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Ensign coccid explosion - can it be related to ants in my yard?

Hello! New here and am happy to have found this forum!

I live in Minneapolis, MN and have enjoyed a natural garden for 20 years now. Of course no pesticides are used - I WANT the bugs :) My garden boasts myriad species both of the plant and insect variety and I have enjoyed seeing various and numerous species througout the years.

About 3 yeas ago I noticed some funny white bugs near an ant hill in my garden. I had not introduce anything new - they just appeared next to the ant hive. The following year I saw quite a few of them, and this year the population has exploded - and my yard is certainly ground zero for this species. They sure didn't keep to just my yard, and one neighbor has begun erradication efforts with the thinking these were mealy bugs. Extensive googling and use of the image gallery on this site an others led me to identifying my white mystery bug as ensign coccids. I find hempitrans very exciting as it is, so very curious about the ensign coccids as very little seems to be out there about them. Efforst to contact the U of M entomology department for confirmation of species identification go unanswered. In the mean time my ensign coccids matured to match the images I have found of them on the web.

Is anyone here familiar with this species? Given the large numbers I am encountering I do have concerns over them being a garden pest - this out of concern for my neighbors -so should I attempt to control their population? Does anyone know of natural predators? Also I can't help but think there is a symbiosis with the ants, similar to aphids, as 'ground zero' as next to the anthill. I have also seen ants 'tending' to them, running around leaves packed with the ensign coccids. I would love to hear from anyone who knows about this brilliant white bug!

Contributed by Theresa Baker on 28 June, 2010 - 10:26am

Invasive species

Many times these population explosions are caused by introduced, non native species that left all their predators behind. One tragic example is the hemlock woolly adelgid. The agricultural extension should be concerned about his infestation; I am surprised that they didn't answer you. I suggest that you try again.
It would be very useful to have these images in the guide, rather than in this forum, also this would increase your chances for further information on this bug. Please, go to ID request, read the instructions and fill up the form. If you can get some close-up shots they would be most useful. I am very interested on non-native species so I would really want to know more about this. Even if they are native, this may be a new species for the guide, please, don't forget to post it to ID request. Thanks.

… Beatriz Moisset, 1 July, 2010 - 6:26am

The U of M extension service

The nice person who answered my post... shall we say.. had no clue. Told me I was seeing lacewing flies. Did not address in any way my concerns except to tell me to use a professional service for pest control (I had proposed using a flame thrower, given the size of area to treat). I will did express concerns over this being an invasive species, but those concerns were not addressed. I'll try again.

I had a really hard time getting the pix I have posted, but will try again to get really crisp, detailed shots and post in the ID request.

… Theresa Baker, 1 July, 2010 - 10:30am

I submitted this question to the U of M

Let me know if my message is not clear please!

__________________

"I live in SW Minneapolis, MN and have an explosion of ensign coccids in my large prairie style garden. I am concerned they may be an invasive species that needs to be managed. I have posted here before and have visted bug.guide.net and posted on their forums - they urged me to contact you again with my situation as it may warrant infestation concerns. Some history: I noticed a few adult sized ensign coccids near an anthill in my garden about 3 years ago. I did not bring anything new home, did not plant anything new, did not bring in anything to introduce this species to my yard. Last year the population exploded - many small specimens all over the soil. This year the problem is magnified, lots of specimens everywhere, creeping into my neighbors garden as well. I do not use pesticides of any sort in the garden but did take out a yellow jacket nest last summer with wasp killer spray - the wasp nest is in the side yard and at present shows only a few ensign coccids in residence. Because the anthill was 'ground zero' for this species, I believe there is a symbiosis with the ants as I do see the ants patrolling leaves encrusted with ensign coccids. I enjoy myriad insect species in my garden and have no problems with this species but am concerned that it may be an insect that should be radically controlled akin to the Emerald Ash Borer. Please advise."

… Theresa Baker, 1 July, 2010 - 10:49am

They told me I was seeing whiteflies...

I am at my wits end here. I can only assume because I am a self taught hobbyist that they assume I cannot properly identify what my eyes are seeing. Despite my images, which I admit are poor, and the link to this site with clear images, I am told I have whiteflies. Forget that I don't have tomatoes nor have I overwintered any plants (and the host of conditions that would introduce whiteflies). They suggest I take some specimens in to a garden center to speak with a horticulturalist and have twice now ignored my request to reach an entomologist.

(head:desk)
(head:desk)
(head:desk)

Any ideas? Do I just give up?

… Theresa Baker, 7 July, 2010 - 9:03am

*raises fist* Never give up!

You can try various Extension offices around the state. You may find a local working there that may be able to help. Emailing the Arboretum might help too. http://www.minnesotamasternaturalist.org/contact/ This has a list of contacts we Master Naturalists use to get around. One of them, especially Extension, might be able to help you.

… Cassie Novak, 7 July, 2010 - 11:33am

ROFL!

This is what they think I am seeing (and showing them)

The response when I politely told them they were wrong:

"The whitefly diagnosis was made with input from several sources, including Phd entomologists. Your library may have "Garden Insects of North America" by Whitney Cranshaw. This volume is used by entomology educators. Certified horticulturalists have strong entomology backgrounds, so taking samples of the insects and related damage will yield an accurate opinion based on your evidence. Several nurseries in your area have horticulturalists on staff for this service at no charge to you. Two that come to mind are Bachmans and Wagners.

U of MN Extension Master Gardener"

So, I am close to both garden centers and will make the appropriate calls to each and bring specimens for the Certified Horticulturalists so they can each tell me that I do not have whiteflies. I only hope they will confirm that they are what I say they are (if I am wrong I WILL post so on the U of M site) and that I am not obligated to do anything further than watch them do their thing in my yard. Any info on a symbiosis with ants would be a plus!

… Theresa Baker, 7 July, 2010 - 11:43am

Not quite as crazy as you might think...

Whiteflies actually have a sessile stage where they attach to plants like scale insects do, lose their legs, and grow tufts of fluffy wax:

… Chuck Entz, 8 July, 2010 - 2:52am

I appreciate your input...

Believe me, I have looked at images of white insects for the last year or so in an attempt at a difinitive ID. The whitefly in the sessile stage just does not look like what I have. My guys got legs and walk about. I have never, ever, seen wings on them - never seen the adult whitefly in my garden.

Am glad the U of M isn't completely off their rocker! But I handed them all the info on a platter and they fell so short.

Will be calling the two garden centers to meet with their horticulturalists perhaps this weekend. I'll post the update when I have one.

… Theresa Baker, 8 July, 2010 - 8:18am

Here's a reference:

International Union for Conservation of Nature, Invasive Species Specialist Group (IUCN-ISSG) has a Global Invasive Species Database- which includes an entry for one species of ensign coccid

… Chuck Entz, 19 March, 2011 - 7:00pm

About the only thing I can say for sure...

is that something is suddenly out of balance. Perhaps weather or pesticide spraying nearby have suppressed the predators and parasites. Or perhaps new plantings have expanded opportunities for pest insects faster than the predators and parasites could expand their numbers to keep up. Or something has weakened the plants and made them more susceptible. Or there are new pests that the predators and parasites don't know how to deal with.

Real, living ecosystems are extremely complex and less predictable in the short term than artificially-controlled systems like conventional gardens. In the long term, they tend to compensate and even out the imbalances, but you may lose some plants and it may seem out of control for a while.

… Chuck Entz, 28 June, 2010 - 4:02pm

The only thing that feels out of control

Are the ants. I need to caulk cracks as they are entering the house! I discovered a teensy species of ant while weeding - I can't name latin names, but I bet there are 7 species of ants in my yard. The anthill that is ground zero has been established there for years. I liked the idea of that -until the white bug invasion. I don't see them killing anything outright - but they do tend to follow the typical feeding patterns, ie flowers must taste very sweet before they bloom as the aphids will flock to certain plants prior to a bloom, so when the plants are encrusted with aphids - or ensign coccids - it can look a bit distracting to the casual observer.

… Theresa Baker, 28 June, 2010 - 4:10pm

Ants really help!

I've seen the same thing myself with a variety of aphid and aphid allies. The Ants help protect them from predators, as well as moving the 'herds' around to new feeding locations. Where there is major activity in the aphid and allies, you can usually bet there are ants around! I have cut off ants from their 'herds' in some of my trees and other garden plants, and saw a drastic reduction in numbers from predation and lack of movement. Didn't need chemicals for that one!

More expert advice is probably plentiful here about the relationship.

… Cassie Novak, 28 June, 2010 - 11:08am

Thanks, Cassie!

I have googled aphid allies or rather ant allies and only come up with aphids. I am not sure how I could cut off the ants from servicing the ensign coccids (they are all over my entire garden - I suspect the ants feel it is THEIR garden!) - but I do notice they are not as prolific in yards that do use chemicals (so I guess I am stuck with them!)

… Theresa Baker, 28 June, 2010 - 12:50pm

Well there is LOTS of ways to

Well there is LOTS of ways to make the ants ditch their 'cows'! First, plenty of critters love to eat those little guys. Ladybugs, Lacewings, Syrphid Hover Flies, Assassin Bugs. The list goes on! But you gotta make the ants stay away so they don't attack the predators. Strong smelling oils like Eucalyptus, Mint or Citronella poured into cotton batting and placed around the base of the plant can do that.

A few things you can put on the little suckers is Horticultural Oil. A super-fine oil that sends them packing! You can also do hot pepper oils, or just plain water! A really good, strong stream of water will knock them right off!

There are a TON of recipes for organic/natural sprays and tonics that you can use. But the Beneficial Bugs will be the most fun!

… Cassie Novak, 28 June, 2010 - 1:22pm

Hmm....

Cassie, the bugs are not limited to just one plant. This is my garden - not taken this year, as I kinda let nature take its course and allow the plants to plant themselves so it varies greatly year by year, but this is an idea of what I am working with:

If I applied anti-bug stuff to the entire yard to limit the ensign coccids, I would be limited the myriad other species that call my yard their home.

I have noticed this year specifically an explosion not just with the ensign coccids but of hemipterans overall. Lots of species this year that I have not seen before. Am working on taking pix to catalog my visitors but it is slow going.

… Theresa Baker, 28 June, 2010 - 1:31pm

Nice planting!

Sadly, I bet some people on the street aren't too happy with letting things be as they should be!

I'm pretty sure that if you combine using predatory insects and maybe leaving the sprinkler on the planting with a heavy, drenching downpour spray, it may help you out with controlling numbers. When doing things 'au naturale', you can never really get rid of all of them. But plants can handle themselves with smaller numbers of critters feeding on them.

There is a 'bug spray' you can make by collecting lots of the little critters, like 1/2 a cup, crushing them with a mortar and pestle and adding them to a spray bottle with about a cup of water. You spray it on the leaves where the critters are, and they seem to flee like the dickens! A gruesome task, but it may be good. Maybe the predators will think it's soup?

… Cassie Novak, 28 June, 2010 - 3:21pm

Bugguide and advice

Carice: please be careful to make clear that these are just your suggestions. Bugguide is not in the business of giving advice. This is no big deal; it isn't as if you were giving medical advice, besides it is obvious that this is just your experience; it doesn't hurt to emphasize that.
Perhaps you can give references to where you read this stuff.

… Beatriz Moisset, 28 June, 2010 - 5:49pm

Thanks for the bug soup recipe...

I could easily collect zillions and make a spray on soup! I may consider it! Right now, however, if they are not considered a noxious pest, I am content to take the watch and see approach. I have not seen them kill any plant. I find that they are attracted to the tips of the milkweed plants, and some of the more tender leaves on plants. If the plant is weak, I think it draws them. I don't do much to baby my plants so if a plant is ailing the bugs can take it out. The strong survive, and don't seem to attract the bugs. There are a few *pretty* things that come up that if I see too much buggy action I will do the soup! Thanks for the tip!

… Theresa Baker, 28 June, 2010 - 3:33pm

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