We have seen a large population of Fall Armyworms (caterpillars) show up on a limited number of Virginia lawns over the last few days. Offshore winds from the south have blown adult moths into our area this summer. These moths laid eggs which have now hatched into caterpillars. These caterpillars are not a common pest […]
Read MoreBrood X (Cicadas) are now beginning to emerge. Below are sixteen facts about this insect that is helpful to know: Periodical Cicadas and Annual Cicadas are different species. Periodical ones (like Brood X) emerge every 13- or 17-years when soil temperatures reach 64 degrees. They will be all over the place in Northern Virginia until […]
Read MoreWhat are Cicadas? The cicada is an arthropod which has several different broods of varying size. Over the next couple of months, the largest of these broods, Brood X will be emerging from their 17-year slumber. Most forecasts indicate that brood X will not affect the Central Virginia region. However, it can be expected that […]
Read MoreVirginia Green is now scheduling our early-to-late winter Horticultural Oil applications. These treatments provide control to a number of pests such as scales, mites, and aphids on trees and shurbs. While it has been suggested that oils smother or suffocate small insects and mites that cannot crawl out of it, the disruption of cell membranes […]
Read MoreDamaging insect in the western part of our state The Spotted Laternfly is an insect that has been identified in the City of Winchester and Frederick County. Originally this planthopper was discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014, and is commonly associated with tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima. Although they are most commonly found on Ailanthus (tree-of-heaven), they can […]
Read MoreThis plant pest attacks a broad variety of plants including; annual and perennial flowers, many deciduous shrubs, and some trees such as maple redbud and Tuliptree. The Twospotted spider mite is not an insect, but rather a mite, which is similar to a spider. These mites are about the size of a period on a […]
Read MoreHave you noticed your arborvitaes turning brown? Do you see pine cone-like objects hanging on the branches and they appear to be moving? After closer observation, do you notice a dark brown to black caterpillar sticking its head out? What is this caterpillar? This is no ordinary caterpillar. It is a native bagworm moth larvae. […]
Read MoreAre you worried about your boxwoods because there appears to be something mining the inside of the leaves? What you see are most likely boxwood leafminers, which can be a major pest of boxwoods. Leafminers don’t have picks and shovels to mine the leaves of boxwoods, but they do eat away the inside of the […]
Read MoreOur Tree and Shrub Manager states that we are seeing signs of the Eastern Tent Caterpillar active in our area, not to be confused with bagworms or webworms. They build “tent” like nest in the crotches of the trees where they feed. These caterpillars are leaf chewers, and while they can defoliate a tree when […]
Read MoreOne of the pesky overwintering pests is the scale insect. It usually overwinters as an egg or in the adult form. The winter months are a good time to control this pest, when the plants are dormant. They can be found on many types of plants like “Manhattan” euonymus, cherry trees, burning bushes, and privet. […]
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