Pests, Weeds & Problems

Pesky little gnats flying around your plants? Are there tiny, narrow slime trails crisscrossing your plant's soil? If so, fungus gnats have taken up residence in your potted plants. Fungus gnats...

Gall wasps won't directly kill a lemon tree, but they can weaken it and make it less productive over time. Their galls look like large seed pods, or cancerous growths on your tree. The wasps lay...

Stop mosquitoes before they become biting adults.

Garden ponds add interest and charm to landscapes, but without proper care they can become breeding places for mosquitoes.

Japanese Beetles were first detected in 1916 in New Jersey, having been introduced from Japan. Adults are brilliant, metallic green and oval-shaped, about 3/8 inches long. Their wings are a...

Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and a haven for their larvae. In arid regions, rain barrels can be important to meet crop watering needs. To keep them from leading to a...

The soil gnat or fungus gnat is a small insect that often plagues potted houseplants because there are no natural predators indoors. While the gnats do not cause harm to the plant itself, the...

Cycad blue butterfly larvae can wreak havoc on cycad plants. A particularly bad infestation can cause the plant to wither and die. Treating the plant with the right kind of insecticide at the...

Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. In arid regions, rainwater is saved for crops and gardens, but these containers can also be a haven for mosquito larvae. The basic strategies...

Borers are the larvae of a range of different species of beetles and moths that lay their eggs on tree bark or in the surrounding soil. These larvae bore into the tree and weaken it; severe cases...

The sand wasp (Bembix Speciosis) is a large, black- and yellow-striped variety of wasp that makes its home in loose sand. It builds a narrow, shallow burrow in the sand, at the bottom of which it...

Mosquitoes are not only pests, but there are certain species that can transmit diseases such as West Nile Virus. To cut down on risk of skin irritation or more serious infections, it's important...

Maggots can be found naturally in gardens or used for fishing bait. Each type of maggot comes from different fly larvae with unique characteristics.

Identify black beetles, often called carpet beetles, to determine if your home or warehouse has an infestation. The larva of these insects eat natural animal fibers and dry cereals. It's common to...

Red spider mites are a type of insect that preys on garden plants and flowers. These creatures are related to spiders, but the mites suck the juice of plants instead of eating insects. Spider...

Flying, stinging insects, wasps are related to both bees and ants and play an important ecological role in pest control. They can be social or solitary and parasitic or predatory.

June bugs are small beetles that generally appear in the spring months--May or June--through the fall. They are found throughout North America and are usually nocturnal. As grubs (larvae), June...

Myzus persicae is a form of green aphid that is infamous for infesting fruit trees. The aphid exhibits a lifestyle similar to the life cycle of the grape-vine pest phylloxera: The aphid lays eggs...

The crane fly, or daddy long legs, is of the genus Tipula. There are thousands of species of crane flies, although they are hard to differentiate between the species. Most crane flies life span...

While insects are oftentimes considered pests, there are copious species of insects without which life on earth might not continue. Beneficial insects provide valuable services such as pollinating...

Milky spore disease might sound like something people want to prevent, but it actually is a beneficial and natural way to control Japanese beetles which do damage to lawns and gardens. By killing...

The white grubs facts will leave some people wondering if this could be a problem that they have with their lawns. Grubs will take over and destroy a lawn in one summer. If left untreated, the...

The midge fly's life cycle is similar to that of the caddis. The majority of the bug's life is spent underwater as a larva, then the pupa floats up to the surface. The adult emerges, breeds and...

If you are finding little, fuzzy worms in your pantry or under your rugs or if you are noticing tiny, dark beetles in your window sills, you may have a carpet beetle infestation. These pests feed...

Biological pest control is defined as keeping nuisance pests away without the use of harsh and potentially dangerous pesticides. Biological pest control relies on nature to control bugs such as...

Sitophilus zeamais, or the maize weevil, is a species of weevil that is commonly found in maize crops. The larvae damage maize crops by developing within an individual grain, eating it away from...

Some of the hardest to control pests in gardens, orchards, and flower beds, are aphids, white flies, thrips, mealy bugs, and caterpillars. One method of biological control for these insect pests...

There are two types of Tribolium beetle. The confused flour beetle's scientific name is Tribolium confusum, and the red flour beetle's scientific name is Tribolium castaneum. Both are known as...

The first insect pathogen in the United States to be registered as a microbial control agent is milky spore, also known as Bacillus popilliae Dutky. Milky spore infects the larvae or grub of the...

The holly tree is a hardy plant that prominently displays its glorious green leaves for most of the year. At Christmastime, the plant is especially handsome, as it features beautiful red berries....

Pickleworms are the larvae of specific species of moths. One of their purposes is to feed on fresh younger tender fruit and vegetation. They last in the larvae (pickleworm) stage of life, for...

Aedes Aegypti are a small, dark mosquito with white markings and banded legs and black proboscises with white tips. While they originate in the tropics and subtropical areas, they have since...

The tomato hornworm is a garden pest. Although it is called the tomato hornworm, it will eat just about any plant in the solonacea family, which includes eggplants, nightshade, jimsonweed and...

Aphids, beetle larvae, slugs and snails can cause considerable damage in your garden if left to their own devices. Chemical pesticides are effective, but they don't discriminate--- they'll kill...

When you are ready to declare war on fleas, learning how your enemy operates will give you a tactical advantage. Those tiny little parasites may have you feeling like you are losing the battle...

Is your yard inundated with dragonflies? Harmless as adults, their young do inflict a nasty sting at times. Dragonflies eat mosquitoes and other nuisance insects. Yet when dragonflies themselves...

Black flies are like giant, mutated mosquitoes in a way, and are a major problem in northeastern states and on the U.S./Canada border. These large flies are blood suckers and can ruin populations...

Even without the threat of West Nile Virus, mosquitoes are annoying and hard to deal with. In order to keep them out of your home and away from your yard, there's a series of steps you can take...

Fleas are tiny parasites that feed on the blood of warm blooded animals, including humans. They're attracted to movement, body heat, and carbon dioxide that results when we exhale. By the time...

Fungus gnats are tiny insects that are frequently found in greenhouses and around indoor potted plants. They are attracted by moist conditions and lay hundreds of eggs in warm, damp soil. The eggs...

Webworm is the nest of the tiger moth's larvae. The moths lay their eggs in the late spring or early summer months. The eggs hatch within a few weeks and the newborn caterpillars begin their work...

Apple trees are popular for their fragrant blossoms, abundant fruit and the shade they provide. But pests can plague these trees. Apple maggots are a particular nuisance due to their large numbers...

Hickory shuckworms, Cydia caryana, can devesate the nuts of hickory and pecan plants. If these pests are not effectively controlled, nut harvests will decline and quality of the surviving nuts may...

The potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella, can attack several types of plants, with potatoes a primary target. When tuberworms attack they can destroy a plant. Follow these steps to spot...

Pecan weevils are beetle-like creatures that penetrate the shells of pecans. They can extensively damage a pecan crop by laying eggs inside the nuts and destroying the pecan from the inside out....

Elm leaf beetle larvae cause damage to elm trees by eating the foliage. The beetles consume the veins of the leaves, giving the leaves a skeletal look. Adult elm leaf beetles also do damage by...

Flea beetles are irritating pests that chew small holes in the leaves of garden plants. If the beetle population is high enough, the entire crop will be consumed. The beetle larvae also damages...

When you notice insects eating your garden plants, you don't have to resort to chemical bug killers. Instead, you can release beneficial insects that will eat only other insects and leave your...

Sweet potato weevils are the most serious pest of sweet potatoes. If your sweet potato vines have this pest feeding on them, the plant will soon begin to turn yellow. These insects are easy to...

Pecan trees are beautiful and they supply us with a delicious, healthy food. But entire nut crops can be ruined by pecan nut casebearers. If you suspect your pecan tree is infested, you must find...