Insect Management Handbook

Numerous species

Lilac root weevil (Otiorhynchus meridionalis) and numerous other species

Many species

Pest description and damage Species identification is important as root weevil species differ in susceptibility to pesticides and have different life cycles. Adult weevils are dark colored beetles from 0.2 to 0.25 inch in length, with a snout (rostrum) and elbowed antennae. Look for ragged notches on the edges of leaves, or flower petals. Tips may die beyond the point where weevils have girdled the twig (salal, firethorn, rockrose, yew, juniper, etc.).

Potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) and others

Pest description and damage Clusters of slate gray aphids can congregate in prodigious numbers along stems and under flowers of Euphorbia. Aphids tend to be small (0.0625 to 0.125 inch in length), oval to pear-shaped, soft-bodied insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Aphids may vary in color depending on species from greenish to dark grey.

Various species

Pest description and damage Identification is important as root weevil species differ in susceptibility to pesticides. Adult weevils are from 0.2 to 0.75 inch in length dark nocturnal beetles with a snout (rostrum) and elbowed antennae. Look for ragged notches on the edges of leaves, or flower petals. Larvae are C-shaped, legless, and white, sometimes reddish, with tan heads, up to 0.5 inch in size. The larvae are rarely a significant problem in established landscapes.

Family: Aleyrodidae

Pest description and damage Whitefly species occasionally develop large populations on ceanothus, yet damage is surprisingly insignificant. As the name implies, adult whiteflies are tiny white flies about 0.05 inch in length and often take flight from the host when approached. When the whitefly numbers build, it is often on the south side of plants. Depending on conditions, the population may crash without intervention.

Numerous species

Pest description and damage Identification is important: species differ in susceptibility to pesticides. Adult weevils are dark colored, nocturnal beetles between 0.2 and 0.25 inch long, with a snout (rostrum) and elbowed antennae. Look for ragged notches on the edges of leaves, or flower petals. Larvae are C-shaped, legless, and white, sometimes reddish, with tan heads, up to 0.5 inch in size. The Larvae are rarely a significant problem in established landscapes.

Numerous species

Pest description and damage Identification is important: species differ in susceptibility to pesticides. Adult weevils are dark colored, nocturnal beetles between 0.2 and 0.25 inch in length, with a snout (rostrum) and elbowed antennae. Look for ragged notches on the edges of leaves. Larvae are C-shaped, legless, and white, sometimes reddish, with tan heads, up to 0.5 inch in size. They rarely damage plants in established landscapes.

Primarily European earwig (Forficula dentata)

Cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora)

Pest description and damage These aphids range in size from 0.05 to 0.08 inches in length and vary in color progressing from light greenish-gray through darkening shades of green to shiny black as they molt. The four molts leave abundant white cast skins among the living aphids and honeydew. Feeding results in puckering, stunting, and curling leaves, and pods, covered with copious sticky honeydew and sooty mold.