COMMON GARDEN PESTS
One bug does not make a problem! In nature, there are always some garden pests chewing on plants; that's just the way it is. However, not all pest damage is significant enough to warrant action. Even the healthiest gardens encounter bugs at one time or another, yet they still produce a beautiful harvest. As gardeners, we must each consider the level of pest activity that we are willing to tolerate.
The best way to maintain a healthy garden is to educate yourself and learn to identify common "bad bugs." Inspect your garden regularly to detect problems early. The sooner a pest is identified the easier it will be to manage using earth-friendly methods. Below we've listed several garden invaders that you may encounter. Click on each pest picture for a description and our list of organic remedies. |
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Ant
Where: Pestiferous in gardens where they protect aphids and other pest insects. |
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Aphids
Where: In clusters under leaves and on new growth. |
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Armyworm
Where: Leaves of lettuce, cole crops, beans, tomatoes and corn. |
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Asparagus Beetle
Where: One of the most destructive pests of asparagus. |
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Cabbage Looper
Where: Leaves of cabbage-family plants. |
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Cabbageworm
Where: Chews irregular holes in leaves (primarily cole crops). |
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Chinch Bug
Where: On corn and sorghums, also injures small grains and other grass crops. |
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Colorado Potato Beetle
Where: Leaves of potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants. |
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Corn Earworm
Where: One of the most destructive insect pests attacking corn. Also found on cotton and tomatoes. |
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Cucumber Beetle
Where: Leaves, flowers, and fruits of cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, melons, and other plants. |
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Cutworm
Where: At night, cutworms clip off seedling stems near or just below the soil surface. |
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Earwig
Where: Leaves, flowers and shoots of most vegetables, flowers and ornamentals. |
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European Corn Borer
Where: Leaves, tassels and stalks of corn; also found on peppers, snap beans, potatoes, tomatoes and apples. |
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Flea Beetle
Where: Chews numerous small holes in the leaves of many crops. Jumps like a flea. |
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Grasshopper
Where: One of the most destructive insect pests attacking gardens and landscapes. |
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Leafhopper
Where: Found on a variety of fruit and vegetable crops. |
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Mexican Bean Beetle
Where: On the underside of the leaves of all bean varieties. |
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Psyllid
Where: On a variety of plants, including most fruit trees and small fruits, as well as tomato and potato. |
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Root Maggot
Where: Underground where they attack many vegetable crops including radish, carrot, turnip, and onions. |
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Slug & Snail
Where: Throughout the United States on a variety of plants as well as on decaying plant material. |
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Sowbug (Pillbug)
Where: On decaying matter; occasionally on seedlings, new roots and lower leaves. |
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Spider Mite
Where: In colonies, mostly on the underside of leaves. |
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Squash Bug
Where: Throughout North America on the leaves and stems of squash and pumpkins. |
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Thrips
Where: Leaves, fruits and flowers of many plants. |
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Tomato Hornworm
Where: The most destructive and widely distributed pest of tobacco and tomato plants. |
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Whitefly
Where: Leaves, flowers and fruits of many vegetable and ornamental plantings. |
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Wireworm
Where: Underground attacking germinating seeds, roots, and tubers of plants. |
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