Publications By Shimat V. Joseph

Aphids on Flowering Ornamental Plants in the Landscape (C 1246) An introduction to and information on the biology, damage, and management of aphids in the ornamental landscape.

Armyworms in Sod (C 1130) There is considerable confusion regarding the life cycle and timing of fall armyworm infestation in turfgrass. It is not unusual for fall armyworms to infest newly planted sod in a home landscape, esp…

Azalea Bark Scale (C 1260) Azalea bark scale (ABS) poses a serious threat to azaleas, rhododendron, and Pieris (Andromedas) in Georgia. ABS is a soft scale insect; the nymph and female soft scales secrete a protective coating o…

Bagworms in Urban Landscapes (C 1237) An introduction to bagworms, along with their biology, how they damage landscapes, and management options.

Biology and Management of Scale Insects in Ornamentals (C 1186) Scale insects are common pests of landscape trees and shrubs that are often overlooked when scouting. Scales can be responsible for chlorosis, branch die-back, and ultimately, plant death. Scales are …

Biology and Management of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in Ornamental Landscapes (C 1248) The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys, is a landscape and agricultural pest in the United States. It was introduced from Asia in the mid-1990s, and quickly spread to the entire Unit…

Biology and Management of Thrips Affecting the Production Nursery and Landscape (C 1158) Thrips are tiny, cigar-shaped insects belonging to the order Thysanoptera, whose name refers to the fringed wings of insects in this order. About 5000 species of thrips are known, and many cause damag…

Chilli Thrips: Biology and Management in the Nursery (C 1210) Chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis, is an invasive thrips species in the U.S. Currently, chilli thrips infest more than 150 crops worldwide, including strawberries, cotton, tea, citrus, and peppers,…

Controlling Lace Bugs on Ornamental Grasses (C 1143) The grass lace bug, Leptodictya plana Heidemann (Hemiptera: Tingidae), has been recently reported as a pest of ornamental grasses in Georgia. It is closely related to, and resembles, the sugarcane lac…

Crape Myrtle Bark Scale: An Emerging Invasive Pest in the Nursery and Landscape (C 1234) The crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS) is an emerging threat to crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.) in Georgia. As the name indicates, this scale pest attacks the bark of crape myrtle, the only known scale …

Fall Webworms: Biology and Management (C 1197) The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is a polyphagous caterpillar pest of ornamentals and trees in Georgia. “Polyphagous” means that it can feed on many types of food, an…

Field Guide to Ambrosia Beetles of Agricultural Importance in the Eastern and Southern United States (C 1239) This pocket field guide provides a summary of the common economically damaging species of ambrosia beetles in the Eastern and Southern U.S. It includes an easy-to-use morphological identification guid…

Flatheaded appletree borer: A pest of trees in nurseries and landscapes (C 1261) The flatheaded appletree borer is a polyphagous pest—so called because it feeds on multiple tree species—native throughout North America. Flatheaded appletree borers impact specialty crops such as fru…

Georgia Pest Management Handbook Series: Ornamentals (SB 28-23) Commercial insect and weed control in ornamentals. Updated annually.

Georgia Pest Management Handbook Series: Turfgrass (SB 28-33) Commercial insect and weed control in turfgrass. Updated annually.

Gloomy Scale Insects: Pests of Trees in Urban Areas (C 1286) Gloomy scale (Melanaspis tenebricosa) is a serious insect pest that affects maple trees in urban Georgia. It can go undetected for years. Affected trees can show branch dieback and canopy thinning aft…

Granulate Ambrosia Beetle: Biology and Management (C 1160) Granulate ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Mot.), is a serious pest of woody trees and shrubs in Georgia. The insect was previously known as the Asian ambrosia beetle. These tiny beetles we…

Hunting Billbug: Biology and Management in Turfgrass (C 1173) Hunting billbug, Sphenophorous venatus vestitus (Family: Curculionidae) is an important weevil pest of turfgrass in Georgia. It’s called a “billbug” because of its long snout, or bill, which has small…

Japanese Beetles in the Nursery and Landscape (C 1167) The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman) (Scarabaeidae: Coleoptera), as the name suggests, is native to Japan and was introduced to the U.S. through the transport of plant material. It is a high…

Japanese Maple Scale: A Nursery and Landscape Pest (C 1168) The Japanese maple scale (JMS), Lopholeucaspis japonica Cockerell, is an insect pest of Japanese maples and several other ornamental tree species. This insect sucks out plant juices using its piercing…

Lantana Lace Bug Biology and Management (C 1262) The lantana lace bug, Teleonemia scrupulosa Stål (Tingidae: Hemiptera), is a serious pest of lantana (Lantana camara L.). Although lantana is regarded as an invasive weed both in the United States and…

Larger Canna Leafroller: A Major Insect Pest of Canna Lily (C 1233) An introduction to the larger canna leafroller, plus information on biology and management.

Management of Turfgrass Insect Pests and Pollinator Protection (C 1127) Turfgrass is an important component of many landscapes. Research has shown that landscapes support diverse, abundant, and intact bee communities in New York, California, and Ohio. In fact, the abundan…

Managing Joro Spiders in the Landscape (C 1289) The publication gives basic biology and description, with images, of the spider's immature and adult forms, along with recommendations for managing them around the home. The Joro spider is a native of…

Mite Management in Turfgrass (C 1178) Plant-feeding mites can cause serious damage in turfgrass systems, and drought-stressed turfgrass is particularly prone to mite infestation. Mites are generally active in turfgrasses from spring into …

Mite Vector of Rose Rosette Virus (C 1176) Rose rosette virus vectored by eriophyid mites can cause major problems for nurseries, landscapers, and gardeners alike. The spread of this mite and virus can cause serious damage to plants, decreasin…

Oak Lecanium: An Insect Pest of Trees in Landscapes (C 1285) Oak lecanium, Parthenolecanium quercifex (Hemiptera: Coccidae), is a common soft scale insect pest of oak trees and other woody plants. They infest trees under high stress, such as those planted in pa…

Red-Headed Flea Beetle: An Ornamental Nursery Pest (C 1187) The red-headed flea beetle (RHFB), Systena frontalis (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a serious insect pest in ornamental nurseries. It is also referred to as the “cranberry flea beetle” in cranber…

Rhodesgrass Mealybug: Biology and Management (C 1159) The rhodesgrass mealybug, Antonina graminis, is an invasive insect native to Asia. First found in the U.S. in Texas in 1942, the rhodesgrass mealybug has since spread to all states on the Gulf of Mexi…

Silverleaf Whitefly: A Pest in Nursery and Greenhouse Ornamental Crops (C 1249) The silverleaf whitefly, also known as the sweet potato whitefly or Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), attacks a wide range of plants, from ornamentals to warm-season vegetables. Whiteflies are …

Small Flowering Gardens Help the Migrating Monarch Butterfly (B 1558) A classic example of a North American species that undergoes a great migration is the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus Linnaeus. Monarchs travel on air currents and cross more than 3000 miles in wi…

Sod Webworms: Biology and Management in Turfgrass (C 1156) Sod webworms are a serious pest of turfgrass in Georgia. There is limited information available to the green industry and the public about the general biology, ecology, and management of this pest. Th…

Southern Chinch Bug: Biology and Management in Turfgrass (C 1147) The southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis Barber, is a serious insect pest of turfgrass, especially St. Augustinegrass, in Georgia. Bermudagrass, centipedegrass, and zoysiagrass are also attacked by …

Sugarcane Beetle: An Emerging Insect Pest in Georgia Turfgrass (C 1257) The sugarcane beetle has been a significant pest of many crops, including sugarcane, corn, sweet potato, and rice, for more than 100 years. It is a native species commonly found in turfgrass. While lo…

Tea Scale: Biology and Management in the Nursery and Landscape (C 1201) The tea scale, Fiorinia theae (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), is a serious economic pest of several ornamental plants in nurseries and landscapes in Georgia, including camellias and hollies. Tea scales are …

The Buzz About Bees: Bumblebees Have a Lot to Offer (C 1290) Bumblebees are prone to catch your attention with their sonicating buzz or conspicuous and colorful appearance. They are robust, fuzzy-looking insects, with varying bands of coloration and a hairy abd…

Turfgrass Field Day Series: 2018 Turfgrass Research Field Day Guide (AP 117-2) This is a biennial publication containing the proceedings of the turfgrass field day carried out at the UGA Griffin campus every other year. The guide provides professionals with continuous, real-time…

Turfgrass Field Day Series: 2022 Turfgrass Research Field Day Guide (AP 117-3) This biennial publication contains the proceedings of the turfgrass field day carried out at the UGA Griffin campus every other year; 2022 was the first field day since the 2018 field day because of t…

Two-Lined Spittlebug: Biology and Management in Turfgrass (C 1157) The two-lined spittlebug is an important insect pest of turfgrass in Georgia. It attacks all turfgrass species, but centipedegrass is the most susceptible to spittlebug infestation. It also attacks so…

Wax Scale Insect: What is the White Glob on My Twigs? (C 1291) Scale insects are very common pests of landscape trees and shrubs, yet they often are overlooked when scouting. They can, however, be responsible for chlorosis (loss of green coloration of plants due …