BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Identify Boring Insects on Plants

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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When your plants aren't looking as great as they could be, you need to determine whether the cause is poor nutrition or boring insects that are damaging to your plants.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Rule out other possibilities. Take a close look at your plants and make sure that the symptoms you are seeing are not due to plant disease or chewing or sucking insects.

Step2

Once you have ruled out other possibilities, consider the damage. Are there circular holes in the leaves or stem?

Step3

Are there deep holes in the main stem of the plant--the part that is most like the trunk of a tree?

Step4

Are there deep holes in the fruit of the plant (if the plant produces fruit)? If so, it is likely that your plant has boring insects.

Step5

If you have identified that there are boring insects on your plant, the next step is to determine the right way to get rid of them. In some cases, you can spray them off with water; in others you can remove them with a vacuum cleaner; in still others, pesticides may be needed.

Tips & Warnings

Look for boring insects on your plants if you see something that looks like sawdust on your plant's stem or fruit.
Boring insects often look for plants that are already weakened; watch your plants carefully.
Boring insects often affect trees more than houseplants.
Boring insects damage your plants by breaking up the pathways that transport water to different parts of your plant.
Depending on where the borers attack, they can kill the plant.
When using pesticides, be sure to use one that is made for boring insects and be sure to follow the directions on the labeling.