Are you faced with the challenges of identifying what is ailing trees in your own landscape or woods? Are you called upon assist others when they notice something out of the ordinary? No matter the number of trees you see in a year, we have a tree diagnostic program that might be just the kind of training you are looking for. 

After getting off to a late, slow start this season, Japanese Beetle numbers have risen dramatically with high populations being reported in various parts of the state. However, not everyone is seeing heavy damage. Thus far, the population distribution is remaining highly localized.

As I was driving around, I kept seeing out of the corner of my eyes some brilliant flashes of color in various landscapes.  I kept wondering what I was seeing so I had to stop and identify what was creating those brilliant flashes.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the intense colors were plantings of Asiatic lilies.  The colors were so vivid and so diverse that it was almost impossible to walk by them and not notice them!

 

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Boxwood leafminer activity is already very evident on their namesake host in southwest Ohio. This does not bode well for 2020. As the midge fly leaf mining activity further delaminates the upper and lower leaf surfaces, symptoms may become apparent by the end of this season. They will certainly intensify next spring.

Everything is in the details, including the genetics of plant crosses and plant disease susceptibility. Here is a tale of two Aesculus and their different genetics and susceptibility to Guignardia leaf blotch disease.

Insects belonging to the Hemipteran family Reduviidae are collectively known as “Assassin Bugs.” The family includes over 190 species in North America and they are all are meat eaters. The common name for the family clearly describes how these stealthy hunters make a living.

Annual Dog-Day Cicadas (Tibicen spp.; family Cicadidae) are starting to sing in southern Ohio. This means their nemesis, Cicada Killer Wasps (Sphecius speciosus), will soon be seen cruising woodlands and landscapes in search of their exclusive prey.

Flatid planthoppers (family Flatidae, order Hemiptera) are relatively small insects with the adults measuring no more than around 1/4" in length. The adults and immatures (nymphs) look nothing alike which can lead to identification issues with connecting one to the other.

Here is your link to the weekly video update (recorded on 06.28.2019) from the OSU Turfgrass Team. Updates are from Dr. David Shetlar, aka The Bug Doc; Dr. David Gardner; Dr. Ed Nangle; Dr. Pamela Sherratt (virtual); Joe Rimelspach; and Michael O'Keeffe this week.

The bladder-like galls produced the Sumac Gall Aphid are becoming evident on the leaflet midveins of its namesake host in southwest Ohio. They currently measure between around 1/4" to 1/2" in diameter and their size coupled with their light green color can make them difficult to detect.