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Ash Plant Bug
David Keith, Extension Entomology Specialist and Matthew Kramm, Graduate Student
July 9, 2003
PEST IDENTIFICATION & DAMAGE
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Ash Plant Bug |
Common Name:
Ash Plant BugScientific Name:
Tropidosteptes amoenus Reuter, Hemiptera: Family Miridae.Identifying Characteristics for Damaging Stage(s):
The adult insects are oval, 3/16 to 1/4 inch long and pale yellow to brown or black with pink markings on the back. Nymphs are green with black spots and wingless. |
Ash Plant Bug Damage |
Damage/Nature and Symptoms:
This insect has piercing-sucking mouthparts and removes sap from ash tree leaves while injecting a toxic saliva that kills surrounding cells, resulting in yellow stipples. Affected leaves turn yellow to white and eventually brown and drop from the trees. The insect also causes leaf deformation and twisting or dwarfing. Such damaged foliage may drop or remain on the trees until fall. Undersides of damaged leaves are often marked with dark fecal spots scattered among the stipples.DISTRIBUTION AND LIFE CYCLE
Distribution:
This insect is rather generally distributed throughout North America where it attacks cultivars of white, green and Modesto ash. It occasionally feeds on nearby or adjacent trees and shrubs when individual host trees are heavily attacked.Summary of Life Cycle:
There are two annual generations. The insect winters as an egg deposited on the bark of small twigs or branches and these hatch in early spring. Young nymphs immediately begin feeding, preferably on the undersides of ash leaves. The feeding period lasts about 5 weeks with first generation adults appearing in May/June and an ensuing period of mating and egg-layiing. The second generation of adult bugs appears in late summer and these oviposit (lay eggs) on ash tree leaf midribs, on twigs or bud scales, and in these locations they will pass the winter.MANAGEMENT METHODS:
Inspection/Survey Methods:
Watch for young bugs and early signs of feeding damage (stippling, leaf distortion, and dark fecal spots) in April/May. Then grasp a limb and shake it to see if leaves drop. Examine leaves again in July/August for second generation feeding.Non-Chemical Management Strategies:
: Shaking small trees or spraying them vigorously with a jet of water in spring should dislodge many young nymphs. Horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps are alternatives which should provide reasonable protection. Large trees should tolerate damage.Chemical Management Strategies:
If trees are relatively small and nymphs are numerous in spring, control can be achieved by spraying with any approved insecticide about 2 weeks after leafing out. Spring applications are generally more effective than summer sprays directed at the second generation. Dormant oils can be applied in late winter to kill eggs overwintering on buds, twigs and bark.For the latest information on available chemical controls, consult the Pesticide Selection Guide.
