A variety of arthropods act as biocontrol agents or predators of pest insects.
Bacterial wetwood causes sap to ooze from trees, creating a rancid smell due to internal gas buildup from bacteria.
Invasive apple snails, Pomacea maculata, have become widely established along the U.S. Gulf Coast including throughout many of the freshwater systems in south L
As temperatures rise, Louisianans could witness the emergence of periodical cicadas, as the 13-year cicada Brood XIX is scheduled to make an appearance.
Bird’s nest fungi are fascinating mushrooms that obtain their nutrients from decomposing organic matter. They do not harm plants and animals.
Slime molds are very common during extended periods of overcast skies and warm and wet weather.
Sooty molds are non-plant-pathogenic fungi that grow superficially as a thin black layer on leaves, fruit, twigs and stems of various crop plants or trees.
How to care for ornamental palms that have suffered freeze-damage injuries.
2020 National Survey
Lichens are fascinating organisms. They are composed of two different organisms – a fungal partner and a photosynthetic partner in a symbiotic relationship.
Boxwood crown and root rot is caused by Phytophthora spp., a funguslike microorganism commonly known as water mold.
An explanation with diagrams on how to collect a nematode sample.
Encouraging and maintaining healthy native bee populations in your yard requires the presence of nesting habitat in addition to forage.
A number of common vegetable and fruit plants can serve a dual function of providing food and habitat specifically for native pollinators.
Native pollinators have evolved close associations with the plants specific to their native regions.
This publication is intended to introduce home vegetable gardeners to the various methods used to manage the many diseases that affect these crops. (PDF Format Only)
Lethal yellowing, a deadly disease affecting palms, has recently been identified in silver date palms and Chinese windmill palms in Baton Rouge.
Bitter rot of apple is a fungal disease commonly caused by two species known as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. acutatum.
Mirlitons are susceptible to a common fungal disease called powdery mildew. Mirliton powdery mildew is caused by Podosphaera xanthii.
Louisiana's warm, humid weather encourages the development of several serious diseases that can damage rose bushes. This publication describes the major rose diseases found in Louisiana and offers disease management tips. (PDF Format Only)
Oleander leaf scorch (OLS) is a deadly disease of oleander that was first reported in California in the early 1990s.
In Louisiana, Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis Hort. Ex Chabaud) is a signature palm planted in New Orleans and nearby cities.
Rose rosette disease is caused by a virus known as Rose rosette virus. It is a devastating disease of roses – particularly since all cultivars are susceptible.
Downy mildew of sweet basil is a destructive disease that was first detected in the United States in 2007.
Citrus greening, also known as yellow shoot disease or huanglongbing, is one of the most devastating diseases of citrus worldwide.
Bacterial gall on Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense) is caused by a plant pathogenic bacterium called Pseudomonas savastanoi.
Sweet olive is susceptible to a bacterial disease called leaf scorch, which is caused by Xylella fastidiosa.
Boxwood blight, also known as box blight, is a fungal disease caused by Calonectria pseudonaviculata (Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculata, C. buxicola).
Like Spanish moss, ball moss is an epiphyte and belongs to family Bromeliaceae.
Citrus canker is a bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri. It is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia.
Large patch is the most common disease of warm-season turfgrasses in Louisiana. This disease is caused by the soilborne fungus Rhizoctonia solani.
Rosette disease is a destructive fungal disease of blackberries in Louisiana.
Bacterial gall on Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense) is caused by a plant pathogenic bacterium called Pseudomonas savastanoi. The bacterium is also known to cause galls/knots on olives and oleanders. Other important known hosts include ash, privet and forsythia.
Ants range from mildly irritating to highly annoying. Knowing the species, its biology and potential control methods can help you manage them. This is a useful reference for pest management professionals, extension personnel and homeowners. A key to ants, color photographs, diagrams and a glossary are included. Spiral-bound copies are available for $12.50 each. To purchase using a major credit card, click on "order publication."
Louisiana's warm, humid weather encourages the development of several serious diseases that can damage rose bushes. This publication describes the major rose diseases found in Louisiana and offers disease management tips. (PDF Format Only)
A Southern IPM Center publication. When choosing a broadcast bait to control imported fire ants, consumers and professional pesticide applicators face a confusing array of brand names and active ingredients with varying product performances. This guide addresses common concerns about broadcast baits to help consumers and professionals choose products that best fit their needs and situations. (PDF Format Only)
In Louisiana, Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis Hort. Ex Chabaud) is a signature palm planted in New Orleans and nearby cities. In 2009, a lethal disease called Fusarium wilt was detected on Canary Island date palms in Louisiana. The disease, which is caused by a soil-borne fungus called Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. canariensis, previously had been known to occur in California, Florida and Nevada.
Rose rosette disease is caused by a virus known as Rose rosette virus. It is a devastating disease of roses – particularly since all cultivars are susceptible, including Knock Out roses and wild multiflora roses (Rosa multiflora).
Proper identification is the key to successful disease management. This fact sheet is intended to aid in distinguishing among three common foliar diseases of watermelon. (PDF Format Only)
This fact sheet is intended to aid in the identification and management of phytophthora blight on peppers
In the United States, citrus greening was positively identified first in south Florida in 2005. It appeared for the first time in Louisiana during 2008 in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans. Since that time, however, no new Louisiana cases were reported until recently. During March 2014, the disease was again confirmed from several citrus varieties at multiple properties in the Gentilly area of New Orleans. (PDF Format Only)
Downy mildew of sweet basil is a destructive disease that was first detected in the United States in 2007. Since that first discovery in south Florida, it has rapidly spread to other parts of the United States and was detected in a Louisiana home garden in spring 2010. (PDF Format Only)
Downy mildew is a potentially devastating disease of all cucurbits. Disease symptoms, development, control measures and color photographs of symptoms on pumpkin, cucumber and watermelon are included. (PDF format only)
Louisiana is blessed with long growing seasons that make year-round gardening possible. To be successful, however, you must have an insect management program. Learn how to tell if the insect is beneficial to your garden or if it is a pest, and determine what to use if controls are necessary. (PDF format only)
This 52-page pocket guide is designed to help you identify pests commonly found in and around buildings. It includes photos and information about various pests, such as ants, roaches, flies, rats, mice, termites, spiders, wasps, bees, bedbugs, fleas, mosquitoes, ticks and more. Diagrams and scales showing the size of some of the pests are included to help in identification. A spiral-bound, heavyweight, coated-paper copy is available for $12.