Holly Diseases and Insect Pests in South Carolina

Quick Guide

Affected Plants: Hollies (Ilex species), including American holly (Ilex opaca), Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta), Japanese holly (Ilex crenata), Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria), English holly (Ilex aquifolium), and selected cultivars.
Primary Disease Types: Black root rot, Phytophthora root rot, tar spot, nematodes.
Primary Insect Pests: Southern red mite, holly leafminers, scale insects, two-lined spittlebug.
Primary Causes: Soilborne fungi and water molds, fungal pathogens, plant-parasitic nematodes, mites, and sap-feeding insects.
Most Important Prevention Strategy: Plant holly species suited to the site, maintain well-drained soil, reduce plant stress, and monitor regularly for early signs of pests and diseases.
Chemical Control: Fungicides and insecticides are preventative or suppressive tools and should be used only according to label directions when cultural controls alone are insufficient.

Holly shrubs are valuable landscape plants, but they are susceptible to several diseases, insect pests, and environmental disorders in South Carolina. Regular inspection, proper site selection, and good cultural practices help prevent many problems before they become severe. This fact sheet explains how to identify and manage the most common holly diseases and insect pests using integrated pest management (IPM).

Holly Diseases: Black Root Rot on Holly

Black root rot is a serious soilborne fungal disease that primarily affects the roots of holly in South Carolina, especially Japanese holly (Ilex crenata).

Cause

Black root rot is caused by the soilborne fungus Thielaviopsis basicola. High soil moisture and low soil temperatures favor its development. This fungus infects the root system, reducing plant vigor and persisting in soil for many years, even when susceptible plants are no longer present.

Symptoms

Common symptoms include:

• Stunted terminal growth
• Shortened internodes
• Interveinal chlorosis (yellowing between leaf veins)
• Dark brown to black roots, beginning at the root tips
• Plant decline during dry weather
• Death of severely infected plants

Prevention and Treatment

Cultural Controls

• Remove infected plants since they cannot be cured.
• Replace infected hollies with resistant or less susceptible holly species.
• Improve drainage before replanting.
• Use raised beds where drainage is poor.
• Avoid planting susceptible hollies in sites that remain wet for extended periods.

Resistant Varieties

More tolerant holly species include:

• Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta)
• Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria)
• American holly (Ilex opaca)

Highly susceptible:

• Japanese hollies (Ilex crenata)

Biological Control

None available.

Chemical Control

Fungicide drenches are not generally recommended for landscape use because infected plants cannot be cured after symptoms develop.

Management should focus on prevention through proper site selection, drainage improvement, and planting resistant species.

Holly Diseases: Phytophthora Root Rot on Holly

Phytophthora root rot is a destructive water mold disease that affects holly growing in poorly drained or excessively wet soils.

Cause

Phytophthora root rot is caused primarily by Phytophthora cinnamomi and other Phytophthora species. Disease development is favored by poorly drained sites, excessive soil moisture, planting too deeply, and excessive mulch around the base of the plant.

Symptoms

Symptoms are similar to those of black root rot and may include:

• Yellowing leaves (particularly at the shoot tips)
• Premature leaf drop
• Slowed or stunted growth
• Twig dieback
• Wilting of one or more branches
• Brown to black streaks of dead tissue extending from infected roots into affected limbs
• Progressive root decay
• Death of severely infected plants

Prevention and Treatment

Cultural Controls

Reduce disease risk by following these best management practices:

• Select holly species adapted to the local climate and soil conditions.
• Purchase hollies with healthy roots and good foliage color.
• Avoid introducing infected container-grown plants into the landscape.
• Plant in well-drained locations.
• Improve drainage with raised beds where needed.
• Avoid planting too deeply.
• Avoid excessive mulching around the crown.
• Maintain proper fertilization and irrigation to reduce plant stress.

Japanese hollies (Ilex crenata) are very intolerant of poorly drained soils and are especially prone to root rot.

Biological Control

None available.

Chemical Control

Fungicides are preventative only and will not cure an infected plant.

Products containing mefenoxam may help protect healthy plants before infection occurs, but require repeat applications as directed on the product label.

Because these products can be costly and require accurate application, homeowners may wish to hire a licensed landscape professional.

See Table 1 for example products containing mefenoxam.

Always read and follow all pesticide label directions.

Holly Diseases: Tar Spot on Holly

Tar spot is a fungal leaf disease that affects several holly species, particularly American and English hollies, causing distinctive dark leaf spots.

Cause

Tar spot is caused by the fungus Macroderma curtisii (formerly Phacidium curtisii and Rhytisma curtisii). The disease primarily affects the foliage and, during especially wet years, may also infect berries.

Symptoms

Characteristic symptoms include:

• Small yellow spots that appear on the leaves in spring
• Spots that gradually turn reddish-brown
• Mature spots becoming black by fall
• Black spots on berries during years with prolonged rainfall

Prevention and Treatment

• Remove and destroy heavily infected leaves.
• Clean up and destroy fallen leaves.
• Prune plants to improve air circulation.
• Reduce overcrowding between plants.

Management focuses on sanitation and improving growing conditions.

Holly Diseases: Nematodes on Holly

Several species of plant-parasitic nematodes can damage holly roots, resulting in gradual decline and reduced plant vigor.

Cause

Several microscopic nematodes may attack hollies, including:

• Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.)
• Ring nematodes (Criconemoides spp.)
• Stunt nematodes (Tylenchorhynchus spp.)
• Sting nematodes (Belonolaimus spp.)
• Spiral nematodes (Helicotylenchus spp.)

These nematodes feed on roots with needle-like mouthparts (stylets), weakening plants directly and creating wounds that allow other disease organisms to enter.

Symptoms

Aboveground symptoms are often nonspecific and may include:

• General plant decline
• Slow or stunted growth
• Leaf yellowing (chlorosis)
• Premature leaf drop

Nematodes are seldom seen due to their microscopic size.

They live in organic matter in the soil or on roots and other parts of living plants.

Prevention and Treatment

Cultural Controls

Because effective treatments are unavailable for established landscape plants, prevention is essential.

• Remove infected plant material and surrounding soil.
• Plant into nematode-free soils when possible.
• Select tolerant cultivars for sites with a history of nematode problems.

Resistant Varieties

Tolerant cultivars include:

• Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta) ‘Burford’
• Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) ‘Nana’

These cultivars are tolerant to root-knot, stunt, and ring nematodes.

Chemical Control

Presently, no effective chemicals are registered for nematode control in existing landscape plants.

Management should focus on sanitation, site selection, and planting tolerant cultivars.

Holly Insect Pests: Southern Red Mite on Holly

Southern red mite is one of the most important mite pests affecting hollies in South Carolina, especially Japanese holly (Ilex crenata) cultivars such as ‘Convexa’. Although commonly called a mite, it is an arachnid that is more closely related to spiders than insects.

Identification

Southern red mite (Oligonychus ilicis) adults are reddish-brown and less than 1/50-inch long. They feed with piercing-sucking mouthparts on the undersides of holly leaves, where fine webbing is often present.

Southern red mite is considered a cool-weather mite. Populations typically peak during the spring and fall and become almost inactive during the heat of midsummer.

An easy way to detect southern red mites is to shake a branch over a sheet of white paper. The tiny mites can then be seen moving across the paper.

Adults, eggs, and cast skins (white) of southern red mite (Oligonychus ilicis).
John A. Weidhass, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, www.forestryimages.org

Damage and Symptoms

Southern red mites feed by removing plant sap from leaf tissues.

Symptoms include:

• Fine yellow speckling on leaves
• Bronze or bronzed-green foliage
• Premature leaf drop
• Fine webbing on leaf undersides
• Heavy webbing covering leaves and branch tips during severe infestations

Prevention and Treatment

Monitoring

• Inspect the undersides of leaves regularly during spring and fall.
• Shake branches over a sheet of white paper to detect mites.
• Begin management when mite populations are first detected to prevent heavy infestations.

Cultural Controls

• Wash mites from foliage periodically with a strong stream of water.
• Thoroughly spray the undersides of leaves whenever treatments are applied, since most mites feed there.

Biological Control

Several naturally occurring predators help suppress southern red mite populations, including:

• Predatory mites
• Ladybird beetles
• Other beneficial insects

Conserving these beneficial organisms often helps keep mite populations below damaging levels.

Chemical Control

If mite populations continue to increase after cultural controls are used, homeowners may treat infestations with labeled miticides or insecticides.

Less-toxic options include:

• Insecticidal soap
• Horticultural oil

When using horticultural oil:

• Apply a 2% solution.
• Spray when air temperatures are between 45°F and 90°F.
• Thoroughly cover the lower leaf surfaces.
• Repeat applications after 7 to 10 days if needed.

Important: Do not apply horticultural oil to drought-stressed plants or when temperatures exceed 90°F. Apply late in the day when no rainfall is expected within 24 hours.

If additional control is needed, products containing the following active ingredients are labeled for homeowner use:

• Acephate
• Bifenthrin

See Table 1 for example products.

As with all pesticides, read and follow all label directions and precautions.

Holly Insect Pests: Holly Leafminers on Holly

Holly leafminers are among the most common insect pests of hollies in South Carolina. The native holly leafminer (Phytomyza ilicicola) is the most common species in the state, and American holly (Ilex opaca) cultivars are especially susceptible to injury.

Identification

Leafminers are the immature (larval) stage of small black and gray flies about ⅛-inch long. The larvae are about ¹/₁₆-inch long.

Adult females insert eggs into young holly leaves through puncture wounds made by their ovipositor. The eggs hatch in about four days, and the larvae tunnel between the upper and lower leaf surfaces. The paths they follow turn yellowish-brown and typically broaden into a blotch. Their presence inside the leaf protects them from many insecticides.

As they feed, the narrow tunnels gradually enlarge into blotch-like mines. Because the larvae remain protected inside the leaf, they are difficult to control with many contact insecticides.

Damage and Symptoms

Leafminer feeding occurs inside the leaf, producing distinctive mines that expand as larvae mature.

Symptoms include:

• Small punctures where eggs were inserted
• Distorted young leaves when numerous eggs are laid
• Narrow, winding yellowish-brown mines
• Enlarging blotch mines within leaves
• Larvae feeding between the upper and lower leaf surfaces

Prevention and Treatment

Monitoring

• Inspect new foliage during spring for egg-laying punctures.
• Look for developing leaf mines as leaves expand.
• Monitor susceptible American hollies closely during May when larvae are active.

Cultural Controls

• Handpick and destroy infested leaves when populations are low.
• Promptly dispose of infested foliage to reduce developing larvae.

Biological Control

Several natural enemies help reduce leafminer populations, including:

• Parasitic wasps
• Birds

These beneficial organisms often suppress leafminer populations without additional treatment.

Chemical Control

If treatment becomes necessary, several options are available.

Foliar systemic insecticides include:

• Acephate
• Spinosad

Apply foliar sprays during May while larvae are actively feeding within mines.

Systemic soil treatments include:

• Dinotefuran
• Imidacloprid

Apply these products in the early spring for season-long protection. Dinotefuran generally moves into shrubs more quickly than imidacloprid, providing faster leafminer suppression.

See Table 1 for example products.

Read and follow all label instructions and precautions.

Holly Insect Pests: Scale Insects on Holly

Scale insects are common pests of hollies in South Carolina, particularly Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta) cultivars. Both armored and soft scales feed on plant sap and can weaken shrubs when infestations become severe.

Identification

Scale insects are unusual in appearance, as they vary greatly depending on age, sex, and species. Adults are small, immobile insects that lack visible legs and are protected by a waxy covering. They are commonly found on the undersides of leaves, where they appear as small brown, gray, or white bumps. Some species also infest twigs and branches.

The immature stage, called the crawler, is the only mobile life stage and is the most susceptible to insecticides.

Common scale insects found on hollies include:

• Greedy scale (Hemiberlesia rapax), an armored scale, reported on ‘East Palatka’ holly.
• Indian wax scale (Ceroplastes ceriferus) is a soft scale that may infest Chinese (Ilex cornuta) and Yaupon hollies (Ilex vomitoria).
• Holly pit scale (Asterolecanium puteanum) is a pest on American holly (Ilex opaca), ‘Burford’ Chinese holly, Japanese holly (Ilex crenata), and Yaupon hollies.
• Tea scale (Fiorinia theae) is another very common armored scale pest of hollies.

Damage and Symptoms

Scale insects feed by piercing leaves and stems and sucking plant sap.

Symptoms include:

• Small brown, gray, or white bumps on leaves or stems
• Yellowing foliage
• Leaf drop
• Water-stressed appearance
• General decline in plant vigor
• Branch dieback
• Plant death during severe infestations

Prevention and Treatment

Monitoring

• Inspect the undersides of leaves and young stems regularly for scales.
• Check nearby woody ornamentals for infestations that may spread to hollies.
• Monitor crawler emergence using:
  • Sticky cards
  • Double-sided tape wrapped around branches
  • Infested shoot or leaf placed in a clear plastic bag to observe crawler movement

Crawler activity often coincides with the flush of new plant growth in the spring, although some species may have overlapping generations and extended crawler emergence periods (E.g., along the coast).

Cultural Controls

For light infestations:

• Scrape scales from stems and leaves by hand.
• Prune heavily infested branches.
• Promptly dispose of infested plant material.

Biological Control

Natural predators often provide excellent suppression of scale insects. Avoid unnecessary applications of broad-spectrum insecticides, as they may kill these beneficial insects, allowing scale populations to increase.

Chemical Control

Chemical control is rarely necessary unless a valuable plant has a heavy scale infestation that cannot be managed with cultural controls or horticultural oil.

Avoid using broad-spectrum contact insecticides unless the plant is very valuable and in danger from scale insects. These products can kill naturally occurring predators and parasites that help keep scale populations under control. If insecticides are needed, apply them when crawlers are present, as this is the life stage most susceptible to treatment.

Horticultural oil provides excellent control of both soft and armored scales by suffocating the insects.

For best results:

• Apply a 2% horticultural oil spray in early spring before new growth begins to kill both over-wintering adults and eggs.
• After new growth begins and the danger of freezing temperatures has passed, apply another horticultural oil spray when crawlers are active.
• Repeat the application 10 days later if needed.
• Spray when temperatures are between 45°F and 90°F and no rainfall is expected within 24 hours.

Important: Horticultural oil provides excellent control while helping conserve many beneficial insects. Thorough coverage of leaves, stems, and branches is essential for effective control.

If crawler populations remain high, products containing the following active ingredients are labeled for homeowner use:

• Acephate
• Bifenthrin
• Cyfluthrin
• Cyhalothrin
• Malathion
• Permethrin

For both soft and armored scales, a soil drench containing dinotefuran can provide effective systemic control.

See Table 1 for example products.

As with all pesticides, read and follow all label instructions and precautions.

Holly Insect Pests: Two-Lined Spittlebug on Holly

Two-lined spittlebug is primarily a pest of warm-season turfgrasses but can also damage certain holly cultivars in South Carolina. ‘Savannah’, ‘East Palatka’, and ‘Foster’ hollies are especially susceptible to feeding injury from adults during late summer and early fall.

Identification

There are two generations of two-lined spittlebugs each year in South Carolina. They overwinter as eggs, which are typically laid in turfgrass.

Adults are about a ⅓-inch long and are brown with two orangish-red stripes on the wings. The immature stage (nymph) is white or yellowish, wingless, and produces a distinctive white, frothy spittle mass that helps keep it moist and protected from predators and parasites.

Eggs hatch in late March or April, and the nymphs feed on turfgrass. Later in the season, a second generation of adults develops and may move from nearby lawns onto susceptible hollies, where they cause the greatest damage.

Damage and Symptoms

Adult two-lined spittlebugs feed by sucking plant sap from holly foliage.

Symptoms include:

• Distorted leaves
• Wilting
• Discoloration of young leaves
• Blotches on older leaves
• Premature leaf drop
• Most injury occurring during late summer and early fall

Prevention and Treatment

Monitoring

• Inspect susceptible hollies during late summer and early fall.
• Watch for adult spittlebugs on foliage and for new feeding injury.
• Check nearby turfgrass for spittle masses produced by nymphs earlier in the growing season, as lawns often serve as the source of later infestations.

Cultural Controls

Maintaining healthy turfgrass and monitoring nearby lawns may help reduce the movement of adult spittlebugs onto susceptible hollies. Early detection of feeding injury allows treatment before significant leaf damage occurs.

Biological Control

None available.

Chemical Control

If treatment becomes necessary, apply an insecticidal spray during late summer or early fall when adult spittlebugs are actively feeding. Reapply every 10 to 14 days.

Products containing the following active ingredients are labeled for homeowner use:

• Acephate
• Bifenthrin
• Cyfluthrin
• Cyhalothrin
• Permethrin

For season-long protection, products containing imidacloprid may be applied as a soil treatment in spring as new growth begins. These products move systemically through the shrub and can help protect hollies from many insect pests for up to one year.

See Table 1 for example products.

As with all pesticides, read and follow all label directions and precautions.

Disorders of Holly

Several environmental and mechanical disorders can affect hollies in South Carolina. Although these problems may resemble diseases or insect damage, they are caused by environmental conditions or physical injury rather than pathogens or pests. Correctly identifying these disorders can help avoid unnecessary pesticide applications.

Purple Leaf Scorch on Holly

Purple leaf scorch is a common environmental disorder that affects holly foliage during periods of bright sunlight following freezing weather.

Cause

Purple leaf scorch occurs when water or ice remains on holly leaves while they are exposed to bright sunlight. The resulting leaf scald may later be invaded by secondary organisms, leading to scorched foliage.

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

• Purplish blotches on leaves
• Scorched or burned leaf tissue
• Leaf discoloration that may later develop secondary decay

Prevention and Management

• Recognize that this is an environmental disorder rather than a fungal disease.
• Avoid confusing purple leaf scorch with infectious leaf spot diseases.
• Maintain overall plant vigor to help plants recover from environmental stress.

Spine Spot on Holly

Spine spot is a mechanical injury caused when sharp holly leaf spines puncture adjacent leaves.

Cause

Leaf spines from nearby holly leaves puncture adjacent foliage, creating small spots that are sometimes mistaken for insect or disease damage.

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

• Small, gray spots
• Purple halos surrounding the spots
• Spots that may resemble leafminer injury at first glance

Prevention and Management

Spine spot can be distinguished from holly leafminer injury because the spots have:

• A gray center
• A purple halo

Leafminer damage lacks both of these characteristics. Correct diagnosis helps prevent unnecessary insecticide applications.

Winter Damage on Holly

Winter injury can occur when cold temperatures, drying winds, or other adverse winter conditions damage holly foliage and stems.

Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

• Browning leaves
• Marginal leaf scorch
• Leaf drop
• Twig dieback
• Limb dieback
• Death of entire plants in severe cases

Prevention and Management

Maintain healthy, vigorous plants by properly watering and selecting sites to reduce stress and improve tolerance to winter conditions.

Drought Damage on Holly

Drought stress is a common environmental disorder that can affect many hollies, particularly recently planted Japanese holly cultivars.

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

• Yellowing leaves
• Brown leaves
• Reduced vigor during dry periods

Prevention and Management

• Water hollies during extended dry periods.
• Pay particular attention to newly planted shrubs during their first several years after planting.
• Japanese hollies, especially ‘Helleri’, are less tolerant of low soil moisture and benefit from consistent irrigation during drought.

Fungicides, Insecticides, and Miticides for Managing Holly Diseases and Insect Pests in the Home Landscape (Table 1)

The following active ingredients are labeled for managing selected diseases, insects, and mites affecting hollies in the home landscape. Always verify that the product is labeled for your specific pest or disease and ornamental plant, and follow all label directions and precautions.

Fungicides for Holly Diseases

Active Ingredient	Example Product Names
Mefenoxam	Subdue GR

Insecticides and Miticides for Holly Insect Pests

Active Ingredient	Example Product Names
Acephate	BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions 2-in-1 Systemic Rose & Flower Care Granules with 6-9-6 Fertilizer Bonide Systemic Insect Control II
Bifenthrin	Hi-Yield Bug Blaster Bifenthrin 2.4 Ready to Spray Hi-Yield Bug Blaster II Bifenthrin 2.4 Ready to Spray Monterey Mite & Insect Control Monterey Mosquito Control Martin’s FLEE Ready to Use Yard Spray Ortho Outdoor Insect Killer Concentrate Ortho Bug B Gon Insect Killer for Lawns & Gardens1 Ortho BugClear Insect Killer for Lawns & Landscapes Bifen I/T Talstar P Professional Insecticide Up-Star Gold Insecticide Hi-Yield Vegetable & Ornamental Insect Control Granules Bonide Eight Insect Control Flower & Vegetable Above & Below Soil Insect Granules
Cyfluthrin	BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions 24 Hour Lawn Insect Killer Ready-to-Spray BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions Complete Brand Insect Killer for Soil & Turf Ready-to-Spray I BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions Insect Killer for Lawns Ready-to-Spray BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions Rose & Flower Insect Killer Ready-to-Use
Cyhalothrin	Bonide Eight Insect Control Garden & Home II Ready to Use Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray Concentrate Cyzmic CS Controlled Release Insecticide Martin’s Cyonara Lawn & Garden Insect Control Martin’s Cyonara Lawn & Garden Insect Control Ready-to-Spray Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer for Lawns & Landscapes
Dinotefuran	Gordon’s Zylam Liquid Systemic Insecticide Valent Safari 20 SG Insecticide
Horticultural oil	Bonide All Seasons Horticulture Spray Oil Ready-to-Use Bonide All Seasons Horticulture & Dormant Spray Oil Ready-to-Spray Ferti-lome Horticultural Oil Spray Monterey Horticultural Oil Concentrate Monterey Horticultural Oil RTU Safer Brand Horticultural & Dormant Spray Oil Concentrate Southern Ag Parafine Horticultural Oil Summit Year-Round Spray Oil
Imidacloprid	BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions 12 Month Tree & Shrub Insect Control Concentrate Landscape Formula BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions 12 Month Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed Concentrate 2-1-1 BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions 12 Month Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed II Concentrate 2-1-1 BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions 12 Month Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed II Ready to Use Granules 2-1-1 BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions 12 Month Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed Ready to Use Granules 2-1-1 BioAdvanced Science-Based Solutions 2 in 1 Systemic Rose & Flower Care Ready-to-Use Granules II Bonide Annual Tree & Shrub Insect Control w/ Systemaxx Bonide Systemic Granules Insect Control Bonide Systemic Insect Spray w/ Systemaxx Ready to Spray Ferti-lome Tree & Shrub Drench3 Hi-Yield Systemic Insect Granules Hi-Yield Systemic Insect Spray Ready-to-Spray Martin’s Dominion Tree & Shrub Insecticide Concentrate Monterey Once A Year Insect Control II
Malathion	Bonide Malathion 50% Insect Control Gordon’s Malathion 50% Spray Hi-Yield 55% Malathion Insect Spray Martin’s Malathion 57% Ortho Max Malathion Insect Spray Concentrate Southern Ag Malathion 50% EC Spectracide Malathion Insect Spray Concentrate Tiger Brand 50% Malathion
Permethrin	Bonide Eight Insect Control Vegetable, Fruit, & Flower Concentrate Bonide Eight Yard & Garden Ready to Spray Hi-Yield 38 Plus Turf, Termite & Ornamental Insect Control Hi-Yield Lawn Garden Pet & Farm Insect Control Southern Ag Permetrol Lawn & Garden Insecticide Tiger Brand Super 10 Brand
Spinosad	Bonide Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew Concentrate Bonide Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew Ready to Spray Bonide Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew Ready to Use Bonide Colorado Potato Beetle Beater Concentrate Conserve SC Turf & Ornamental Monterey Garden Insect Spray Monterey Garden Insect Spray RTU Natural Guard by ferti-lome Spinosad Bagworm, Tent Caterpillar & Chewing Insect Control Natural Guard by ferti-lome Spinosad Soap Ortho Insect Killer Tree & Shrub Concentrate Southern Ag Conserve Naturalyte Insect Control

Pollinator Protection and Pesticide Safety

Caution: Pollinating insects, such as honeybees and bumble bees, can be adversely affected by pesticide use. Avoid using spray pesticides (both insecticides and fungicides) and soil-applied systemic insecticides unless necessary. If spraying is required, apply pesticides late in the evening to reduce their direct impact on pollinating insects.

Whenever possible, begin with less-toxic products. Examples include:

• Insecticidal soap
• Horticultural oil
• Neem oil extract
• Spinosad
• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
• Botanical oils

Neem oil extract and botanical oil sprays may also help repel certain insect pests. Less-toxic fungicides containing sulfur or copper soap, as well as biological fungicides containing Bacillus subtilis, are also available for managing some plant diseases.

Practice cultural techniques to prevent or reduce pest and disease problems, including:

• Improving soil before planting
• Proper plant spacing
• Crop rotation where appropriate
• Applying mulch
• Applying lime and fertilizer based on soil test recommendations
• Avoiding overhead irrigation
• Avoiding frequent watering of established plants

Important Application Precautions

Do not apply horticultural oil to drought-stressed plants or when temperatures exceed 90°F. Apply late in the day when no rainfall is expected within 24 hours.

RTS = Ready-to-Spray (hose-end applicator)

RTU = Ready-to-Use (pre-mixed spray bottle)

Drench = Mix with water and pour around the base of the plant.

Always read and follow all pesticide label directions and precautions before applying any pesticide.

For more information, contact the Clemson Extension Home & Garden Information Center.

Pesticides are updated annually. The last updates were made on 7/26 by N. Jordan Franklin.

Originally published 04/01