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Garden Pest Identification

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.

Garden Cat

Animal

Where: In yards and landscaped areas where digging, urinating and defecating cause damage.

Aphids

Aphid

Where: In clusters, under leaves, and on new plant growth of indoor and outdoor gardens.

Armyworm Control

Armyworm

Where: Active at night on the leaves of lettuce, cole crops, beans, tomatoes and corn.

Asparagus Beetle Control

Asparagus Beetle

Where: One of the most destructive pests of both garden variety and wild asparagus.

Mexican Bean Beetle

Bean Beetle

Where: A destructive pest found in the eastern United States and portions of the southwest.

Blister Beetle

Blister Beetle

Where: Feeding in clusters on a large number of leaf crops, plant blossoms, flowers and hay crops.

Cabbage Looper Control

Cabbage Looper

Where: Leaves of cabbage or cole crops (broccoli, cauliflower, kale and turnip).

Cabbageworm

Cabbage Worm

Where: Chews large, irregular holes in the leaves of cabbage and cole crops.

Corn Earworm Control

Corn Earworm

Where: One of the most destructive insect pests attacking corn. Also found on tomatoes.

Cucumber Beetle

Cucumber Beetle

Where: Leaves, flowers and fruits of cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, beans and potatoes.

Cutworm

Cutworm

Where: At night, cutworms clip off seedling stems near or just below the soil surface.

Deer Control

Deer

Where: Browsers are found nibbling on gardens, tender perennials and young trees.

Garden Earwig

Earwig

Where: Leaves, flowers and shoots of most vegetables, flowers and ornamentals.

Corn Borer

European Corn Borer

Where: Leaves, tassels and stalks of corn; also found on peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and apples.

Flea Beetle Management

Flea Beetle

Where: A voracious feeder that chews numerous small holes in crop leaves. Jumps like a flea.

Grasshopper Damage

Grasshopper

Where: One of the most destructive insect pests attacking small trees, shrubs and gardens.

Leafminer Damage

Leaf Miner

Where: Between the upper and lower surfaces of leaves. Common in greenhouses.

Leafhopper

Leafhopper

Where: Found on a variety of fruit and vegetable crops throughout North America.

Potato Beetle

Potato Beetle

Where: Potato crops throughout the United States. Both the adult and larval forms are damaging.

Psyllid (Plant Lice)

Psyllid

Where: Throughout North America on fruit trees. Also known as jumping plant lice.

Root Maggot Control

Root Maggot

Where: Around the roots of many vegetable crops including radish, carrot, turnip and onions.

Garden Snail

Slug & Snail

Where: In damp, shady locations feeding on live and decaying plant material.

Rolly Polly Bugs

Sowbug & Pillbug

Where: On decaying matter; occasionally on seedlings, new roots and lower leaves.

Spider Mites

Spider Mite

Where: Indoor and outdoor gardens and can be very destructive in greenhouses.

Squash Bug Adult

Squash Bug

Where: Throughout North America on the leaves and stems of squash and pumpkins.

Adult Stink Bug

Stink Bug

Where: Attacking fruit and vegetable crops. Also, found swarming inside one's home.

Thrips

Thrips

Where: On the leaves, fruits and flowers of many greenhouse, ornamental and vegetable plants.

Tomato Hornworm Control

Tomato Hornworm

Where: The most destructive and widely distributed pest of tobacco and tomato plants.

Greenhouse Whiteflies

Whitefly

Where: On the leaves, flowers and fruits of many indoor and outdoor plantings.

Wireworm Control

Wireworm

Where: Underground attacking germinating seeds, roots, bulbs and tubers of plants.

Organic Pest Control

Organic Pest Control

Protect your home, lawn and gardens with these SAFE and effective products.