Table 2

The ten most important insect pests in 1986 by region, with rank comparison to 1980.

NortheastWeighted Valuea
1 (1b Gypsy moth487
2 (-) Ants112
3 (8) Japanese beetle89
4 (3) Aphids83
5(2) Tent Caterpillar82
6(7) Scales56
7 (4) Webworm35
8 (-) Mosquitos31
9 (5) Elm bark beetle30
10 (10) Bagworm25
Total weighted value, top ten Weighted value of all insects1030
in region1271
Percent of all insects19.5%
Percent of all pests14.6%
NorthCentral
1 (2) Aphids174
2 (-) Cottony maple scale®160
3 (4) Borers123
4 (7) Bagworm121
5 (9) Tent Caterpillar120
6 (3) Elm bark beetle115
7(6) Elm leaf beetle105
8 (-) Web worm70
9 (-) Birch borers60
10(1)Scalesb58
Total weighted value, top ten Weighted value of all insects1106
in region1641
Percent of all insects25.2%
Percent of all pests18.8%
South
1 (2) Borers197
2 (1) Bagworm170
3 (4) Aphids151
4 (5) Web worm145
5 (3) Scales132
6 (7) Elm leaf beetle94
7 (6) Tent caterpillar79
8 (9) Pine bark beetle66
9 (-) Mosquitos62
10 (8) Japanese beetle29
Total weighted value, top ten Weighted value of all insects1125
in region1620
Percent of all insects24.9%
Percent of all pests18.6%
West
1 (1)Aphids539
2 (3) Elm leaf beetle233
3 (8) Borers120
4 (5) Thrips112
5 (2) Scales89
6 (6) Tent caterpillar70
7 (10) Mites’157
8 (4) Caterpillar49
9 (-) Spider mited49
10 (-) Oak moth48
Total weighted value, top ten Weighted value of all insects1366
in region1970
Percent of all insects30.3%
Percent of all pests22.7%
National
1 (1) Aphids947
2 (3) Gypsy moth546
3 (5) Elm leaf beetle445
4 (6) Borers451
5 (4) Tent Caterpillar351
6 (2) Scales335
7 (7) Bag worm322
8 (9) Webworm265
9 (-) Ants218
10 (8) Elm bark beetle196
Total weighted value, top ten Weighted value of all insects4076
nationally6502
Percent of all pests74.8%
  • a Weighted according to rank of listing: first = 6, second = 5, etc.

  • b (#) The sequence of the most important insects in 1980 (see Kielbaso and Kennedy 1983)

  • c Cottony maple and “scales” combined as #1 in 1980—separated in 1986

  • d Mites and spider mites were combined as #10 in 1980.