Category Archives: Pests

Wireworm

stub   Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Lifecycle   Plants Affected   Plants Unaffected   Geographical Range   Signs & Symptoms Whole Plant Leaves Flowers   Fruit Roots/Tubers How to Positively Identify   Treatment   Prevention & Control   Cultural Controls: Habitat: Temperature & Humidity:   Mulching & Cultivation Practices: Natural […]

Symphylans

Symphylans are very small, white, many segmented organisms that you may see in your soil when you pull up a struggling plant. You will notice them darting and scurrying quickly about the root ball or seedling plug. They are also known as symphlans, or “symphys”, pseudocentipedes, or garden centipedes, even though they are not centipedes. They are […]

Cucumber Beetles

Also referred to as: Spotted Cucumber Beetles, Striped cucumber beetles, western striped cucumber beetle, southern corn rootworm, Western corn rootworm beetles Acalymma spp., Diabrotica undecimpunctata Physical Description: Light green to yellow little beetles with stripes or spots (very much like a ladybug, but with yellow-green instead of red background). Striped cucumber beetles can overwinter in […]

Tomato Russet Mite

Don’t grow tomatoes near petunias or potatoes, which are hosts for this mite. Physical Description Very tiny mite – must use at least 20x hand lens to see. These mites are whitish yellow with pear-shaped bodies, move very slowly Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Lifecycle   Plants Affected Tomatoes  Plants […]

Cabbage Looper

Green caterpillars that chew large holes in leaves; handpick – not seriously damaging. Physical Description  Google images Green caterpillar that inches along. Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Trichoplusia ni Lifecycle   Plants Affected   Plants Unaffected   Geographical Range   Signs & Symptoms Whole Plant Leaves Large holes chewed in leaves […]

Leafhoppers

Close up of leafhopper damage on potato leaf

Leafhoppers seem to be the bain of my existence…well, not really – but they sure complicate my veggie gardening. They would only be mildly annoying, if it weren’t for the diseases they spread. Physical Description very small insects, ranging from 1/12 – 1/8 inches long (2-3 mm). They are wedge-shaped, with narrow bodies that are […]

Flea Beetles

Flea beetle

Flea beetles, part of the Chrysomelidae family,are tiny black or brown-bronze beetles that jump like a flea, and leave tiny holes or divots in the leaves. They seem to especially love eggplant leaves. Fruits, like eggplant, also get damaged with scarring from the flea beetles feeding. Productivity is also reduced because they love the new leaves, growing tips […]

Colorado Potato Beetle (stub)

Most notorious pest of potatoes; chew large holes in leaves. Handpick the beetles & grubs when found; plants can withstand moderate damage. Physical Description Potato beetle grubs are humpbacked yellow grubs Adults are yellow or orange beetles with black stripes on their backs Species & Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus Species: Lifecycle   […]