Cutworms are the larvae of various species of night-flying brown or gray moths. Cutworms chew the tender, young stems, and leaves of almost all vegetable crops. Control cutworms early in the season by handpicking, trapping, or exposing them to predators such as birds. Cutworms feed at night on young plants, usually severing the stem at…
Cabbage loopers are 1½ inches long caterpillars with two pale white stripes down the back, one on each side. Loopers have legs at the front and back and several more in the middle and so they move with a peculiar humpback or looping crawl. Loopers are the offspring of gray night-flying moths with 1½ to 2-inch wingspans;…
Aphids are small, pear-shaped, soft-bodied insects. There are many species of aphids ranging in color from green to pink to black to dusty gray or white with a fluffy coating. Aphids are 1/32 to 1/8 inch in length. Nymphs are similar to adults. Aphids live in colonies. They are slow-moving and usually are found in…
The Colorado potato beetle attacks potatoes, eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes skeletonizing leaves and defoliating plants. Horticultural cloth draped over plants will exclude beetles from reaching plants to lay eggs and feed, diatomaceous earth will destroy larvae, and the botanical poisons pyrethrum and rotenone can kill heavy infestations of adult beetles. However, where Colorado potato beetles…
Spittlebugs are the nymphs of insects called froghoppers. Adult froghoppers are small oval- to triangular-shaped insects ¼ to ½ inch in length. The adults can be green, tan, brown, or black. They can jump as much as 100 times their height, giving them the name froghoppers. They can also fly. Many species of froghopper resemble…
Growing okra can be incredibly rewarding, but like any crop, it comes with its share of challenges. Over time, I’ve come to understand the common pests and diseases that can plague okra—and more importantly, how to deal with them effectively. From aphids and stink bugs to fungal issues like fusarium wilt, addressing these problems quickly…
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