16 Common Garden Pests: Identification, Prevention, and Control

Gardening can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience, but it’s not without its challenges. One of the most persistent and frustrating issues gardeners face is dealing with common garden pests. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll discuss 16 of the most prevalent garden pests, how to identify them, and the best strategies for pest prevention and control. By following our advice, you’ll be well on your way to maintaining a beautiful and healthy garden.

Aphids

Identification: Aphids are small, pear-shaped insects that come in a variety of colors, including green, black, and yellow. They have long, slender legs and antennae, and some species have wings.

Damage: Aphids feed on plant sap, causing leaves to curl, wilt, or yellow. They also excrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which can lead to mold growth and attract ants.

Prevention and Control: Regularly inspect plants for aphids and remove them by hand or with a strong blast of water. Introduce beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and lacewings, to help control aphid populations. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to infested plants as needed.

Cabbage Worms

Identification: Cabbage worms are small, green caterpillars with a thin, white stripe down each side. They are the larvae of the cabbage white butterfly, which is white with black markings.

Damage: These pests feed on the leaves of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables, leaving irregular holes and patches of damage.

Prevention and Control: Use floating row covers to prevent adult butterflies from laying eggs on plants. Handpick caterpillars and dispose of them in soapy water. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to infested plants, as it is a natural, effective control for caterpillars.

Cutworms

Identification: Cutworms are the larvae of various species of moths. They are typically gray or brown and curl up when disturbed.

Damage: Cutworms feed on the stems of young plants at the soil level, often severing them completely. This can result in the death of seedlings and transplants.

Prevention and Control: Place cardboard collars around the base of young plants to deter cutworms. Handpick and destroy cutworms found in the soil near affected plants. Apply beneficial nematodes to the soil to target cutworm larvae.

Flea Beetles

Identification: Flea beetles are small, shiny beetles that jump when disturbed. They come in a variety of colors, including black, blue, and metallic green.

Damage: These beetles feed on the leaves of many garden

plants, creating small, round holes that give the foliage a “shothole” appearance. They can be particularly damaging to young seedlings and transplants.

Prevention and Control: Apply floating row covers to protect vulnerable plants. Introduce beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, to help control flea beetle populations. Apply diatomaceous earth around the base of affected plants, and use insecticidal soap or neem oil as needed.

Grasshoppers

Identification: Grasshoppers are large, winged insects with powerful hind legs for jumping. They come in various shades of green, brown, and yellow.

Damage: Grasshoppers feed on the leaves and stems of a wide variety of plants, leaving ragged, irregular holes.

Prevention and Control: Use floating row covers or bird netting to protect plants from grasshoppers. Encourage natural predators, such as birds and praying mantises, by providing habitat and food sources. Apply a spray containing Nosema locustae, a natural grasshopper control, as needed.

Japanese Beetles

Identification: Japanese beetles are metallic green with copper-colored wing covers. They are approximately 1/2-inch long and have a row of white tufts along the sides of their bodies.

Damage: These beetles feed on the leaves and flowers of over 300 plant species, skeletonizing the foliage and leaving behind only the veins.

Prevention and Control: Handpick beetles and drop them into soapy water. Use pheromone traps to capture adult beetles, but place them away from your garden to avoid attracting more pests. Apply milky spore to the soil to target the larvae, which are white grubs.

Leafminers

Identification: Leafminers are the larvae of various species of flies, moths, and beetles. They create winding, white trails on the surface of leaves as they feed on the tissue between the upper and lower surfaces.

Damage: Leafminers can cause cosmetic damage to leaves, but they rarely cause significant harm to the overall health of the plant.

Prevention and Control: Remove and dispose of affected leaves to reduce leafminer populations. Release beneficial insects, such as parasitic wasps, to help control leafminers. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to infested plants as needed.

Mealybugs

Identification: Mealybugs are small, oval-shaped insects covered in a white, waxy substance. They are often found in clusters on plant stems and the undersides of leaves.

Damage: Mealybugs feed on plant sap, causing leaves to curl, yellow, and drop prematurely. They also excrete honeydew, which can lead to mold growth and attract ants.

Prevention and Control: Regularly inspect plants for mealybugs and remove them by hand or with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Introduce beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and lacewings, to help control mealybug populations. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to infested plants as needed.

Mites

Identification: Mites are tiny, spider-like creatures that are often difficult to see with the naked eye. They come in a variety of colors, including red, green, and yellow.

Damage: Mites feed on plant sap, causing leaves to become speckled, discolored, or distorted. Severe infestations can lead to defoliation and stunted growth.

Prevention and Control: Regularly inspect plants for mites and remove them with a strong blast of water. Introduce beneficial insects, such as predatory mites and lacewings, to help control mite populations. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to infested plants as needed.

Mole Crickets

Identification: Mole crickets are brown, cylindrical insects with large, shovel-like front legs adapted for digging. They are approximately 1 to 1.5 inches long.

Damage: Mole crickets feed on plant roots and can cause significant damage to lawns and garden beds. Their tunneling activity can also disrupt the soil and lead to poor plant growth.

Prevention and Control: Apply beneficial nematodes to the soil to target mole cricket larvae. Use insecticidal baits or granules specifically designed for mole cricket control. Encourage natural predators, such as birds and parasitic wasps, by providing habitat and food sources.

Scale Insects

Identification: Scale insects are small, flat insects that are often covered in a waxy, protective shell. They come in various colors, including brown, gray, and white.

Damage: Scale insects feed on plant sap, causing leaves to yellow, wilt, and drop prematurely. They also excrete honeydew, which can lead to mold growth and attract ants.

Prevention and Control: Regularly inspect plants for scale insects and remove them by hand or with a soft brush. Introduce beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and parasitic wasps, to help control scale populations. Apply horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to infested plants as needed.

Slugs and Snails

Identification: Slugs and snails are soft-bodied, slimy creatures that leave a trail of mucus as they move. Slugs are legless, while snails have a spiral shell on their backs.

Damage: Slugs and snails feed on the leaves, stems, and fruits of various plants, leaving irregular holes and chewed edges.

Prevention and Control: Remove hiding places, such as piles of debris, to discourage slug and snail activity. Handpick and dispose of them in soapy water. Use barriers, such as copper tape or diatomaceous earth, around the base of plants. Apply slug and snail baits containing iron phosphate as needed.

Squash Bugs

Identification: Squash bugs are brown, shield-shaped insects that are approximately 5/8-inch long. They have a flat, oval body and long, slender legs.

Damage: Squash bugs feed on the sap of squash, pumpkins, and other cucurbits, causing leaves to wilt, yellow, and eventually die.

Prevention and Control: Use floating row covers to protect vulnerable plants. Handpick and dispose of squash bugs and their egg clusters in soapy water. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to infested plants as needed.

Thrips

Identification: Thrips are tiny, slender insects with fringed wings. They come in a variety of colors, including black, yellow, and brown.

Damage: Thrips feed on plant sap, causing leaves to become silvery, speckled, or distorted. They can also transmit plant viruses, leading to further damage.

Prevention and Control: Regularly inspect plants for thrips and remove them with a strong blast of water. Introduce beneficial insects, such as predatory mites and lacewings, to help control thrip populations. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to infested plants as needed.

Tomato Hornworms

Identification: Tomato hornworms are large, green caterpillars with a prominent, curved “horn” on their rear end. They are the larvae of the hawk or sphinx moth.

Damage: These caterpillars feed on the leaves and fruits of tomatoes, peppers, and other members of the nightshade family, causing defoliation and fruit damage.

Prevention and Control: Handpick and dispose of tomato hornworms in soapy water. Use floating row covers to prevent adult moths from laying eggs on plants. Introduce beneficial insects, such as parasitic wasps and green lacewings, to help control hornworm populations. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to infested plants, as it is a natural, effective control for caterpillars.

Whiteflies

Identification: Whiteflies are tiny, white, moth-like insects that congregate on the undersides of leaves.

Damage: Whiteflies feed on plant sap, causing leaves to yellow, curl, and drop prematurely. They also excrete honeydew, which can lead to mold growth and attract ants.

Prevention and Control: Regularly inspect plants for whiteflies and remove them with a strong blast of water or by vacuuming them off the leaves. Introduce beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and lacewings, to help control whitefly populations. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to infested plants as needed.

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