How to Identify Common Garden Pests
There are a number of common pests that are a widespread problem for gardeners and that attack a wide variety of plants. Following this guide will help you determine which pests are in your garden, so that you can take appropriate action. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Identifying aphids. Aphids are widely thought of as the ultimate garden scourge. They suck sap and excrete the excess as a sticky residue, which falls on foliage where it can turn moldy. Emerging shoots and leaves can be damaged, and affected plants can become distorted and disfigured. Aphids can spread viral diseases between plants such as roses, lilies and tulips. Sooty mold often accompanies aphid attack, since the fungus lives on the 'honeydew' secreted by aphids.
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Fight aphids. Ladybirds and hoverflies are the best organic control for aphids. Attract them by planting poached egg flowers (Limnanthes douglasii). Physically place ladybirds on affected leaves. Companion planting can help in other ways. For example, nasturtiums planted near broccoli are likely to suffer from aphid attack, leaving the broccoli clear.
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Identify earwigs. The distinctive pincers of the earwig are not generally seen during the day, since they feed at night. They shred the leaves and eat the flowers of plants such as dahlias, chrysanthemums and clematis. Earwigs are not all bad, however, since they do eat quite a number of aphids, so if your plants are not being damaged, do not automatically operate a 'search and destroy' mission. To check whether earwigs are responsible for decimated flowers and leaves, investigate by torchlight.
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Fight earwigs. Inverted flowerpots stuffed with straw and suspended on canes will attract and trap earwigs, which can then be removed and disposed of with minimum fuss.
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Identifying slugs and snails. Slugs and snails attack many types of plant, including bulbs, herbaceous perennials, vegetables, strawberries, climbing plants and young seedlings. Although most live on top of the soil, some attack the underground parts of plants such as bulbs, as well as tubers like potatoes. Slugs and snails feed primarily at night or after rain. Some plants are particularly susceptible to slug and snail attack, such as hostas, delphiniums and all young seedlings.
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Fight slugs and snails. Plants known to be vulnerable should be protected with physical barriers, such as crushed eggshells, sawdust, wood ash or sharp sand. Slugs have sensitive skin and do not like crawling over these surface.
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Use beer or grapefruit to fight slugs. Slug 'pubs,' containers of tempting fermenting beer sunk into the soil, are also a popular way of disposing of slugs without recourse to chemicals. However, these traps also drown beneficial creatures, unless you provide twiggy ladders in each one for ground beetles and the like. Inverted grapefruit skin halves can also be used. The slugs will congregate within, ready for you to dispose of as you see fit.
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Identifying caterpillars and chafers. There are many types of caterpillar, the most notorious of which is the caterpillar of the cabbage white butterfly. Caterpillars eat foliage, stems, flowers and fruits. Some caterpillars conceal themselves by curling up in young leaves or protecting themselves in silk-like webbing, so if you see curled leaves and webbing, unroll them to investigate further. Leatherjackets are grayish-brown caterpillars, the larvae of crane flies. These soil-dwelling caterpillars eat the roots of young seedlings, immature plants and lawn grass.
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Fighting caterpillars. Remove any caterpillars by hand as soon as you notice them. There is an organically acceptable bacterial control, Bacillus thuringiensis, suitable for cabbage white caterpillar attacks. Alternatively, you can use special sticky bands of grease designed to prevent flightless pests like caterpillars climbing up the plants.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear gloves when working in the garden.
