Pests, Weeds & Problems

Termites can be a big problem for homes, and they get everywhere. Once they are in a home, they are very difficult to remove. Diatomaceous earth, or DE, is an all-natural product that can be used...

Cotton maple scale, Pulvinaria innumerabilis, results from an insect that commonly attacks red maples. Scale pest problems can be quickly spotted by the white, cottony egg sacs lining the...

Whether you live in the country or in the middle of the city, flies can be a big problem. These troublesome insects are more than annoying - they are dangerous as well. In fact flies carry many...

If you've noticed a charcoal-gray or black moldy coating on the leaves, needles, branches or fruits of your plants, they may be infected with a fungus known as sooty mold. While sooty mold rarely...

There are several types of thistle that are commonly called star thistle. Many of these are not native to the U.S. such as the yellow star thistle, Canada thistle, bull thistle, Italian thistle...

Camping and hiking are exciting outdoor activities that can be done alone or with friends and family. Unfortunately, along with the fun can come the distraction of pests. Fleas and ticks are among...

Lemon trees are affected by a variety of pests, including Asian citrus leafminers, citrus rust mites, mealybugs, spider mites, scale insects and blackflies. According to Julian W. Sauls, most...

A lot of pesticides today contain a variety of dangerous chemicals that are especially harmful to those with breathing problems, as well as children and pets. Fortunately, there is another way to...

Homeowners all over are turning to natural and alternative forms of insect control in the garden. One of the most effective and readily available solutions is pyrethrin, which is a plant-derived...

Organic controls means using natural enemies or disease-causing microbes that attack garden pests. Organic measures can be difficult to accomplish and the methods vary. It is important to keep in...

With millions of species to grapple with, identifying tiny green bugs in grass can be bewildering even to experienced entomologists. Nonetheless, making the effort to at closely observe the many...

Mothballs are generally used to keep moths away from clothes in storage. Some gardeners use mothballs in the garden to keep away pests. Because of the toxic nature of mothball ingestion, though,...

Taking proper care of your compost pile is just as important as composting itself. By monitoring the moisture, contents and even insects that inhabit your composting area, you can have total...

Powdered borax or boric acid will get on the feet and legs of an insect when it walks through a thin layer of it. As the insect cleans themselves and interacts with other insects, the powder will...

Insects can be annoying pests that can ruin the serenity of a peaceful night on the porch, and also destroy vegetation by feeding on plant leaves on trees and plants. You can easily make a home...

Insects can quickly take over a lawn or garden, leaving the area to feel unwelcoming. From insects that feed off the blood of humans and pets, to insects that attack lawn and garden vegetation, we...

We've probably all seen Ladybugs eat Aphids. We recognize Ladybugs as beneficial insects, but did you know there are a host of other beneficial insects and biological controls that can be used in...

The appearance of scales on a plant, shrub or tree can only mean one thing: a scale insect infestation. These hardy little insects attach themselves to plants and trees, siphoning off nutrients...

Whether you're trying to get rid of a annoying pest in your home or simply interested in observing and learning about insects, you need to be able to identify an insect accurately. With the wide...

Control of flying insects can be accomplished without the use of chemicals by utilizing their attraction to light. Most insects are attracted to both black and white light. Commercial black light...

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is the fossilized remains of diatoms, an algae-like single-celled creature. It feels like powder to mammals, but to wax-shelled insects it might as well be razors. It...

Mothballs are small balls of chemical pesticide. They are either made of naphthalene or dichlorobenzene. Either chemical contains a strong odor that is usually associated with mothballs. The small...

Armadillos are small mammals that reside primarily in the southern and southwestern parts of the United States. They use their sharp claws to dig for insects to eat and often get into garden areas...

History will tell you that cedar has been used for centuries in various forms as a repellent of insects and small critters that find the smell of this bark very obnoxious, and will avoid getting...

Yellow jackets are some of the most aggressive wasps in the United States. They are extremely protective of their nests and will likely attack anybody or anything that goes near it. For this...

It is quite frustrating to feel trapped in your house and not be able to do much of anything outside except run from the car to the front door, and try to quickly get inside before getting stung...

Shady trees can be a lifesaver when temperatures soar into triple digits, or they can simply help make a landscape beautiful and attract birds and other animals into your yard. Trees can also...

Centipedes and silverfish look like they could belong in a 1950's horror movie about terrifying insects. While they don't do a large amount of damage like other household pests such as termites,...

Keeping fruit trees healthy and productive takes time and care. This is why finding insects on your fruit tree can be a cause for concern. If you have found a grasshopper or two on your tree, this...

Contrary to popular belief, not all insects found in your lawn are harmful. Most insects in your yard are actually helpful to the health of your grass and plants. If you're seeing damage to your...

Geckos are small reptiles which feed upon insects and spiders around houses. While the insect eating can be a positive side effect of a gecko infestation, they can become as much of a nuisance as...

Geckos are a small breed of lizard which can actually serve a purpose within a household. Geckos feed on insects and spiders, and therefore they can be useful in keeping your property insect-free....

Scale insects suck the sap of host plants. They can be serious pests on woody plants and shrubs, killing off branches and even whole plants and trees. They are not immediately identifiable as...

Insect repellents and traps can be a pesky business, requiring a delicate balance of exterminating the insect infestation without damaging the ecological surroundings. Some effective traps use...

Zucchini tends to be prone to damage by insects, as many garden pests love to feed on this vegetable. While there are retail and chemically-based products available to kill and repel insects,...

Insecticides are chemicals used to control or kill disease-carrying insects. They are classified in several ways, such as by their chemistry, toxicological action or method of penetration. The two...

The potato plant, like most food plants, has to contend with harmful insects that can destroy the crop. Several types of bugs can harm the potato, including potato tuberworms, leafhoppers, and...

Roses are a beautiful addition to any garden, but are very susceptible to diseases and insects. If you are an avid gardener with a green thumb and a green-friendly attitude, there are homemade...

While many people use the terms insecticide and pesticide interchangeably, they are not precisely the same. They have overlapping but not identical uses. However, pesticides and insecticides must...

Many people lean toward organic gardening. They hesitate to use dangerous chemical pesticides to control pests in their vegetable gardens. Planting flowers or herbs to repel bad insects and to...

Putting up a hummingbird feeder can be a great way to attract bright and colorful hummingbirds to your home or garden. The same sugar water that attracts these beautiful birds can also attract...

Houseplants are just as vulnerable to bug infestation as outdoor plants. Keep a close eye on your plants by looking at the soil, the branches and the leaves often. If you notice small, spider-like...

Mealy bugs are a tiny insect, 1 to 4 mm in length, with an oval body. They are covered with a white, cottony or pale wax secretion and can resemble a tiny cotton ball. They are part of the insect...

Many insects are naturally drawn to the sweet smell of apple trees. Apples are a favorite food source to caterpillars as well as maggots and moths of various types. Spraying apples to repel bugs...

A good indicator that something is amiss with your plants is when you see yellow leaves. This discoloring is due to chlorosis, the inability to maintain the levels of chlorophyll required to keep...

Aphids are small insects that eat the leaves, stems and shoots of many plants. They have long, thin mouthpieces that they use to pierce leaves and stems and suck the juice of the plant. This...

Spider mites are a type of insect that prey on garden plants and fruits. Spider mite infestations can happen quickly, making these pests a risk for foliage, ornamental plants and vegetable and...

The most common ways to treat worms on your lawn are by using chemical insecticides, biological insecticides, botanical insecticides and insecticidal soaps. It is important to know what type of...

Bed bugs are tiny, blood-sucking insects that infest homes and furniture and breed. They're flat and oval shaped, which allows them to hide in minuscule cracks in furniture. They lay eggs and...

There are a lot of creeping, crawling, and flying critters out there that see you as either a threat or as food – or both. There is a pretty good chance that you will be bitten or stung once in a...