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Joseph F. Boggs, Ohio State University Extension, Hamilton County/Southwest District; Curtis E. Young, David J. Shetlar, James A. Chatfield, Erik A. Draper, Pamela J. Bennett, Gary Y. Gao, |
Populations of eastern tent caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum) were unusually heavy in southern Ohio, southern Indiana, and Kentucky. Although highly localized, damaging infestations of common bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), fall cankerworm (Alsophilia pometaria), spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata), and mimosa webworm (Homadaula anisocentra) occurred in various areas of Ohio.
Spotty infestations of two general defoliators, walnut caterpillar (Datana integerrima) and yellownecked caterpillar (D. ministra), were common in central and southern Ohio. An unusually heavy flight of common armyworm (Pseudaletia unipuncta) moths occurred throughout the western part of the state, and their attraction to blooming linden trees caused concern to homeowners.
Buckeye/horsechestnut petiole borer (Proteoteras aesculana) and maple petiole borer (Caulocampus acericaulis) were common in the southern and central parts of the state. Damage caused by the oak shothole leafminer (Agromyza viridula) was very evident this season on red and white oaks, particularly in the southwestern part of the state.
Spruce spider mites (Oligonychus ununguis) enjoyed environmental conditions supportive of population outbreaks, particularly in the fall, in southern and central Ohio. Calico scale (Eulecanium cerasorum) was found on dogwood in southwestern Ohio and on honeylocust and sweetgum in the northeastern part of the state. Common galls found in Ohio this season included the ash inflorescence gall, woolly oak leaf gall, wool sower gall, the jumping oak gall, and the oak spangle gall.
The multicolored Asian ladybug beetle (Harmonia axyridis) was the dominant home invader this season. Winged adult soybean aphids (Aphis glycines), a new introduced soybean pest, seemed to fill the late summer air over a number of northern Ohio communities.
Insect and mite activities reported in 2001 in the Ohio State University Extension's Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (BYGL) and Pest Evaluation and Suppression Techniques (P.E.S.T) newsletters as well as other sources are summarized and compared to previous seasons. Unusual insect and mite activity is also reported.