Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00001732
11/12/99
Control Of Insects On Ornamentals
You can maintain healthy trees and shrubs and prevent
insect problems in many ways. Utilizing as many practical
management strategies as possible is called integrated
pest management (IPM). Some of the more widespread insect
management strategies include cultural practices, natural
or biological control, host plant resistance, and
insecticide or miticide management. Several types of
insecticides and miticides, such as horticultural spray
oils and microbial insecticides, are compatible with other
IPM strategies designed to maximize natural control.
Consider all of the following strategies when you decide
what strategies to implement to control a particular
insect problem.
The first step in a sound landscape management program is
proper identification of the pest problem. Insects found
on a sick-looking tree may have nothing to do with the
problem. At the same time, it may be difficult to find
some serious insect pests, such as borers and root
weevils. When insects are suspected of damaging the
leaves, stems or roots of a plant, they should be properly
identified by a reliable source. Most insects can be
preserved in rubbing alcohol and carried in a small bottle
to your local garden center or the Cooperative Extension
Service office in your county. Once you know the proper
identity of the insect, you can get more information on
the life cycle and biology from the Extension Service or
the library. An excellent source of information and color
photographs of tree and shrub insects is the book "Insects
that Feed on Trees and Shrubs", Comstock Publishing
Associates, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1970, by
Warren T. Johnson and Howard H. Lyon.
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise
a commercial product or company.
This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00.
Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99.
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
heatley@msue.msu.edu . Please read our
disclaimer for important
information about using our site.