Garden Pests & Controls
Be sure to walk your garden daily! This way you will catch any pests or disease early and you can treat accordingly. There is a much better chance of preventing infestations if caught early. Below is a list of common Garden Pests . I have listed organic controls for use when needed. I use them all AS NEEDED. Please always follow product directions. *Note: BT, Pyrethrum, Spinosad are an ingredient in products under different names so check labels when needing these to be sure they are listed.
When using pest control follow the directions on the label. Different products containing the same main ingredient may have different usage, targeted pests and applications.
Tomato Hornworm
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: Target tomato, pepper & eggplant. Eat leaves and holes in fruit. CONTROL: Pick off early morning or evening and destroy. Use product containing BT,Pyrethrin or Spinosad to as directed.
Pickleworm/Vineborers
Clemson University – USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: Target squash, zucchini & cucumbers. Boar into fruit and eat insides. Signs are holes in fruit and crumbles on outside of holes. Signs of Vine Borers are sudden wilting of leaves and stems, crumbles on outside of vines. CONTROL: Plant as early as possible before larvae hatches. Start spraying B.T on stems of plants and flowers/fruit continue as plants grow. Spray pyrethrin directly on borer to kill instantly, but use carefully, will kill beneficial bugs too Spray in evening when bees are not active. Same treatment for Vine Borers.
Aphids
Kansas Department of Agriculture Archive, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: Suck sap from leaves & plants. Spread viruses. Causes distorted leaves and blossom drop. CONTROL: Control ants, they host aphids. Wipe or spray off with strong mist. Spray with insecticidal soap or homemade garlic spray.
Army Worms
Frank Peairs, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: First sign is holes in leaves of tomato, cucumber and many other crops. Can eat the whole plant. CONTROL: Use Spinosad, BT or Pyrethrum as directed when young. Not very effective as adults.
Leaf Roller
Russ Ottens, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: Found on all types of beans. Look for rolled edges they live in them and eat leaves and the pods. CONTROL: Squash rolls in leaves to destroy. Unless completely infested no action is necessary. If action is necessary use Spinosad as directed.
White Flies
Kansas Department of Agriculture Archive, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: Found usually on underside of leaves. They suck the life out of leaves which leads to other problems. They look like snow when disturbed. Remove damaged and infested leaves. CONTROL: Use yellow sticky traps, rinse leaves daily with hard spray of water, or can lightly vacuum off. Use neem, insecticide soap or pyrethrin as last resort.
Cabbage Looper
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Slide Set, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: Found mostly on broccoli, cabbage kale & all other types of vegetables. They eat the leaves and plants. CONTROL: Use spinosad, BT or Pyrethrin as directed.
Cucumber Beetle
Kansas Department of Agriculture Archive, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: Found mainly on cucumber, squash, pumpkin & beans. Larvae feed on seedlings and roots, adults feed on leaves, stems and fruit. Look for holes in leaves and sudden yellowing and wilting. They also transport diseases from plant to plant. CONTROL: Till garden in late fall to expose to cold to lower populations in soil. Plant out larger plants since they are less vulnerable. Try neem oil or pyrethrum as directed. Keep in mind cucurbit plant leaves are very sensitive to sprays.
Colorado Potato Beetle
Ward Upham, Kansas State University, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: Feeds on potatoes, tomatoes, peppers & eggplants. They eat the leaves and plants. CONTROL: Protect with floating row covers over crops. Use spinosad & pyrethrum as directed.
Flea Beetle
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: Affects all types of plants especially the cabbage family. Check for small holes or skelitized leaves. Can kill seedlings. CONTROL: Clean up debri from old crops and keep weeds clear. Plant out larger transplants that are less vulnerable. Use pyrethrin as directed.
Leaf Miner
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: Look for small white lines in leaves. Damage is mostly cosmetic. CONTROL: Pull off and destroy damaged leaves. Squash the leaves between fingers to kill culprit. Spray with neem oil. Use pyrethrin as last resort.
Spider Mites
Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: Look for yellow specked areas with or without webbing, leaves turn yellow, white, or bronze, some leaves or growing tips may be covered with webs. Can suck the life out of leaves and plants. CONTROL: Spray/rinse garden plants with water daily to reduce reproduction. Use neem or insecticide soap for infestations.
Garden Leaf Hopper
Adam Sisson, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: Look for whitish or yellow speckling on leaves. Found on most plants but mainly beans. They suck the life out of leaves and plants killing them if abundant CONTROL: Compost tea and neem oil are effective controls.
Thrips
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: You will see distorted, discolored leaves and fruit, black specs of feces, white feeding scars similar to spider mites & other pests. May not see bug since so small. CONTROL: Healthy plants can usually tolerate attacks. For bad cases use neem oil or insecticide spray.
Stink Bugs
Frank Peairs, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
DAMAGE/DESCRIPTION: They look like they’re wearing shields and come in different colors. They suck the life out of a wide variety of plants. Will destroy fruit. You will see distorted fruit with off color spots. They let off a terrible smelling spray. CONTROL:Rinse plants with spray of water to knock them off. Destroy by hand. Use spinosad for larvea or nymphs and pyrethrin if necessary.