Insect Note # S-1 (Revised)

INSECTS AND RELATED PESTS OF STRAWBERRY

Field notes for the Identification of pasts injuring strawberry. Through observation of damage of actual specimens, growers can follow these notes and positively diagnose insect pests of strawberries.

A. Chewing insects that eat holes in LEAVES or chew OFF lower surface of the LEAVES.

  1. Adult is 1/6 inch long, shiny, greenish metallic bronze , and is a jumping beetle. Larva is hairy, 3/16 inch long and dull yellow to dark olive green .- STRAWBERRY FLEA BEETLE
  2. Adult is 1/8 inch long, oval and shiny clerk brown or black larva is strawberry rootworm- STRAWBERRY LEAF BEETLE
  3. Adult is 1/10 inch long, chestnut brown with 2 black spots on its back and is a snout beetle. Larva is about 1/10 inch long, creamy white and is a curved legless grub. Often called the "clipper" because of the type of damage caused by the weevil - STRAWBERRY WEEVIL
  4. Adult is 1/2 inch long, plump, rough-surfaced mottled grayish an black and is snout beetle. Larva is legless and found on stems or roots of legumes or other field crops.- IMBRICATEO SNOUT BEETLE
  5. Adult is 1/5 inch long, dark brown with 6 darker spots on back and is a snout beetle. Larva feeds on crown of strawberry - STRAWBERRY CROWN BORER
  6. Adult is 3/8 inch long, cinnamon-brown. with fine longitudinal groom on the wing covers, and a fine pubescence which aim them a velvety appearance Larva is a white grub that feeds on the roots of grasses- ASIATIC GARDEN BEETLE
  7. Adult is sightly less than 1/2 inch long, dark gray, covered dense short pate hairs and has a broad snout Body tapers, margins of elytra are banded with white, and there are two pale lines along sides of head and prothorax. Larva feeds on roots of strawberry.- WHITEFRINGED BEETLE
  8. Adult is rusty red moth with brown and white markings and with less than 1/2 inch wingspread. Larva is 1/2 inch long and team pale green to gray brown. - STRAWBERRY LEAFROLLER
  9. Adult is tan moth about 1/2 inch long. Female has brown spots on forewings. Larva is 5/8 inch long, light cream color with lighter stripe along each side and has a tan head.- OMNIVOROUS LEAFTIER
  10. Adult is dull gray or brownish yellow moth. Larva is 1 1/4 inch long, stout, soft-bodied, smooth, dull gray, brown or black, and striped or spotted- CUTWORM
  11. Has shell that varies in color from nearly white to brown or black, may be striped or mottled and 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter. Bodies are worm like, legless, slimy, and grayish. -SNAIL
  12. No shell. Usually mottled with shades of gray but may be whitish yellow, brown or black, and 1/2 to 4 inches long - SLUG

B. Insects or mites that injure LEAVES by sucking plant juices.

  1. Soft-bodied, less than 1/16 inch long and has cornicles (tail-like projections) Wingless form is pale green or yellowish. Winged form is light green and has black markings -APHID
  2. Adult is 1/4 inch long, dull brown or mottled gray and is often called a frog hopper. Nymph (young which resemble adult) is bright yellow and covered in frothy material. - SPITTLEBUG
  3. Adult is green or brown, 1/8 inch long, narrow and flies quickly. Nymph is tiny and light green. - LEAFHOPPER
  4. Adult is smooth, about 1/75 inch long, whitish to caramel colored and is a mite. Immature mite is milky white.- CYCLAMEN MITE
  5. Adult is 1/60 inch long, pale greenish yellow to deep red and usually has 2 to 4 dark spots along back.- SPIDER MITE

C. Insects that injure CROWN by chewing or boring.

  1. Adult is stout, Jet black beetle about 1/2 inch long. Legs are strong and have several coarse spines. Thorax and wings are covered with minute depressions. Larva is 1 1/4 inch long, dirty white and has a brick red head, pale brown legs and rests in a curled position. -SUGARCANE BEETLE
  2. Adult is 1/4 inch long, nearly black, unable to fly and has a short blunt snout. Destructive larva is 3/8 inch long, white, legless and holds its body in a curved position. - CUTWORM
  3. Adult is a brownish yellow to nearly black moth with wings having grayish margins and with several dark spots. Larva is about 1/3 inch in length and is bluish green in color with brown cross stripes - LESSER CORNSTALK BORER
  4. Adult beetle resembles Japanese beetle but is less metallic green in color. Larva is a white grub about 1 inch long - SPRING ROSE BEETLE

D. Insects that injure ROOTS by chewing and boring tissues and sucking plant juices.

  1. Adult is elongated, hard-bodied, click beetle. Larva is hard, smooth, wiry, brown and yellow and 1/2 to 1 inch long - WIREWORM
  2. Adult is stout, green or brown May beetle or June beetle. Larva is soft, white, curved (C-shaped) and 3/4 to 1 inch long - WHITE GRUB
  3. Adult is 1/4 inch long, nearly black, unable to fly and has a short blunt snout. Destructive larva is 3/8 inch long, white, legless and holds its body in a curved position - STRAWBERRY ROOT WEEVIL or CROWN GIRDLER
  4. Adult has large beady eyes, short stout front legs and shovel-like feet This insect is about 1 1/3 inch long and 1/4 inch wide, light brown and usually below soil surface - MOLE CRICKET
  5. Adult is 3/5 to 1 inch long, black, with long antennae and jumps - FIELD CRICKET
  6. Adult is strawberry leaf beetle. Larva is white, small and brown spotted -STRAWBERRY ROOTWORM
  7. Adult feeds on leaves of strawberry. Larva is white, legless grub, up to 1/2 inch long -WHITEFRINGED BEETLE
  8. Adult is soft-bodied, about 1/10 inch long and dark bluish green or black. Nymph is yellowish green -STRAWBERRY ROOT APHID
  9. Adult is soft-bodied, 1/12 to 1/10 inch long, light to dark brown and found in association with strawberry root aphid -CORNFIELD ANT

E. Insects or mites that injure FLOWERS by chewing or puncturing petals.

  1. Adult is tan moth about 1/2 inch long. Female has brown spots on forewings. Larva is 5/8 inch long, light cream color with lighter stripe along each side and has a tan head -OMNIVOROUS LEAFTIER
  2. Adult is 3/5 to 1 inch long, black with long antennae and jump -FIELD CRICKET
  3. Adult is l/10 inch long, chestnut brown with 2 black spots on its back and is a snout beetle often called the "clipper" because of the type of damage. Larva is 1/10 inch long, legless, creamy white and is a curved grub. -STRAWBERRY WEEVIL
  4. Adult is 1/16 inch long, shiny, greenish metallic bronze and is a jumping beetle. Larva is hairy, 3/16 inch long and dull yellow to dark olive green -STRAWBERRY FLEA BEETLE
  5. Adult is flat, dashes and has inch long and 1/4 inch long, brownish, marked with yellowish and black a brassy appearance. Nymphs are yellowish-green, 1/25 very active - TARNISHED PLANT BUG
  6. Adult is 1/4 inch long, dull brown or mottled gray and is often called a froghopper. Nymph is bright yellow and covered in frothy material. - SPITTLEBUG
  7. Adult is 1/25 inch long, slender, orange or yellow and active. Nymph is smaller, wingless and yellowish. - FLOWER THRIPS
  8. Adult is smooth, about 1/75 inch long, whitish to caramel colored and is a mite. Immature mite is milky white.- CLAMEN MITE

F. Insects or mites that injure BUDS by chewing tender tissue or sucking plant juices.

  1. Adult is 1/10 inch long, chestnut brown with 2 black spots on its back and is a snout beetle. Larva is about 1/10 inch long, legless, creamy white and is a curved grub. Often called the "clipper" because of the type of damage -STRAWBERRY WEEVIL
  2. Adult is 1/2 inch long, plump, rough-surfaced, mottled grayish and black and is a snout beetle. Larva is legless and found on stems or roots of legumes or some other field crops. -IMBRICATED SNOUT BEETLE
  3. Adult is 3/5 to 1 inch long, black, with long antennae, and jumps.- FIELD CRICKET
  4. Soft-bodied, less than 1/16 inch long and has cornicles (tail-like projections). Wingless form is pale green or yellowish. Winged form is light green and has black markings- APHID
  5. Adult is 1/4 inch long, dull brown or mottled gray and is called a froghopper. Nymph is bright yellow and covered in frothy material -SPITTLEBUG
  6. Adult is 1/60 inch long, pale greenish yellow to deep red and usually has 2 to 4 dark spots along back - CUTWORM
  7. Larva is 5/8 inch long, light cream color with lighter stripe along each side and has a tan head -OMNIVOROUS LEAF TIER
  8. Adult is 3/5 to 1 inch long, black, with long antennae, and jumps -FIELD CRICKET
  9. Has shell that varies in color from nearly white to brown or black, may be striped or mottled and 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter. Bodies are worm like, legless, slimy and grayish - SNAIL
  10. No shell. Usually mottled with shades of gray but may be whitish yellow, brown or black and 1/2 to 4 inches long - SLUG
  11. Adult is flat, 1/4 inch long, brownish, marked with yellowish and black dashes and has a brassy appearance. Nymphs are yellowish-green, 1/25 inch long and very active - TARNISHED PLANT BUG
  12. Adult is 1/6 inch long, shiny, greenish metallic bronze and is a jumping beetle. Larva is hairy, 3/16 inch long and dull yellow to dark olive green -STRAWBERRY FLEA BEETLE
  13. Adult beetle is 1/4 inch long, dark gray to brown, oval in shape and has clublike antennae. Larva is yellowish or pinkish white, about 1/4 inch long with a translucent spiny body and with 3 pairs of short legs near -SAP BEETLE

Once causal pests are identified, information on the biology, management and control can be obtained through related insect notes, key references and by consulting the N. C. Agricultural Chemicals Manual.

THE USE OF TRADE NAMES IN THIS PUBLICATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT OF THE PRODUCTS NAMED OR CRITICISM OF SIMILAR ONES NOT MENTIONED.

Prepared by:
Kenneth A. Sorensen
August 1993
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