Author: Igor Sulzbacher Schardong

Amrasca bigutulla, commonly know as the two-spot cotton leafhopper, has been detected in several states in the southeastern US, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. This species is native to southeast Asia, where it is an important pest of cotton and okra. The arrival of the insect in the continental U.S. is a concern for cotton and vegetable production, although its impact on yield remains unclear. 

Adults are characterized by two black dots on the distal part of the forewings. Females oviposit on leaf tissues, and upon hatching, nymphs grow through four developmental stages in about 8 or 9 days. Adults live an additional 11 or 12 days. The short life cycle enables two  -spot cotton leafhoppers to produce multiple generations throughout the season.

Figure 1. Adults and nymphs of  two-spot cotton leafhopper feeding under cotton leaves. 

Both nymphs and adults feed on the underside of cotton leaves by injecting its mouth part in the tissue and consuming plants sap (Figure 2). Feeding can cause the cotton leaves to turn yellow. The detection of two-spot cotton leafhoppers is a concern for cotton production in the southeastern US. In addition to quantifying potential impacts on yield, future research will focus on monitoring two-spot cotton leafhopper populations throughout the season, developing economic thresholds and treatment recommendations to provide management solutions for cotton growers.

Figure 2. Mild (left) and severe (right) injury of two-spot cotton leafhopper in cotton.  

In greenhouse, nursery, and ornamental crop production, anticipating pest threats is crucial to protecting plant health, maintaining market access, and ensuring operational efficiency. The 2026 Insecticide, Miticide & Fungicide (IMF) Guide provides an updated, science-based framework for pest management, including chemical class charts, resistance management strategies, and pest-specific recommendations. It reinforces Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles, accurate identification, consistent monitoring, cultural and biological controls, and strategic chemical rotations to reduce resistance risk, preserve beneficial organisms, and maintain compliance with state and federal regulations.
A complete guide is available here: 2026 Insecticide, Miticide & Fungicide Guide.

This year, Dr. Zee Ahmed, Assistant Professor of Turf and Ornamental Entomology at Clemson University, took proactive pest management a step further with the release of a specialized field guide on Thrips parvispinus, a pest still under regulatory concern in the United States. Designed for growers, inspectors, and extension agents, the guide equips stakeholders with tools to detect infestations early, before they escalate into costly outbreaks. Early detection not only minimizes unnecessary insecticide applications but also slows the development of resistance and helps avoid potential trade or quarantine complications.

Together, the 2026 IMF Guide and Dr. Ahmed’s field guide form a powerful one-two punch: a comprehensive management framework paired with a targeted diagnostic tool. For stakeholders, this means better decision-making, reduced chemical dependency, and a stronger position in meeting both production and regulatory demands, assuring healthier crops, healthier markets, and a healthier future for the industry.

Figure 1. Field Guide for Thrips parvispinus (Ahmed, 2025): A visual diagnostic reference to aid in proactive detection in ornamental and edible crops.

The spotted lanternfly (SLF) has been established in 19 U.S. states since its first detection in Pennsylvania in 2014. It was confirmed in North Carolina in 2022, Tennessee in 2023, Georgia in 2024 and South Carolina in 2025. While other neighboring states in the southeastern U.S. don’t yet have confirmed established populations, the risk of establishment remains high.

Dr. Zee Ahmed (Clemson University) and his colleagues—Dr.   Shimat Joseph (University of Georgia), Dr. Midhula Gireesh (University of Tennessee), Karla Addesso (Tennessee State University) and Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdivia (Virginia Tech) developed a management calendar to support early detection and proactive control efforts for ornamental growers in the Southeastern U.S. This seasonal framework offers practical guidance to help growers address SLF concerns proactively from late summer 2025 through summer 2026.

Here is the link  Spotted Lanternfly Management Calendar for Ornamental Growers in the Southeastern U.S.

Dr. Zee Ahmed (Clemson University) and Dr. JC Chong (SePRO Corporation) have co-authored a new article in the July 2025 issue of GrowerTalks, offering practical strategies for managing scale insects in nurseries and landscapes.

Key highlights include:

• Identifying the most common scale insects
• Understanding why the crawler stage is the most vulnerable and effective target for control
• Monitoring crawler emergence using sticky bands
• Selecting insecticides that minimize impact on beneficial insects

With over 1,100 species in North America, scale insects are often difficult to detect and manage. This guide helps growers improve treatment timing and reduce long-term infestations.

Read the full article: “Target Scale Insect Crawlers to Prevent Sticky Situations” (https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=27527) in GrowerTalks, July 31, 2025.

Figure 1: Comparison of different types of scale insects

Figure 2: Top 35 scale insect species on ornamental plants: voltinism and approximate crawler emergence timing

August offers an early opportunity to help reduce next spring’s Spotted Lanternfly hatch in South Carolina. Adult populations are active now and, based on current predictions, are beginning to lay egg masses earlier than in northern states. These eggs can overwinter and hatch next spring, and they’re notoriously tricky to spot and remove once laid. Reducing the number of adults now can make a meaningful difference.

In landscapes, watch for lanternflies feeding on Tree of Heaven, grapevines, maples, and ornamental plants such as roses, lilacs, willows, birch, and blueberries. Both red-bodied nymphs and adults are present this time of year, so scout broadly: trunks, outdoor furniture, vehicles, fence posts—anywhere they might gather or lay eggs.

If you find them, remove them. Where feasible, eliminate host plants like Tree of Heaven, and consider targeted insecticide use if populations are high and egg-laying has begun. We’ve included a life stage calendar and size guide to help with identification in the field.

Don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Zee Ahmed’s team or the Department of Plant Industry at Clemson if you need assistance with identifying stages or weighing treatment options. The goal is to reduce overwintering eggs before they become next year’s problem. Refer to the included flyer for details on lifecycle timing and the activity calendar.

The Pee Dee Research and Education Center invites you to learn the most recently findings of research in plant pathology, entomology, soil and crop science in South Carolina.

Come join us in the field day organized at the Pee Dee Rec Field day on August 28th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, and hear from the experts of Clemson university!

It was only a matter of time, given its previous detections in North Carolina and Georgia—and now South Carolina has officially joined the list of states where the invasive Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) has been detected. This phloem-feeding planthopper poses a serious threat to vineyards, ornamental plantings, and tree health throughout the region.

Dr. Muhammad “Zee” Ahmed, Assistant Professor at Clemson University’s Turf and Ornamental Entomology Lab, is actively collaborating with entomologists nationwide through the Multistate Working Group for SLF. His ongoing efforts include:

• A field guide focused on early detection, host identification, life stages, and sustainable management strategies (Link).
• A detailed educational talk covering SLF biology, identification tips, damage symptoms, and integrated control approaches (Link).
• An updated Land Grant article on SLF, expected to go live soon to support regional IPM efforts.

With a host range exceeding 100 plant species and proven economic damage in the millions—particularly in vineyards—the need for early detection and rapid response cannot be overstated. Dr. Ahmed’s outreach emphasizes careful scouting for SLF egg masses, which can be confused with mud dauber nests, lichens, or other natural debris. Recognizing black sooty mold, branch dieback, and the insect’s distinct nymph and adult appearances are also key.

Management Tactics at a Glance

• Cultural & Mechanical: Removal of preferred hosts like Tree of Heaven; scraping egg masses.
• Chemical: Targeted use of insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, and neonicotinoids.
• Biological: Including Beauveria bassiana and egg parasitoids like Ooencyrtus kuvanae already present in the US.

Dr. Ahmed’s field guide is a critical resource for growers, landscapers, and IPM professionals looking to protect turfgrass, ornamental landscapes, and agricultural sectors from this hitchhiking pest.

To learn more or get involved, contact Dr. Ahmed at mahmed2@clemson.edu.

Mealybugs may be small, but their impact in greenhouse production can be massive. These sap-sucking pests often sneak in as nearly invisible crawlers and quickly establish persistent infestations—nestling behind leaves, burrowing into root zones, and hiding in plant debris. Once entrenched, they can be notoriously difficult to manage.

At the Turf and Ornamental Entomology Laboratory, we’ve seen firsthand how challenging mealybug outbreaks can be for growers. That’s why PhD students Powlomee Mondal and Peilin Tan, under the guidance of Dr. Zee Ahmed, compiled a comprehensive guide to help greenhouse professionals tackle these pests head-on.

What’s Inside the Strategy

In the article, Managing Mealybugs in the Greenhouse, we outline a science-based, step-by-step approach that includes:

• Accurate species identification to tailor control strategies
• Timed applications based on pest life cycles
• Rotation of systemic and contact insecticides to prevent resistance
• Sanitation protocols, including bench-washing and debris removal
• Efficacy data to guide product selection and application timing

This guide is designed to empower growers with practical, research-backed tactics that reduce pest pressure while preserving plant health and minimizing chemical overuse.

Read the Full Article

Mondal, P., Tan, P. and Ahmed, Z., 2025. How to manage mealybugs in the greenhouse. Greenhouse Management, [online] 24 June. Available at: https://www.greenhousemag.com/article/managing-mealybugs-pest-control-greenhouse/ [Accessed 4 Jul. 2025].

Grower Input Needed:

In addition to the article, Peilin Tan is conducting a brief survey to better understand the current challenges and research needs related to mealybug management in greenhouse systems. The survey consists of nine multiple-choice questions and does not collect any personal information.

We would greatly appreciate your participation:
Take the Survey

Figure 1: Scale insects.

Figure 2: Mealy bug species globally, in the USA, and in greenhouses.

Figure 3: Mealybug species considered greenhouse pests.

The combination of warmer temperatures and stress from dry conditions for rainfed fields is a reminder that if our fields have some history of stem rot/white mold disease (Figure 1), we can proactively protect them during our earlier fungicide applications. This can be as simple as adding tebuconazole in with the 45-day spray or coming in earlier 30/35 DAP with Elatus/Excalia/Lucento, or we may also consider swapping fungicides during latter applications for increased control. Not all fields need the extra attention, but it is a helpful tool at our disposal where we are looking for additional management. Likewise, earlier applications are less subject to canopy interference of spray penetration/ground deposition. Rain is our friend for many things including fungicide wash in, but its contribution rapidly drops off with increasing time after application. Two days after an application, rain will help some but is at that point more modest than monumental. Rain-in the day of application or a day after improves wash in, but this often comes at the expense of foliar leaf spot coverage/control. A persnickety predicament, or rather, a reminder of fine tuning one way or another. If we are coming due for an application where soil disease control is a priority and we can wait a day to two/three days to take advantage of a coming rain we can consider doing so, keeping in mind the suggestive rather than absolute nature of forecasts. This is more helpful later in the season when canopy size is larger. However, an application without rain is better than no application at all. We cannot wait indefinitely to take advantage of a possible rainfall, and we do well to keep in mind the importance of effective leaf spot management at the same time, as both our soil and foliar diseases are best managed in a preventative rather than reactive manner.

From work across eleven experiments conducted from 2015 to 2023 evaluating the efficacy of several different fungicides for stem rot/white mold control, maximum label rates of benzovindiflupyr plus azoxystrobin (Elatus) and inpyrfluxam (Excalis) were estimated as conferring the greatest returns over the chlorothalonil-only control (Bravo-only).

Control efficacy of maximum labeled rates of flutolanil (Convoy) and prothioconazole plus tebuconazole (Provost Silver) were also effective in managing this disease. While an application of tebuconazole alone for soil disease control was among the most efficient in terms of % stem rot control per fungicide product application cost, that active ingredient also conferred the least total amount of control at its maximum label rate. This makes tebuconazole an important and efficient fungicide to keep in our overall disease management programs, but other fungicides or tank mix combinations are capable of providing greater control where we could benefit from it due to specific fields having a history of increased white mold disease pressure, weather conditions during the year favoring its development, or application windows preceding a timely rain or irrigation allowing us to capitalize on increased efficacy.

The U.S. cut flower market was valued at approximately 9.2 billion USD in 2021 and is projected to grow to nearly 12.8 billion USD by 2028, with a steady compound annual growth rate of 4.8%. While irises make up a smaller share of this market, their visual appeal and versatility give them lasting economic and cultural value. Some varieties even pull double duty—producing rhizomes used in perfumes and traditional medicine. For South Carolina, ornamental horticulture is more than just aesthetics—it’s a key part of the state’s thriving green industry. Irises—particularly a wide range of native and cultivated varieties/cultivars—play a notable role in this sector, contributing to landscape diversity, wetland restoration, and the ornamental plant trade.

However, iris growers across the region may be facing an unseen threat. We recently discovered a dipteran leafminer, tentatively identified as Cerodontha sp., causing significant damage in iris production areas. A quick survey of major plant outlets in Florence, SC revealed that most Louisiana iris plants were infested, with damage easily mistaken for abiotic stress like overwatering or nutrient issues (Figure 1).

What to Look For:

• Yellowing and wilting of iris leaf blades (Figure 2)
• Short, whitish serpentine tunnels near the base of leaves (Figure 2)
• Iris plants failing to bloom

Detecting and monitoring the leafminer life cycle in your area is the first step in effective management. Many growers have had difficulty managing leafminers, and a key early task is confirming whether the symptoms observed are actually caused by leafminers. This involves locating mines and inspecting them for visible life stages such as larvae, pupae, or empty trails. Misdiagnosing the symptoms or mistiming treatments can significantly reduce control efficacy, especially when insecticides are applied during periods when the pest is in the egg, pupal, or inactive larval stage—times when it’s least vulnerable and least exposed to control measures.

If you find damage on your irises:

Please contact Dr. Zee Ahmed at mahmed2@clemson.edu or (352) 283-0173 for support with identification and management.