Plant Pests

/Plant Pests

Caterpillar Droppings

These appear to be caterpillar droppings. You might want to go over the plant with a fine tooth comb per se. Look on the underside of the leaves also. Some caterpillars take on the color of their surroundings. You should look for more than one as the eggs are often times laid in groups. If they were some type of insect eggs, they would be much more uniform within the group.
If you find any of the critters, remove and dispose of them. It you think that they are still munching on your plants, you might want to try spraying some Bt (follow the directions on the label). It is a bacteria that eats the caterpillar from the inside out and is considered organic. You will be able to find it at your local independent garden center.

By | 2016-03-27T07:03:36-07:00 March 27th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Mealybug On Phormium

This is an insect, commonly called Mealybug, feeding on your plant (common name of plant is Clivia). These insects can be difficult to control on these plants because they feed, as in your photo, down low in the leaves where its hard to reach them and effectively control them. Unfortunately, they can do heavy damage to these plants, and sometimes kill the plant. We've included a link about mealybug to give you more information about how to control them. If you choose to try chemical controls, you will need to be thorough in applying the material, but always follow the label directions to avoid doing further harm to the plant, or other plants and organisms.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/INVERT/mealybugs.html

By | 2016-03-26T18:33:37-07:00 March 26th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Aphids

Aphids are fairly easy to get rid of, with a little persistance. They reproduce very quickly in warm weather and may even be born pregnant. (neat trick) Since these are on an edible plant, you won't want to use a toxic insecticide. Here's what I'd do. Squirt dishwashing on your hands and add the tiniest bit of water to loosen up the suds a little. Rub the entire plants, leaves (tops and undersides) and stems. If it grosses you out to think about touching the aphids, you can wear latex gloves. Let the plant sit there, all soapy, for 15 minutes, then rinse it off, thoroughly. Repeat this every 3-5 days for a total of 4-5 times and you should get them all. If they persist, continue the process or use a pyrethrin spray labeled for vegetables. Good luck!

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:03-07:00 March 26th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Primrose

Your guess is quite correct. Freshly hatched slugs rasp, but they do not tear holes out like the bigger ones. They are very difficult to bait as they tend to stay on the plants or in the soil under the plants.Sluggo is a great choice for the organic gardener as soon as they start coming to the bait. Until then you can test spray a small area with a 50/50 solution of plain ammonia and water. Usually this will not burn the plants but will kill slugs. The trick is getting the spray in contact with the little slugs. You can even spray this (not to excess) on the soil around the affected plants. We wish we had a much better solution, but nightly patrols with a cotton ball will frequently yield a lot of the little guys. They seem most active well after dark until dawn. Good luck!

By | 2016-03-26T01:22:08-07:00 March 26th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Leaf Miner

Your problem is likely due to 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 and contact the pest. Usually the damage done by these insects is not going to kill the plant, but it may reduce the number of edible leaves on your vegetable plants. Plants that produce fruit (peppers, tomatoes, etc) will still produce good fruit. We recommend seeking the advice of a professional in your area before attempting to control these pests with chemical pesticides.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:03-07:00 March 25th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Chewing Insect

The problem with chewing insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, etc. is they move about and often are difficult to spot among the green foliage. Chewing insects are usually 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 such as Spinosad - it has a 7-10 day residual - but spray in the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once the spray has dried it is safe for beneficials. Neem oil also is an effective control and similar to Spinosad, apply every 7-10 days until the chewing insect population has been controlled.

By | 2016-03-25T21:01:17-07:00 March 25th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Spider Mites

Spider Mites are tiny and you almost need a good hand lens to see them. There is no sticky residue. They spin very fine webs which catch their frass and dust and perhaps bits of dirt. They have a 5 day reproductive cycle and reproduce year round indoors. Check other plants in the area as they can float about on a good draft to new site.

Take the plant outside or to a bathtub and use Insecticidal soap, paying especial attention to the undersides and base. Wait 20 minutes and rise well. Repeat at 4 day intervals until all seem to be gone. Continue to monitor plant at weekly intervals for a while. To prevent dirt washing from the pot, tape the top closed around the stem. Duct tape works pretty well, or you can cut a piece of rigid plastic to fit around the stem and over the soil.

By | 2016-03-25T11:18:44-07:00 March 25th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Tomato Hornworm


Manduca quinquemaculata, the five-spotted hawk moth/tomato horn worm. A large pale-green caterpillar with white and black markings. The caterpillar can reach 3 ½ to 4 in. when fully mature. The spike on one of the last abdominal segments gives the caterpillar the name “hornworm.” The adult moth, called a sphinx or hawk moth, is a medium to large, heavy-bodied moth with narrow front wings. The moth has a spindle-shaped body which tapers at both ends and fairly thick antennae. The adult is a mottled gray-brown color with yellow spots on the sides of the abdomen and a wing spread of 4 to 5 inches.

Injury: The hornworm feeds on the leaves and new stems of the tomato plant, causing extensive damage. During July and August they also occasionally feed on the fruit.

By | 2016-03-25T11:14:12-07:00 March 25th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Mealybugs

Your plant's problem may be mealybugs; insects with a sticky, cottony covering, but we recommend you confirm by using a magnifying lens to examine this, or take an affected leaf (sealed in a bag) to your local garden center for confirmation. We've also included a link so you can see what to look for. Mealybugs suck the nutrients out of the plant, excreting the sugary sap. Wipe these off with a cotton swab moistened in alcohol and water, or use a pesticidal soap or neem oil product if you see tiny ones on the stem where the leaves are attached. Continue to monitor for return of the organism and clean-it off if found. Follow directions on all product labels to avoid damage to the plant - more is NOT better!
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/PLANTS/INVERT/mealybugs.html

By | 2016-03-25T04:42:08-07:00 March 25th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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Black Sooty Mold

Black sooty mold results from the excretions of sap-sucking insects such as aphids, scale or mealy bug. The excretions (called honeydew) lead to black sooty mold. Aphids can be washed off with a strong stream of water but If the problem is extensive, then it might be best to use an organic control such as Spinosad with a 7-10 day residual. If spraying with Spinosad wait until the early evening after the bees have returned to their hives. Once the spray has dried it is safe for beneficials. You can also use systemic insecticide formulated for your specific plant. Also if you see ants around your plant, get rid of them with an ant bait that they take back to the nest so that the entire colony can be killed. Ants "farm" aphids, scale and mealybugs for their honeydew.

By | 2016-03-24T10:31:16-07:00 March 24th, 2016|Plant Pests|0 Comments
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