Symptomatology in the Instruction of Landscape Ornamentals Entomology

Abstract

In the teaching of landscape ornamentals entomology in off-campus Cooperative Extension shortcourses, the student often is more interested in pest problem diagnosis, than in instruction organized by insect grouping or host plant. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and signs; those caused by arthropod or mollusk pest attack can be conveniently organized into five categories: 1) chewed foliage or flowers, 2) stippled, bleached, bronzed, streaked or silvered foliage, 3) distorted plant parts, 4) dieback of plant parts, and 5) products on plant parts produced by insects, mites, or snails and slugs.