence, Wikipedia.org.(Middle) Characteristic eight eye pattern, Jared Kunz, Utah State University; Wolf spider, Eugene E. Nelson, Bugwood.org;
Type: Biting/Beneficial
Situation: Found in home
County: Wayne
Fact Sheets: University of California IPM; Colorado State University Extension
Dusky Sap Beetle (Nitidulidae)
Scientific Name: Carpophilus lugubris
Photo(s): Dusky sap beetle feeding on corn, Keith Weller, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org; Dusky sap beetle adult, Jared Kunz, Utah State University.
Type: Forage and field, landscape ornamentals
Situation: Apricot tree
County: Kane
Fact Sheets: North Carolina State University; Utah State University Extension
Blister Beetle (Meloidae)
Scientific Name: Epicauta fabricii
Photo(s): Adult blister beetle, Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; (Right) Blister beetle adult, Ryan Davis, Utah State University.
Type: Blister beetle are highly toxic to horses if consumed in hay and can cause blisters and irritation if handled.
Situation: Alfalfa field
County: Washington
Fact Sheets: Colorado State University; University of Kentucky; University of Illinois IPM; North Dakota State University
Tamarisk Beetle (Chrysomelidae)
Scientific Name: Diorhabda elongata
Photo(s): Tamarisk beetle larvae feeding on invasive tamarisk, Eric Coombs, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org; Tamarisk beetle larvae, Jared Kunz, Utah State University; Adult tamarisk beetle, Robert D. Richard, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org.
Type: Biocontrol, Beneficial
Situation: Found outside house
County: Washington
Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension; USDA
San Jose Scale (Diaspididae)
Scientific Name: Quadraspidiotus perniciosus
Photo(s): (2 images) United States National Collection of Scale Insects Photographs Archive, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org; E Nelson, Bugwood.org
Type: Fruit Tree Pest
Situation: On apple
County: Weber
Fact Sheets: Utah State University; University of California IPM
Blister Mites (Eriophyidae)
Scientific Name: N/A
Photo(s): Damage from blister mites, Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org; Two photos: Mites on Apple leaf, Ryan Davis, Utah State University
Type: Fruit and Leaf-damaging pest
Situation: On Pear
County: Washington
Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension
Woolly Apple Aphids (Aphididae)
Scientific Name: Eriosma lanigerum
Photo(s): University of Georgia Plant Pathology Archive, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org, University of Georgia Plant Pathology Archive, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Type: Fruit trees
Situation: Apple trees
County: Sanpete
Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension; Colorado State University
Hobo Spider (Agelenidae)
Scientific Name: Tegenaria agrestis
Photo(s): Video and photos by Ryan Davis, Utah State University.
Type: Biting/Beneficial
Host: Various insects
County: Cache
Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension
Cynipid Gall Wasp
Scientific Name: N/A
Photo(s): Ryan Davis USU
Type: Plant pest
Host: found on oak tree
County: Wasatch
Fact Sheets: Forestry Images; University of Minnesota
Leaf Hopper (Cicadellidae)
Scientific Name: N/A
Photo(s): J.L Danet, INRA Centre de Recherches de Bordeaux, Bugwood.org
Type: Plant pest
Host: N/A
County: Salt Lake
Fact Sheets: Utah State University Extension; University of California IPM