Home › Nursery Stock › Article

Identification Features and Control Methods of the Privet Looper

Nursery Stock 0 views
Scientific name: Naxa seriaria Motschulsky. Morphological features: The adult has a wingspan of about 40 mm, with a slender body that is yellow-white. The forewings and hindwings are thin, white, and slightly transparent, with two rows of black star-shaped spots along the outer margin, and each wing has a relatively large black spot in the middle. The forewing also has a row of dark brown spots near the basal angle. Newly laid eggs are white, gradually turning orange-red, glossy, and arranged in bead-like strings. The larva is about 30 mm long, dark brown, with indistinct black patterns and spots on its body. Except for the thoracic legs and the prolegs on the eighth and ninth abdominal segments, the prolegs on the other segments are all reduced, and each segment is covered with gray-white hairs. The pupa is yellow-brown with dark brown spots and patterns. Damage situation: This insect mainly damages privet (Ligustrum), water wax (Ligustrum obtusifolium), and osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans). It is a voracious leaf-eating pest that often gathers in groups and nibbles away the leaves. Especially when the population density is high, it can completely devour the leaves of an entire plant or a whole patch of water wax and privet in a short period, seriously affecting growth and ornamental value. Occurrence pattern: This insect has two generations per year and overwinters as middle-instar larvae on the tree canopy. Pupation begins in mid-May, and adults emerge at the end of May and in early June. Adults mate on silk webs and lay eggs in strings. After the eggs hatch, the larvae spin silk webs on the tree canopy and nibble the leaves until they are eaten up, then spread to neighboring canopies. The second-generation adults appear around August, and the adults are phototactic. Control methods: 1. During the peak emergence period of adults, use lights to trap and kill the adults. 2. The pupae and eggs are all attached to the insect silk webs near the tree canopy, so they can be searched for and removed. 3. In the early stage of larval hatching, spray 1-2 times with insecticides such as dichlorvos, trichlorfon, and omethoate at a 1000-fold dilution. This insect has strong resistance to pesticides, so spraying should be thorough and should be done early; otherwise, the efficacy will be affected.

Scientific name: Naxa seriaria Motschulsky. Morphological features: The adult has a wingspan of about 40 mm, with a slender body that is yellow-white. The forewings and hindwings are thin, white, and slightly transparent, with two rows of black star-shaped spots along the outer margin, and each wing has a relatively large black spot in the middle. The forewing also has a row of dark brown spots near the basal angle. Newly laid eggs are white, gradually turning orange-red, glossy, and arranged in bead-like strings. The larva is about 30 mm long, dark brown, with indistinct black patterns and spots on its body. Except for the thoracic legs and the prolegs on the eighth and ninth abdominal segments, the prolegs on the other segments are all reduced, and each segment is covered with gray-white hairs. The pupa is yellow-brown with dark brown spots and patterns. Damage situation: This insect mainly damages privet (Ligustrum), water wax (Ligustrum obtusifolium), and osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans). It is a voracious leaf-eating pest that often gathers in groups and nibbles away the leaves. Especially when the population density is high, it can completely devour the leaves of an entire plant or a whole patch of water wax and privet in a short period, seriously affecting growth and ornamental value. Occurrence pattern: This insect has two generations per year and overwinters as middle-instar larvae on the tree canopy. Pupation begins in mid-May, and adults emerge at the end of May and in early June. Adults mate on silk webs and lay eggs in strings. After the eggs hatch, the larvae spin silk webs on the tree canopy and nibble the leaves until they are eaten up, then spread to neighboring canopies. The second-generation adults appear around August, and the adults are phototactic. Control methods: 1. During the peak emergence period of adults, use lights to trap and kill the adults. 2. The pupae and eggs are all attached to the insect silk webs near the tree canopy, so they can be searched for and removed. 3. In the early stage of larval hatching, spray 1-2 times with insecticides such as dichlorvos, trichlorfon, and omethoate at a 1000-fold dilution. This insect has strong resistance to pesticides, so spraying should be thorough and should be done early; otherwise, the efficacy will be affected.

Related Articles