Leaf Feeders
University of Georgia , University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Two-banded Japanese weevil adults are about 1/4 inch long and pear shaped. Unlike other weevils, which have long snouts, this weevil has a stout, short snout. Adults have a mottled appearance, with grey and brown blotches giving them an almost camouflage-like appearance. There are two distinct bands that form across the back of the elytra. Larvae look like other weevils -- small, white, and legless. The adults feed along the edges of leaves, making notches at first, then tattered edges. In heavy infestations, whole leaves may be consumed. They overwinter as eggs, larvae, and adults. Overwintering adults resume feeding in May and produce the next generation with new adults emerging in June-July.
Sap Feeders
Jessica Louque, Smithers Viscient, Bugwood.org
Like other leafhoppers, the Privet leafhopper holds its wings in a tent shape over the body. The coloration is a mix of red-brown and brown with small black dots all over, mimicking the coloration of a plant bud. They can overwinter as eggs or nymphs, with nymphs feeding in the spring and reaching maturity by summer. They are known disease vectors for aster yellows and X-disease.
John A. Weidhass, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org
Aphids are soft-bodied insects that use their piercing sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap. They usually occur in colonies on the undersides of tender terminal growth in the spring. Heavily-infested leaves can wilt or turn yellow and senesce prematurely because of excessive sap removal. While the plant may look bad, aphid feeding generally will not seriously harm healthy, established trees. Some plants are very sensitive to feeding by certain aphid species. Saliva injected into plants by these aphids may cause leaves to pucker or to become severely distorted, even if only a few aphids are present. Also, aphid feeding on flower buds and fruit can cause malformed flowers or fruit.
Aphids produce large amounts of a sugary liquid waste called "honeydew". The honeydew that drops from these insects can spot the windows and finish of cars parked under infested trees. A fungus called sooty mold can grow on honeydew deposits that accumulate on leaves and branches, turning them black. The appearance of sooty mold on plants may be the first time that an aphid infestation is noticed. The drops can attract other insects such as ants, flies, and wasps that will feed on the sticky deposits. For more information, see Entfact 103.
David Cappaert, Bugwood.org
Twospotted spider mites are tiny (1/50 inch) arthropods with a dark spot on each side of the oval, light green to yellow body. They live on the underside of leaves and use needle-like mouthparts to remove the contents of individual cells. This produces tiny white to yellow spots on leaves, sometimes called flecking or bronzing. These mites produce fine silk-like webbing that often covers infested plants. Infestations are usually most serious during hot, dry periods.