MENU

AskIFAS Powered by EDIS

Florida FFA Vegetable Judging Competition: A Study Guide1

Jennifer Lynn Gillett-Kaufman 2

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.

Footnotes

1. This document is 4HPSJ25, one of a series of the 4-H Youth Development Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date April 2018. Revised February 2021. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.
2. Jennifer Lynn Gillett-Kaufman, associate Extension scientist, Entomology and Nematology Department; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Publication #4HPSJ25

Date: 4/1/2021

RELATED TOPICS

Curriculum
4-H/Youth

Contacts

  • Elena Rhodes
  • Sarah Hensley