I Introduction to Insects A Exoskeleton B Molting

I. Introduction to Insects A. Exoskeleton B. Molting C. Distinct growth cycles D. Eggs E. Metamorphosis II. Growth Stages A. Simple Metamorphosis 1. Gradual 2. Egg, nymph, and adult 3. Grasshoppers, crickets, thrips, bugs, leafhoppers, & aphids 4. Look like small adults but nymphs do not have fully formed wings

II. Growth Stages - con’t B. Complex Metamorphosis 1. Egg, larva, pupa, adult

II. Growth Stages - con’t B. Complex Metamorphosis 1. Egg, larva, pupa, adult 2. Young stage is the larva 3. Larva look nothing like the adult 4. Larva does the most feeding and is the most destructive 5. Butterfly, moth, sawfly, and fly - adults do not damage 6. Beetle - both larva and adult 7. Adults Larva Moths and butterflies caterpillars, inchworms, loopers leafminers, cutworms, borers, Beetles grubs, wireworms, borers, billbugs Flies maggots, grubs, leafminers

II. Growth Stages - con’t Moths and butterflies caterpillars, inchworms, loopers leafminers, cutworms, borers, Beetles grubs, wireworms, borers, billbugs Flies maggots, grubs, leafminers

III. Insect Physiology and Structure A. Respiratory and nervous system 1. Breath through small openings (called SPIRACLES) in the side of their bodies 2. Some controls work by blocking this opening 3. Central Nervous system - OP and Carbamates a. Cholinesterase inhibitors 4. Warning - Higher toxicity to humans because of similarities in physiological structures

III. Insect Physiology and Structure B. External Structure 1. Insects have a three part body a. head b. thorax c. abdomen

III. Insect Physiology and Structure B. External Structure 1. Insects have a three part body a. head b. thorax c. abdomen 2. Six legs that are attached to the thorax 3. In winged forms, 1 or 2 pairs of wings 4. One pair of antennae 5. Arachnids - spiders, mites, and ticks 6. Body divided into 2 regions - cephalothorax and abdomen 7. Four pairs of legs attached to the cephalothorax 8. No wings 9. No antennae

III. Insect Physiology and Structure B. External Structure 5. Arachnids - spiders, mites, and ticks

III. Insect Physiology and Structure C. Mouthparts 2. Piercing and sucking mouthparts pierce plants and suck liquid materials leafhoppers, stink bugs, aphids, and mites 1. Chewing mouthparts rip and chew food grasshoppers, beetles, weevils, sawflies, and caterpillars

III. Insect Physiology and Structure C. Mouthparts 1. Chewing mouthparts rip and chew food - grasshoppers, beetles, weevils, sawflies, and caterpillars 2. Piercing and sucking mouthparts pierce plants and suck liquid materials - leafhoppers, stink bugs, aphids, and mites D. Wings 1. Usually only found on adults - number of 2. Descriptive type

IV. Insect Relatives A. Spiders 1. All spiders are toxic 2. Most cannot bite humans mouth is to small 3. Most are beneficial B. Mites 1. Most have sucking mouth parts C. Symphlans 1. Centipede type root feeder

V. Damage caused by insects A. Chewing damage - defoliation B. Internal feeders C. Sucking pests - plant juices D. Disease transmission E. Subterranean feeders F. Secondary plant pests G. Plant reaction to insect attack 1. Pine trees - sap (meant to cover or kill the insect 2. Galls

VI. Factors influencing pest problems A. Unfavorable weather conditions B. Natural enemies 1. predators 2. parasites 3. parasitoids

VII. Insecticide Classification F. Chlorinated Hydrocarbons 1. Mode of Action a. Nerve poison - Acts as a paralyzing agent which stops the insects breathing, much in the same way as the pyrethroids. b. Most of these compounds are not used because of there persistence and build up in food chains and environment. c. Effectiveness - Limited use on some ornamentals for the control of some mites and borers. Products that fall into this class but are no longer used, would be; DDT, Chlordane, and Dieldrin.

VII. Insecticide Classification G. Others 1. Botanicals a. Plant derived - Despite being considered as “natural” and safer, some of these insecticides are quite toxic to humans. Some can cause severe allergic reactions. 2. Microbial Insecticides a. Bacillus Thuringiensis - Commonly used in home and garden applications, and is fairly inexpensive to produce. Not widely used on turf due to their short residual activity. This class of insecticides show great promise for future development.

VII. Insecticide Classification A. Organophosphates (“OPs”) 1. Mode of Action a. Nerve poison - Cholinesterase Inhibitor - an enzyme helps to regulate the transmission of nervous impulses b. Chemically unstable and nonpersistent - break down into nontoxic compounds within a few hours, days, or weeks c. Effectiveness - wide range of plant feeding insects and some mites. Used as both contact and systemic insecticides with some as systemic in the plant.

VII. Insecticide Classification B. Carbamates 1. Mode of Action a. Nerve poison - Cholinesterase Inhibitor - an enzyme helps to regulate the transmission of nervous impulses Cholinesterase inhibition is shorter and reverses easily b. Chemically unstable and nonpersistent - break down into nontoxic compounds rapidly c. Effectiveness - wide range of insects and because of lower toxicity are commonly used in home and garden insecticides. Not effective against mites and toxic to earthworms, honeybees, and beneficial parasitic wasps

VII. Insecticide Classification C. Pyrethroids 1. Mode of Action a. Nerve poison - Acts as a paralyzing agent which stops the insects breathing - very fast acting and is used at very low dosages. Little human toxicity. b. Synthetic compounds which mimic botanical pyrethrum but provide better control at lower cost. Toxic to fish c. Effectiveness - Provides almost instantaneous knock down of flying insects. Most are effective on plant foliage for a week or more and are nonsystemic.

VII. Insecticide Classification D. Phenyl Pyrazoles 1. Mode of Action a. Nerve poison - Block the passage of chloride ions works as a contact and systemic when applied as a soil treatment. b. Synthetic compounds which is represented by Fipronil (Chipco Choice). c. Effectiveness - Provides long residual control when used as a soil treatment. Label for the control of mole crickets and fire ants in turf.

VII. Insecticide Classification E. Chloronicotinyls 1. Mode of Action a. Nerve poison - Block the passage of the nicotine receptor sites - works as a contact and systemic when applied as a soil treatment. b. Synthetic compounds which is represented by Imidacloprid (Merit). c. Effectiveness - Used to control soil and crown inhabiting turf pests. Effective against insects that are hard to control with low toxicity to humans and good environmental characteristics.

VII. Insecticide Classification F. Chlorinated Hydrocarbons 1. Mode of Action a. Nerve poison - Acts as a paralyzing agent which stops the insects breathing, much in the same way as the pyrethroids. b. Most of these compounds are not used because of there persistence and build up in food chains and environment. c. Effectiveness - Limited use on some ornamentals for the control of some mites and borers. Products that fall into this class but are no longer used, would be; DDT, Chlordane, and Dieldrin.

VII. Insecticide Classification G. Others 1. Botanicals a. Plant derived - Despite being considered as “natural” and safer, some of these insecticides are quite toxic to humans. Some can cause severe allergic reactions. 2. Microbial Insecticides a. Bacillus Thuringiensis - Commonly used in home and garden applications, and is fairly inexpensive to produce. Not widely used on turf due to their short residual activity. This class of insecticides show great promise for future development.