Plant Pests

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Cucumber Beetle

The chewing damage done to your Zucchini leaves looks alot like Cucumber Beetle, which can be very distructive and difficult to control. These chewing insects can also spread plant disease, so we recommend looking at this website to help you identify these small spotted or striped green/yellow beetles. Examine your plants regularly for their presence; they usually feed on the top surface of leaves. You should also consult a garden center, or other expert in your area for control options. While you're at it, keep an eye out for caterpillars that could also be contributing to the damage on the leaves. If you find caterpillars, remove them by hand and dispose of them or use a biological pesticide called Bt (Bacillus thirengiensis). If you don't find either of these pests right away, we recommend you continue to examine the leaves on a regular basis, especially if you continue to see new damage.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/VEGES/squash.html

By | 2016-03-05T02:23:21-08:00 March 5th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Leaf Gall On Maple

These are leaf galls. They're a result of feeding by Eriophyid mites. These are spider mites that vary from the usual 8-legged mites because they have only 4 legs, or 2 pair. They are very tiny, slow moving, and have a distinctive "carrot" shape (which is also different from the typical spider mite pests. The U of Wisconsin webpage link we've included here states, "The mites feed and mate inside the gall and lay eggs there, and their offspring stay at home until they are ready to disperse as adults. From their natal gall, they move to other leaves to homestead." We've also included a link to Penn States' College of Ag, Entomology program for more info about the damage these mites do and how to manage them, if it becomes necessary; most times it's not, so pesticide treatments are not often recommended.
http://www4.uwm.edu/fieldstation/naturalhistory/bugoftheweek/galls3.cfm
http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/leaf-galls-maple

By | 2017-10-08T01:37:26-07:00 March 4th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Pests On Tomatoes

Do you have squirrels in the neighborhood? If not squirrels, raccoons? Some birds will peck holes in tomatoes to eat the insides. It doesn't appear that the leaves are being bothered, but if they were, it could be the well camouflaged Tomato Hornworm.

Groundhogs love to eat tomatoes as well, so if you live in a part of the country that has groundhogs, take this into consideration.

Squirrels are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and sleep at night. If your tomatoes are being eaten during the night, it’s not a squirrel.Racoons If the damage occurs overnight, it is likely raccoons.Squirrels, however, usually nibble a hole in the side of the tomato, eat just a little of it and then move on to do the same to the next tomato.

You can spray the tomatoes with a Hot Pepper Wax Animal Repellent, that will will deter them in the future and it washes off the fruit with warm water. Next year, maybe wire cages?

By | 2016-03-03T21:37:51-08:00 March 3rd, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Chewing Insect

The problem with chewing insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars (too numerous to name) etc. is they move about and often are difficult to spot among the green foliage. Chewing insects can be large enough to see with the naked eye, but they can be green, brown, black, etc. so look closely and pluck off any you see on this plant or its neighbors as long as the infestation is not too extensive. If it is extensive, you can spray with an organic control for chewing insects recommended by your local garden center, such as Bt or Spinosad. Bt is a contact only control and Spinosad has a 7-10 day residual but spray Spinosad in the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once dry it is safe for beneficials. However, the most benign control is pick and squish. Also look for slime trails to see if the damage is due to slugs/snails, but we think it is likely a chewing insect.

By | 2016-03-03T19:59:50-08:00 March 3rd, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Beetle Grubs In Soil

These are grubs from one of the beetles such as the Japanese beetle or garden beetle. Although they eat roots, there are always some amount of grubs in a garden and plants aren't severely effected unless the population is huge or the plants' root systems are reduced because of drought or improper irrigation. Many extension services use the following guidelines for treating grubs in a lawn: you dig a piece of the turf one foot by one foot and roll up the grass, counting the grubs that are reveled when you do so. If there are more than 10 grubs per square foot you would want to treat with grub killing product used according to the directions. Most gardeners don't worry about grubs, and just toss them into the road or onto the bird feeder when they are reveled when we dig. There are many animals that eat grubs including birds, skunks and moles, so Mother Nature often brings things into balance that way.

By | 2016-03-03T14:10:29-08:00 March 3rd, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Chewing Insect

The problem may be chewing insects rather than sucking insects. Perhaps some type of beetle or caterpillar or grasshopper? But without seeing the actual pest, we can't say for sure. Look to see if you see any sign of insects- top and bottom of leaves, day and at night with a flashlight (although the grasshopper may be long gone). If there are small black dots, these might be excretions for the insects. You can spray with an organic control effective against chewing insects such as Bt (caterpillars). insecticidal soap or Spinosad. Once the leaves and flowers are damaged, they will not recover but try to control future infestation. Bt is a contact insecticide and Spinosad has a 7-10 day residual. Spray Spinosad in the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once the spray has dried on the plant it is safe for beneficials. Suggest you show your photo or perhaps capture a few in a bottle as well as snip off a damaged frond for a local garden center to confirm their identity.

By | 2016-03-03T06:08:07-08:00 March 3rd, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Leaf Miner

This damage appears to be caused by a leaf miner. A small fly or moth lays its eggs beneath the surface of the leaf and when the eggs hatch, the larvae tunnel thru the leaf tissue, consuming the nutrients in the foliage. Once the damage has been done, nothing will reverse it. Chemical pesticides are not effective against this pest because most products won't penetrate thru the leaf surface although organic products containing Spinosad have often
worked to prevent further infestation. If you do use Spinosad, spray in the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once the spray is dry it is safe for beneficials. However, once the damage has been done to the leaf, it is not
reversible. Usually the damage done by these insects is not going to kill the plant unless the damage is extensive.


infestation is extensive. Here is a link that you might find helpful:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/VEGES/PESTS/vegleafminers.html

By | 2016-03-03T04:56:56-08:00 March 3rd, 2016|Plant Pests|1 Comment
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Psyllid

The raised spots are likely the work of psyllids, common name plant lice, small insects that depending on the species are host-specific, that is one species of a psyllid will colonize on one particular plant. They become abundant when temperatures warm and host plants develop fresh growth. The psyllid sucks the nutrients out of the foliage, stems, etc. and galls form on the leaves or buds. They also have ecreta, known as honeydew which can lead to the development of black sooty mold. Most experts agree that the psyllid damage is primarily aesthetic, but if population is extensive and the plant is yellowing there are several options: Use yellow sticky traps, spray the plant with Neem or horticultural oil (will need to re-apply until the problem is controlled) or if the plant is an ornamental, not an edible, a chemical insect control containing imidacloprid. Visit your local garden center for confirmation of the problem and appropriate remedy.

By | 2016-03-03T01:24:13-08:00 March 3rd, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Scale Infestation

Thank you for your follow up and although it is often challenging to identify insects without a clear close up, we also realize our users need guidance if at all possible. The dark bumps are the insect known as Scale, a sap sucking insect that attaches itself to the leaves, flowers and stems. This looks like a pretty severe infestation. Under the shell is either the sucking insect or she has died and the shell is full of young yet to hatch scale. Inspect other nearby plants and treat them at the first sight of insect. They can be controlled with any insecticide containing Imidachloprid which is a systemic insecticide -- you will drench the soil and the insecticide will be sucked up by roots and into the branches, leaves and hopefully the scale. You can also spray the plant above the soil line with 15:1 water:Ivory soap. Also a horticultural oil will act as a suffocant. If there are not too many, try to gently remove them with your fingernail and dispose in a bucket of soapy water.

By | 2016-03-02T16:29:08-08:00 March 2nd, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Spider Mites

This is being caused by a spider mites. These tiny spiders (can only be seen with a magnifying lens) suck plant sap and chlorophyll from the leaves, causing the speckled appearance we see on these leaves. You may also see some very fine, disorganized, webbing with mites in the web. If you confirm, you can use insecticidal soaps or horticulture oils to control them, but don't over-use these products because you'll probably be killing other beneficial mites that are natural enemies of these mite pests. When many of the predatory/natural enemies are killed, the spider mite pest population can sky rocket and get worse. You can also help keep the population of pest mites down by occasionally washing off the leaves of the affected plants early in the morning (and allowing them to dry throughout the day). Here are a couple of web-links with more info:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/QT/spidermitescard.html
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7405.html

By | 2016-03-01T12:42:06-08:00 March 1st, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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