Overwintered common bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) eggs are hatching in southwest Ohio. The 1st instar caterpillars are very small with their bags measuring around 1/8" in length.

River birch (Betula nigra) may be showing the unusual leaf distortion symptoms caused by the native aphid, Hamamelistes spinosus. The aphid has no approved common name but is generally referred to as the spiny witch-hazel gall aphid or river birch aphid depending on the host.

Spruce bud scale (Physokermes piceae) is an aptly named insect. The adult female scales can be found nestled behind the tree’s bud scales of previous seasons’ growth.

Boxwoods (Buxus spp.) are some of the most common plants found in Ohio landscapes and they remain a mainstay of our nursery industry. Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) caterpillars defoliate boxwoods and will strip bark once they run out of leaves to eat. The moth has multiple generations per year, depending on geographical locations, and sustained high populations are capable of killing boxwoods.

This week's OSU Turfgrass Times includes reports from Dr. Dave Gardner, Dr. Dave Shetlar (aka BugDoc) and Dr. Ed Nangle. Report highlights include a timely weed update including: oxalis, speedwell, crabgrass, and rough bluegrass. Insects on the radar are: periodical cicada, annual bluegrass weevils, bluegrass billbug, hairy chinch bug, and white grubs. 

Halloween decorations? No! It’s Euonymus Caterpillars doing the decorating in May.

Aesculus is the genus for both Buckeye and Horsechestnut can be hard to differentiate. They are both in flower now which can help to tell them apart.

As I was out enjoying the beautiful side of horticulture this spring, I could not miss the no-so-nice evidence of the viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) (VLB) feeding on arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) in the phenology garden at the OSU Extension, Lucas County Office at the Toledo Botanical Garden.

Each spring I am mesmerized by the white blooms of the white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) outside my office at the Toledo Botanical Garden. This large shrub, or small tree, has a spreading habit. The plant is currently in its flowering glory in NW Ohio, capturing the attention of the Garden visitors wondering what it is. The white, slightly fragrant flowers are born in panicles that hang downward with a very soft and delicant appearance to them. 

An overly generous conference moderator once introduced a talk I was about to give titled, “Tree Galls: A Management Conundrum,” as being presented by a “gall expert.” I looked around to see if they’d made a last-minute speaker substitution.