Top Pests We Treat For

– Aphids, adelgids and phylloxera are small, soft-bodied insects that feed by sucking plant juices. Adults often lack wings. Some species produce white cottony or waxy material. Aphids can produce copious amounts of sticky honeydew, which can lead to the growth of black sooty mold.

– Psyllids and whiteflies are sap-sucking insects that excrete sticky honeydew, often leading to the growth of black sooty mold on affected plants. As adults, psyllids resemble miniature cicadas, while whiteflies are tiny insects with yellowish bodies and whitish wings.

– The rosewood tree, Tipu, or “Pride of Bolivia”,Tipuana tipu (Fabaceae), is native to South America (South Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia) and is widely grown as a landscape ornamental and shade tree in southern California and elsewhere in the world (e.g., Egypt, Portugal, and Israel.) Tipu trees are popular because they are drought and frost tolerant, are thornless, exhibit moderate height at maturity (~10m), and have attractive pinnate green leaves, and clusters of bright yellow flowers. Seeds are winged and look strikingly similar to those produced by maples. In October 2008, the Tipu psyllid, a new pest record for California, was found feeding on this urban plant in San Diego County.

– In southern California, Klambothrips myoporiMyoporum, a plant genus native to Australia and New Zealand. This thrips causes considerable leaf deformation through the feeding activity of larvae and adults. This pest is likely native to Australia or New Zealand where it is probably a specialist on members of Myoporum.

– The glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), likely introduced from the southeastern U.S. as eggs on nursery stock, was first observed in Orange and Ventura counties in California in 1989. It has a large plant-host range and is especially abundant on citrus.

– The giant whitefly, a pest of over 50 common ornamental plants, was discovered in southern San Diego County in 1992. It continues to extend its range northward into California where it was found around San Luis Obispo on the central Coast by the late 1990’s, and by around 2005 this pest was established in northern California in the Bay Area and surrounds (e.g., San Jose). Giant whitefly poses a serious threat to the nursery and landscape industry. The giant whitefly is native to Mexico and probably moved into California through accidental introductions of infested plants.

– Approximately 90 of the more than 700 species in the tree genus Eucalyptus have been introduced into North America over the last 150 years. Eucalyptus spp. are native to Australia and New Guinea. Many residents of California find the growth form, evergreen foliage, floral show, and other horticultural qualities such as drought tolerance highly desirable attributes of eucalyptus trees. However, exfoliating bark and dropped leaves can rapidly create flammable fuel loads under trees or on house roofs, sudden limb drop can damage property and injure people, and invasive growth habits of some species are problems associated with these common urban forest trees in California. The most widespread use of eucalyptus in California has been as plantings in residential areas to form shady urban forests. Low water requirements, tolerance of low quality soils, and, until recently, the absence of insect pests and diseases have made eucalyptus particularly valuable in residential areas.