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 for updates and more pictures. For more information on a particular disease or insect problem listed, follow the article cited.
The following are plant diseases and insect damage highlights of last month's sample submissions from fruit, vegetables, and ornamentals.
Plant | Pest/Problem type | Diagnosis (link to encyclopedia article) |
Scarlet Oak | Insect damage | Woodborer activity in dead limb |
Arborvitae | Pathogens | Phyllosticta needle blight |
Eastern White Pine
|
| Suspected winter injury ![]() |
Scots Pine | Insect damage | Pine tortoise scale |
Mandevilla
| Pathogens ![]()
| Phytophthora crown rot and shoot blight ![]()
|
Million Bells | Pathogens | Powdery mildew |
Geranium | Abiotics | Suspected abiotic disorder |
Tomato
| Pathogens ![]() | Gray Mold -Botrytis Stem canker ![]() |
Tomato | Abiotics | Suspected injury |
Green Bean | Pathogens, Insect damage | Thrips, Twospotted spider mites |
Tomato | Abiotics | Suspected nutrient imbalance |
Identification summary:
Service | Pest Category | Identification |
Insect ID | Arthropods | Bed bug |
Insect ID | Arthropods | Multicolored Asian lady beetle |
Plant ID | Plants/Weeds | Insufficient sample |
Plant ID | Plants/Weeds | Common Chickweed |
Plant ID | Plants/Weeds | European black alder |
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 April 27, 2018. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.