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Florida FFA Vegetable Judging Competition: A Study Guide

Jennifer Lynn Gillett-Kaufman

This guide links to articles about insects that are often used in the Florida FFA Vegetable Judging Competition. Click the name above each photo to learn more.

Pests

Aphids

Figure 1. Female adult green peach aphids, Myzus persicae, with immatures.
Figure 1.  Female adult green peach aphids, Myzus persicae, with immatures.
Credit: USDA

Banded Cucumber Beetle

Figure 2. Adult banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata.
Figure 2.  Adult banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata.
Credit: Jim Castner, UF/IFAS

Bean Leafroller

Figure 3. Larva of the bean leafroller, Urbanus proteus.
Figure 3.  Larva of the bean leafroller, Urbanus proteus.
Credit: John L. Capinera, UF/IFAS

Cabbage Looper

Figure 4. Early instar larva of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni.
Figure 4.  Early instar larva of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni.
Credit: John L. Capinera, UF/IFAS

Click Beetle

Figure 5. Adult click beetles: Alaus myops, left, and Alaus oculatus, right.
Figure 5.  Adult click beetles: Alaus myops, left, and Alaus oculatus, right.
Credit: M. C. Thomas, Division of Plant Industry

Colorado Potato Beetle, Adult

Figure 6. Colorado potato beetles, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, feeding on foliage.
Figure 6.  Colorado potato beetles, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, feeding on foliage.
Credit: David Cappaert, Michigan State University, www.insectimages.org

Colorado Potato Beetle, Larva

Figure 7. Larva of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata.
Figure 7.  Larva of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata.
Credit: UF/IFAS

Corn Earworm

Figure 8. Larva of corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea. This is the light-colored or greenish form.
Figure 8.  Larva of corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea. This is the light-colored or greenish form.
Credit: John L. Capinera, UF/IFAS

 

Cutworm

 

Figure 9. Side view of the larva of a black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon.
Figure 9.  Side view of the larva of a black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon.
Credit: John L. Capinera, UF/IFAS

 

Fall Armyworm

 

Figure 10. Larva of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Note the light-colored inverted
Figure 10.  Larva of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Note the light-colored inverted "Y" on the front of its head.
Credit: John L. Capinera, UF/IFAS

 

Field Cricket

 

Figure 11. Long-winged, adult male southeastern field cricket, Gryllus rubens.
Figure 11.  Long-winged, adult male southeastern field cricket, Gryllus rubens.
Credit: Paul M. Choate, UF/IFAS

 

Flea Beetle

 

Figure 12. An Altica sp. flea beetle feeding on Cuphea hyssopifolia (false heather) in Gainesville, Florida.
Figure 12.  An Altica sp. flea beetle feeding on Cuphea hyssopifolia (false heather) in Gainesville, Florida.
Credit: Lyle J. Buss, UF/IFAS

 

Green Stink Bug

 

Figure 13. Adult green stink bugs, Chinavia halaris, on millet.
Figure 13.  Adult green stink bugs, Chinavia halaris, on millet.
Credit: Russell F. Mizell III, UF/IFAS

 

Harlequin Bug

 

Figure 14. Adult harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica.
Figure 14.  Adult harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica.
Credit: James Castner, UF/IFAS

 

Imported Cabbageworm

 

Figure 15. Larva of imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae.
Figure 15.  Larva of imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae.
Credit: John L. Capinera, UF/IFAS

 

June Beetle

 

Figure 16. Adult green June beetle, Cotinis nitida.
Figure 16.  Adult green June beetle, Cotinis nitida.
Credit: John L. Capinera, UF/IFAS

 

Leaf-Footed Plant Bug

 

Figure 17. Adult leaf-footed bug, Leptoglossus phyllopus.
Figure 17.  Adult leaf-footed bug, Leptoglossus phyllopus.
Credit: John L. Capinera, UF/IFAS

 

Leafhopper

 

Figure 18. An adult Homalodisca vitripennis, the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
Figure 18.  An adult Homalodisca vitripennis, the glassy-winged sharpshooter.
Credit: Chris Tipping, UF/IFAS

 

Leafminer

 

Figure 19. Mines in squash leaf caused by Liriomyza leafminers.
Figure 19.  Mines in squash leaf caused by Liriomyza leafminers.
Credit: James Castner, UF/IFAS

 

Lesser Cornstalk Borer

 

Figure 20. Mature larva of the lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus.
Figure 20.  Mature larva of the lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus.
Credit: John L. Capinera, UF/IFAS

 

Mexican Bean Beetle, Adult

 

Figure 21. Adult Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis.
Figure 21.  Adult Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis.
Credit: James Castner, UF/IFAS

 

Mexican Bean Beetle, Larva

 

Figure 22. Larva of Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis.
Figure 22.  Larva of Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis.
Credit: James Castner, UF/IFAS

 

Mole Cricket

 

Figure 23. Adult tawny mole cricket, Neoscapteriscus vicinus.
Figure 23.  Adult tawny mole cricket, Neoscapteriscus vicinus.
Credit: Paul M. Choate, UF/IFAS

 

Pickleworm

 

Figure 24. Young pickleworm larva, Diaphania nitidalis.
Figure 24.  Young pickleworm larva, Diaphania nitidalis.
Credit: John L. Capinera, UF/IFAS

 

Squash Bug

 

Figure 25. Adult (bottom) and nymph (top) squash bug, Anasa tristis.
Figure 25.  Adult (bottom) and nymph (top) squash bug, Anasa tristis.
Credit: John L. Capinera, UF/IFAS

 

Sweet Potato Weevil

 

Figure 26. Adult sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius.
Figure 26.  Adult sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius.
Credit: James Castner, UF/IFAS

 

Tomato Hornworm

 

Figure 27. Last instar larva of the tomato hornworm, Manduca quinquemaculata.
Figure 27.  Last instar larva of the tomato hornworm, Manduca quinquemaculata.
Credit: Paul M. Choate, UF/IFAS

 

Twelve-Spotted Cucumber Beetle

 

Figure 28. The spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi.
Figure 28.  The spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi.
Credit: James Castner, UF/IFAS

 

White Grub

 

Figure 29. Typical white grub of the genus Phyllophaga.
Figure 29.  Typical white grub of the genus Phyllophaga.
Credit: John L. Capinera, UF/IFAS

 

Wireworm

 

Figure 30. Larva of Melanotus communis, also known as a wireworm.
Figure 30.  Larva of Melanotus communis, also known as a wireworm.
Credit: Lyle Buss, UF/IFAS

 

Beneficials

Earwig

 

Figure 31. Adult female European earwig, Forficula auricularia, with eggs and young.
Figure 31.  Adult female European earwig, Forficula auricularia, with eggs and young.
Credit: Nabokov, en.wikipedia.org, Chester, United Kingdom

 

Green Lynx Spider

 

Figure 32. Adult green lynx spider, Peucetia viridans.
Figure 32.  Adult green lynx spider, Peucetia viridans.
Credit: UF/IFAS

 

Ground Beetle

 

Figure 33. Adult Calleida decora, a ground beetle.
Figure 33.  Adult Calleida decora, a ground beetle.
Credit: Lyle J. Buss, UF/IFAS

 

Honey Bee

 

Figure 34. European honey bees, Apis mellifera, on a comb in a colony.
Figure 34.  European honey bees, Apis mellifera, on a comb in a colony.
Credit: Ashley N. Mortensen, UF/IFAS

 

Lady Beetle

 

Figure 35. Adult Coccinella septempunctata, the seven-spotted lady beetle.
Figure 35.  Adult Coccinella septempunctata, the seven-spotted lady beetle.
Credit: James Castner, UF/IFAS

 

Praying Mantis

 

Figure 36. Grizzled mantid, Gonatista grisea (Fabricius), nymph.
Figure 36.  Grizzled mantid, Gonatista grisea (Fabricius), nymph.
Credit: Jeremy Cohen, University of South Florida

 

Tachnid Fly

 

Figure 37. Tachinid fly Ormia depleta (Wiedemann), the Brazilian red-eyed fly.
Figure 37.  Tachinid fly Ormia depleta (Wiedemann), the Brazilian red-eyed fly.
Credit: Lyle J. Buss, UF/IFAS

 

Tiger Beetle

 

Figure 38. A tiger beetle, Cicindela scutellaris unicolor.
Figure 38.  A tiger beetle, Cicindela scutellaris unicolor.
Credit: Paul M. Choate, UF/IFAS

Special thanks to the original authors of the publications linked here and to the photographers for sharing their photos. The photographers retain their rights to the images used here. Please contact them if you would like to copy or reproduce their photos. When possible, an email address for a photographer has been linked to their name.