Found mostly west of the Mississippi River, these burrowing range from 6-12" long and sometimes are confused with ground squirrels. However, these furry creatures with strong digging claws and sharp teeth can cause lots more damage to lawns and gardens than a squirrel. They will feed on above and below-ground portions of many plants. Roots crops, such as potatoes and carrots, and bulbs, such as tulips, are favorite targets.
Gophers may gnaw bark from young trees in winter, and even chew plastic water lines when water is scarce. Their tunneling also leaves mounds of soil pushed to one side and plugged shut (versus mole mounds that are round and open). Their burrowing is deeper and not as obvious as mole tunnels.
Scientific name: Diabrotica speciosa Germar Native range: South America At Risk The cucurbit beetle has a broad range of vegetable host crops. In Minnesota, corn, soybean and potatoes are the most common hosts that cucurbit beetle could impact. This insect also has potential to impact fresh-market vegetables due to its affinity for plants in the Cucurbitaceae family. Distribution The cucurbit beetle is not known to occur in North America. Biology Adult beetles are
Scientific name: Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval Native range: Africa, Southern Europe and the Middle East At Risk Egyptian cottonworm has a wide host range of more than 80 plant species from over 40 plant families including vegetables, fruits and ornamental crops. In Minnesota some of our main crops that could be affected include soybean, alfalfa, corn, apples, grapes, beets, and potatoes as well as some ornamental poplars and pines. Distribution Spodoptera littoral
Scientific name: Agrilus planipennis Native Range: East Asia At Risk Emerald ash borer (EAB) kills ash trees. All ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) are susceptible to EAB. Millions of ash trees have already been killed across the midwest, eastern United States, and Canada. Minnesota has the highest volume of ash trees in the U.S. with nearly a billion forestland and urban ash trees combined. The potential for economic and environmental impacts of losing these trees is signific
Scientific name: Amphimallon majalis Razoumowsky (Syn. Rhizotrogus majalis) Native range: Europe At Risk The European chafer is a very serious grub pest of turf and can cause more turf damage than the Japanese beetle. Part of this difference may occur because the European chafer spends a longer portion of the summer feeding on turf. However, adult European chafers do not eat at all and so are not the problem defoliators that Japanese beetles are. Home lawns, golf cours