Insects
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Asparagus Beetle Organic Pest Control
The common asparagus beetle adult is a shiny, elongated blue-black beetle with a reddish-brown thorax and four cream-colored spots surrounded by a red border on the wing covers. The adult asparagus beetle is ¼-inch long. The larva is a greenish-gray, wrinkled, humpbacked grub with a dark head about ⅓-inch long. Common asparagus beetle adults and […] More
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Centipedes and Millipedes in the Garden
Centipedes and millipedes are generally beneficial creatures. Centipedes feed on soil-dwelling mites, insects, insect larvae, baby snails, and slugs. (They paralyze small insect prey with venomous claws.) Millipedes feed on decaying plant tissue and fallen fruit. Together centipedes and millipedes help break down organic matter enriching the soil by helping to create humus. Sometimes centipedes […] More
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Common Vegetable Garden Insect Pests
Vegetable garden insect pests are susceptible to many controls. Limit insect damage by identifying pests quickly and recognizing the damage they inflict. Regular visits to the garden will help you spot pests before they become established. Then choose the most effective control given the infestation. The quickest controls for light infestations are listed below under […] More
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Sowbug Organic Pest Control
Sowbugs are hard-shelled land-dwelling crustaceans. They are not insects. Sowbugs are also known as pill bugs, woodlice, and rollie pollies. Sowbugs eat decaying plants and other organic material in the garden including decaying vegetables and fruits. Sometimes they will chew on seedlings and strawberry fruits, but generally, they do not threaten crops and are important […] More
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Parsley Worm Organic Pest Control
The parsley worm is a very large, two-inch long, green caterpillar with yellow-dotted black bands across each body segment. It has a pair of orange horns that it can project to scare off enemies. The beautiful black-and-yellow swallowtail butterfly is the adult form of the parsley worm. The parsley worm eats the leaves and stems […] More
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Praying Mantid Beneficial Insect
Praying mantids (plural praying mantis) are mostly beneficial insects. Praying mantids eat aphids, asparagus beetles, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, earwigs, leafhoppers, Mexican bean beetles, and squash bugs. Praying mantids also eat beneficial insects, butterflies, and bees. The praying mantid is a beneficial insect sometimes known as the “destroyer of other insects.” Praying mantises eat an […] More
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Green Lacewing Beneficial Insect
Green lacewings are beneficial insects. Adult lacewings feed on nectar, pollen, and aphid honeydew. Young, larvae lacewings feed on the eggs and immature stages of many soft-bodied insect pests including aphids, asparagus beetle larvae, caterpillar eggs and young caterpillars, Colorado potato beetle larvae, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies, leafhoppers, and the eggs of pest moths and […] More
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Garden Nematodes
Nematodes are microscopic soil-dwelling worms, many less than 1/16-inch long. There are beneficial nematodes and pest nematodes. Beneficial nematodes help turn organic matter into plant nutrients. They also prey on soil-dwelling plant pests such as white grubs and root maggots. Pest nematodes feed on plant roots, stunting and sometimes killing plants including many vegetables. Nematodes […] More
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Honey Bee Beneficial Insect
The honey bee is a beneficial insect and an important pollinator in the garden. Honey bees also produce honey and wax. About one-third of the human diet depends on honey bee pollination. Honey bees are important pollinators for more than 100 food crops. Honey bees collect water and gather pollen and nectar from flowers. As […] More
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Parasitic Wasps Beneficial Insects
Parasitic wasps are small, even minute, mini-wasps that control pests including many garden pests. Parasitic wasps kill their hosts by feeding on them. Pests controlled by parasitic wasps include aphids, beetles, caterpillars, flies, sawflies, and scale insects. Notable parasitic wasps are the Braconid wasp, the Chalcid wasp, the Ichneumon wasp, and the Trichogramma wasp. Parasitic […] More
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Harlequin Bug Organic Pest Control
Harlequin bugs are shield-shaped, have black-and-orange or black-and-red triangles on the back, and are about ¼-inch long. The harlequin bug is a type of stink bug; it releases a foul odor when disturbed. Harlequin bugs–also called shield bugs–suck plant sap from cabbage-family crops and other vegetables. Harlequin bugs overwinter in garden debris and weeds. The […] More
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Armyworms Organic Pest Control
Beet armyworm caterpillars are green with yellow undersides and dark green and yellow stripes. Fall armyworms are shiny brown with black heads and yellow stripes down their backs with a V-shaped white mark on the head. Armyworms are active at night and on overcast days. They get their name from their habit of marching in […] More
Stephen Albert
