The NMSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic Goes Social

Now there are even more ways to get timely, up-to-date, pest information. After dangling our feet in the pool with Facebook, the NMSU - Plant Diagnostic Clinic has decided to dive head first into the deep end of the "Social Media scene" and Go Social! We are pleased to announce that you can now obtain information from a variety of Social Media sources. You can subscribe to our Blog, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and pin us on Pinterest! We hope that you'll find these resources are a great way for you to obtain valuable information and that you'll share these links with clientele and friends who may be interested in following us on Social Media.

Don't forget to check out the NMSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic Webpage for more resources on pest identification and pest management.

Header from the NMSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic Blog

Nutsedges Invade Turf and Ornamental Plantings

Nutsedge in the landscape
(Photo:  Leslie Beck, NMSU)

Featured Diagnosis: Nutsedge (Cyperus spp.) is a perennial with triangle-shaped stems and long grass-like leaves that appear very shiny in direct sunlight. There are two types of nutsedges: purple (C. roundus) and yellow (C. esculentus), though both are very difficult to control. The plant germinates in the late spring or early summer from underground 'nutlets' or tubers that grow at the end of aggressive rhizomes. The tubers of both nutsedges have the capabilities to survive many years beneath the soil surface. Both purple and yellow nutsedge can outcompete desirable plants and are very tolerant of intensive management.

Nutsedge in a lawn
(Photo: Leslie Beck, NMSU)

Nutsedge in a landscape planter
(Photo: Leslie Beck, NMSU)

Nutsedge flowers
(Photo: Leslie Beck, NMSU)

Nutsedge tuber
(Photo: Leslie Beck, NMSU)

Triangular-shaped stem of a nutsedge
(Photo: Leslie Beck, NMSU)

Herbicide Injury on Landscape Plants

Herbicide injury on
sycamore
(Photo: NMSU- PDC)

Featured Diagnosis: Herbicide Injury. Beware! Herbicide applications in ornamental and turf settings can have unintended consequences. Many herbicides used to manage broadleafed plants are non-selective and can adversely affect desirable trees and shrubs. Some common symptoms include: leaf deformity (e.g. curling, cupping, twisting, and shortened or lengthened internodes), yellowing, wilting, defoliation and, in severe cases, branch dieback or plant death. The ultimate damage to the plant will depend on several factors including, application rate, environmental conditions and overall plant health. In many cases, the plants will recover with time.

Hervicide injury on mulberry
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Herbicide injury on ash
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Flea Beetles

Flea beetle on Guara (Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Featured Diagnosis: Flea Beetles. Numerous samples of flea beetles (Altica sp.) have recently been submitted for indentification. This 4-5mm metallic beetle, is a hopping but harmless nuisance pest indoors, but outdoors, adults can sketetonize foliage on a variety of garden and landscape plants ranging from evening primrose and Guara to grapes and apples. Like all flea beetles, the upper portions of the hind legs are enlarged and full of muscles, allowing the flea beetle to jump to safety when disturbed. Flea beetles overwinter as adults under plant debris or on weeds and in soil. In early spring they begin feeding on foliage. Females deposit eggs near the soil-line where the larvae emerge in about a week. The larvae are white and worm-like and are found feeding on plant roots. Larvae feed for up to three weeks. They pupate in the soil and the adults emerge in about two weeks. Larvae of most flea beetle species cause little damage to the roots.

Read on for more information

Flea beetles and feeding
damage on Guara
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Adult flea beetle (notice the large, muscular, hind legs)
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Alfalfa Attacked by Whitefringed Beetles!

Alfalfa infested with whitefringed beetle
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Featured Diagnosis: Whitefringed Beetle (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Naupactus sp.)

New Mexico alfalfa growers may wonder why some of their recently planted or replanted alfalfa fields have patchy, sparse stands and poor yields despite their best corrective efforts. The answer may be infestation by whitefringed beetle. A relative of alfalfa weevil and clover root curculio, whitefringed beetle is a native of South America. First detected in the southeastern U.S. in the mid 1930's, the pest has been associated with over 385 host plant species, including alfalfa, peanuts, cotton, okra, cowpeas, beans, numerous weed species, plus woody plants such as willow, peach, pecan and even pine. Infestations in New Mexico and elsewhere are probably more widespread than presently recognized because the insect is difficult to detect.

Read on for more information

Whitefringed beetle larvae in alfalfa roots
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Alfalfa infested with whitefringed beetle
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Grasshoppers Feeding on Leaves and Flowers

Grasshopper on Guara stem
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Featured diagnosis: Grasshoppers. If you're a gardener, you're probably all too familiar with this annoying pest. Grasshoppers invade yards, gardens, and greenhouses, munching on tender foliage and flowers, leaving chewed and tattered plant tissue in their wake. Usually, the damage is relatively inconsequential; however when the insect is present in high numbers, damage can be significant - small seedlings may be completely eaten to the ground! Pesticides are usually not recommended for home gardeners as they only affect the grasshoppers they contact and do not protect from new invaders. These materials may also have an unintended negative effect on beneficial insects. Home gardeners who wish to protect their plants should cover them with insect netting until the grasshoppers are gone.

Feeding damage on basil caused by grasshoppers
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Grasshopper and feeding
damage on an orchid
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Tomato Leaf Spot Diseases

Early blight
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Featured Diagnosis: Tomato leaf spot diseases - Two different fungi which cause leaf spots on tomatoes have recently been identified in the NMSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic: early blight, caused by Alternaria solani, and Phoma rot, caused by Phoma destructiva. These two leaf pathogens occur under similar environmental conditions and produce similar symptoms on plants. Test, don't guess! A laboratory test is recommended to properly identify the causal agent. Samples can be submitted to the NMSU - Plant Diagnostic Clinic through the County Extension Offices.

For homeowners, cultural practices that reduce humidity and leaf wetness are essential for good management: avoid overcrowding and avoid wetting the foliage. If plants are irrigated in a manner that wets the foliage, water early in the day so that the leaves dry quickly. When conditions are highly favorable for disease development, fungicides may be helpful in reducing the severity of the disease. Both organic and synthetic fungicides are registered to help manage these diseases. If fungicides are used, all label instructions should be followed very carefully. Some tomato cultivars are tolerant of early blight and are recommended in areas where this disease is common.

Phoma rot
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Pycnidia and spores of
Phoma destructiva,
the causal agent of Phoma rot
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)

Spores of Alternaria solani,
the causal agent of early blight
(Photo: NMSU-PDC)