Shrubs/Ornamental Pests and Disease Control
Shrubs and ornamental plants in Florida are targeted by specific pests that are attracted to the plant or tree that satisfies their nutritional needs and favorable living environment. In order to successfully foster your infested shrub or ornamental back to its best health, you must identify the pest or the symptoms the plant shows. There are 5 groups to classify pests that target shrubs and ornamentals in Florida landscapes.
Lace Bug Nymphs
The first group is a classification for all pests with a piercing-sucking mouthpart. The insects use their pointed mouth part to pierce through the plant tissue to have access to the fluids within; they are considered herbivores because they do not consume anything off insects or mammals only plant tissue. Insectivorous pests are insects with similar mouth parts but will attack other pests, animals, or humans. Mosquitoes are insectivorous. Once they break through the outer surface they can then feed off the plants juices. Here is a list of pests that are classified in this category:
Thrips
Scales, aphids, whiteflies, mealy bugs, thrips, and lace bugs. Signs of having a pest in this group are bleached or bronzed leaves (dying leaves), white web like silk underneath leaves, and visibility of the pests themselves. This classification of pests that consume the plants internal fluids, mainly the aphids, causes costly damages to crops and farms. Aphids specifically are the most damage causing pest to crops due to the fact that some species of aphids are asexual causing a higher population than those not asexual.
Spider Mites
Spider mites take a category of their own because they are not classified as an insect. They are closely related to spiders and scorpions. Spider mites generally live on the underneath of the plants leaves. They can sometimes produce a silk web which is easily detected by the gardener to protect their colony or eggs. However, they are similar to insects with a piercing-sucking mouthpart. Spider mites have the same and will also feed off the plants juices causing damage to the leaf. Spider mites are known to feed off hundreds of species of plants. They are sometimes difficult to be noticed due to their small size. They spider mite will appear to be red dots and if large enough it will look like a small red or yellow spider.
Spider Mite Damage
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Foliage feeding insects or leaf eaters are the third group classification. Insects that may eat or consume the flower, leaf, and roots are labeled as foliage feeders. Examples of these classified pests are: Caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and katydids. The most common leaf eating bug in Florida are caterpillars. Foliage feeding pests make their presence known. The signs are difficult to not notice as well as the pest itself. This pest will take bites out of the plant leaving behind chewed leaves or flowers. Noticing root damage however, is more of a challenge.
Beetle Eating a Leaf
Larvae from flies, moths, wasps, or beetles will make their way in the plant tissue by squeezing in between the top and bottom surfaces of the leaf from the shrub or ornamental. This classification of pests is called leaf miners. The larvae will not have to exit the plant tissue as it receives all its nutrients there until adulthood. The pattern left on the leaf surface in which the tunnel is made by the leaf miner is diagnostic for which pests it is. Some plants will naturally grow with a pattern on the leaf mimick the tunneling of the larvae. This will trick
the pest from laying eggs in the area
making the pest believe the leaf is
inhabited already. 
Sea Grape Borer
The last group consists of the borers. These are the pests that boar their way into the truck of the tree or shrub. Most borers are larvae from beetles or moths. Commonly dealt with borers in Florida include: Pine bark beetles, sea grape borer, and the carpenter worm. The pine beetle borer is considered one of the most serious pests to pine trees in the United States. The beetle will target dying pine trees for the larvae to flourish. Sea grape borers are extremely common in Florida and easily detected. Sea grape twigs are typically the main part attacked. The damage is easily seen as the twig will show holes from the pests and may easily break. A sure sign in the sea grape are the random dead leaves left on the tree; these leaves are called “flags”.
Pine Beetle Borer
Identifying the source of the problem on your shrubs and ornamentals is time sensitive. If pests are left untreated, your landscapes health will soon deteriorate causing a need for replacement of the affected shrubs or ornamentals. A routine outdoor pest control allows constant monitoring on the health and possible threats from pests. Diseases among shrubs are a major problem in Florida, especially during the summer months. Again, monitoring from a professional exterminator will help prevent a major devastation of your landscape.
We also provide protection against other South Florida Pests such as: Termites, Fire Ants, Roaches, Fleas, and Ticks in Port Saint Lucie, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Palm City, Hobe Sound, Jupiter, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Palm Beach Florida. Our services include Residential and Commercial Interior Pest Control Services, Lawn and Ornamental Spraying and Fertilization, Rodent Control, and Termite Control, Tubes in the Walls Installation and Service.
Written by Brian Reynolds 
Phone #’s:Main: 772-334-7007
Port Saint Lucie, Florida: 772-337-2131, or 772-464-4707 Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach: 772-283-8986, or 772-546-9999 Jupiter/Tequesta/Palm Beach: 561-746-7969 Indian River: 772-778-5507Visit our Website:http://www.reynoldspest.com
