The following are highlights and updates about samples and questions recently received in the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic. Visit the PIDC's Facebook page to ask questions and for updates and more pictures. For more information on a particular disease or insect problem listed, follow the article cited.
PLANT DISEASES
Coniferous Trees
- Rhizosphaera needle cast - Spruce
- Abiotic development issues- Spruce
- Phomopsis tip blight- Hemlock
Perennials and Annuals growing under greenhouse conditions
- Anthracnose and suspected nutritional deficiency - Parlor Palm
- Leaf spot- Hydrangea
Mushroom Identification Workshop
- Registration is open for the morel certification workshop in April (see full article in this issue). Save your spot for the program by registering at bit.ly/Morel2017.
INSECTS
Several accidental invader insects have been more noticeable than usual during the recent periods of unseasonable warm weather. Insects that entered last fall and have remained dormant in wall voids or attics are moving about in anticipation of moving back outdoors in the spring. Most of them will not make it!
- Larger yellow ants (indoor bivouacs of workers and swarmers)
- Earwings
- Brown marmorated stink bugs (photo below)
Speaking of brown marmorated stink bugs, we are continuing to monitor its locations around the state. Our most recent reported distribution was published last October. We look forward to your emailed images (sent to insects@iastate.edu) or samples that document new county records.
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Yard and Garden, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on February 10, 2017. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.