Harmless-Appearing Garden Pests that Causally Wreak Havoc on Your Floral Life
In every gardener's journey, pests can sometimes pose a significant challenge. From aphids to slugs, understanding these unwanted visitors and implementing effective control strategies is essential for maintaining a thriving garden. Here's a guide to some common garden pests and methods to manage them.
Aphids
Part of the Aphidoidea family, these small, soft-bodied insects can be identified by their pear-shaped bodies and wings (if present). Aphids feed on plant sap, stunting growth, causing leaves to brown, and distorting their shape. They can also spread viral diseases. Eliminating aphids can be achieved by using a strong spray from a garden hose, increasing the number of ladybugs in the garden, or applying insecticidal soap.
Cabbage Moths
Destructive to produce like broccoli and collard greens, cabbage moths are difficult to spot once eggs hatch. They can ruin the production of vegetable plants. Using an electric zapper racket or protecting plants with shade cloth can help manage cabbage moths.
Cutworms
Found in the top few inches of soil, cutworms are identified by their caterpillar form and wilted or severed seedlings. Hand-picking cutworms at nighttime, using plant collars around young seedlings, and applying insecticides are methods for treating cutworm infestations.
Earwigs
Earwigs feed on vegetables and plants like mums, clematis, and dahlias. Traps can be set near areas where earwigs are seen by tying damp newspapers with rubber bands. Reducing moisture by fixing leaky pipes or gutters and removing piles of leaves can also help manage earwigs.
Leaf Miners
Leaf miners, a family of flies, ruin the production of vegetable plants by burying into leaves. Protecting plants with row covers or using neem oil spray can help manage leaf miner infestations.
Squash Bugs
Squash bugs feed on vegetation and can cause leaves to wilt. Crushing their eggs, hand-picking adults, and drowning them in soapy water, or by trapping them with boards are effective methods for controlling squash bug populations.
Slugs
Slugs feed on leaves and flowers at night and on cloudy days, leaving a shiny, slimy trail behind. Beer or slug traps, growing plants that slugs don't like, or dropping them in soapy water are methods for managing slug infestations.
Thrips
Thrips look like tiny black flies and feed on plants and crops like tomatoes, peppers, and watermelons. Minimizing their frequency can be achieved by not using certain pesticides, maintaining good crop rotation, and using row covers.
Mites
Particularly spider mites, are found on the undersurfaces of leaves and thrive during summer. Spraying the garden with water, especially on the undersides of leaves, and using insecticidal soap can help manage mite infestations.
Other common garden pests include ants, whiteflies, flea beetles, codling moths, rats, mice, and snails. Effective control methods emphasize starting with the gentlest approaches, such as physical removal, cultural practices to maintain plant health, and encouraging natural predators.
References: [1] University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. (2021). Integrated Pest Management for Home Gardens. https://appliedresearch.ucanr.edu/blogs/blog/postdetail.cfm?postnum=34012 [2] Cornell University Extension. (2021). Home Gardening: Common Pests and Diseases. https://blogs.cornell.edu/vegetableprogram/common-pests-and-diseases/ [3] Michigan State University Extension. (2021). Home Garden Pests and Diseases. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/common_garden_pests_and_diseases [4] Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. (2021). Organic Pest Management for Home Gardens. https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/resources/organic-pest-management-for-home-gardens/ [5] University of Minnesota Extension. (2021). Rodent Control in the Garden. https://extension.umn.edu/yard-garden/rodent-control-garden
- Incorporating ladybugs, beneficial insects that feed on aphids, can enhance the lifestyle of a gardener by naturally controlling pesky aphids.
- To safeguard vegetables like broccoli and collard greens from cabbage moths, consider using a electric zapper racket or protecting plants with shade cloth, strategies that may improve the home-and-garden experience.
- Hand-picking cutworms at nighttime, applying insecticides, or using plant collars can help secure a healthy and flourishing garden, especially when it comes to preventing wilted or severed seedlings.
- Dropping earwigs in soapy water, reducing moisture, or setting traps near affected areas can be included in a gardener's shopping list, as part of an effective approach to manage earwig infestations that may disturb the growth of flowers and certain plants.
