Whether you’re growing pole beans, bush beans, lima beans, mung beans, scarlet runner beans, asparagus beans, or southern peas, you’ll quickly realize that all these crops share common gardening challenges. Over the years of growing a variety of beans in my garden, I’ve encountered a range of pests and diseases that can threaten the health […] More
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
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
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
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
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
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
Mealybugs are very small soft, oval insects that are usually covered with white or gray waxy fluff. A mealybug is about 1/10 of an inch long. Mealybugs suck the juices from citrus, apples, pears, apricots, avocadoes, and grapes as well as ornamental and tropical plants. Honeydew excreted by mealybugs supports the growth of sooty mold […] More
Spider mites are nearly microscopic creatures about 1/50 inch long. They are reddish-brown or pale in color with eight legs, much like a spider. The spider mite is not an insect; it is an arachnid, the class of invertebrate animals that includes spiders. Good Products for Pest and Disease Control at Amazon: Mites are the […] More
Ants are an important component of the garden ecosystem. Ants are cleaners: they eat and help decompose organic matter in the soil, enriching the soil. Ants also eat pests insects such as fleas, fly larvae, and termites. Ants tunneling in the soil improve soil aeration which is helpful to plant roots. Ants become a garden […] More
Adult leafminers are black-bristled gray or black flies usually with yellow stripes about 1/10-inch long. Larvae leafminers are stubby, green translucent maggots about 1/8- inch long. Leafminer maggots feed between the upper and lower surfaces of leaves creating tunnels or mines that appear irregular and white or brown on the surface. Good Products for Pest […] More
Whiteflies look like very tiny white moths. Like their close relatives aphids, they suck juices from tender plant leaves. Whiteflies congregate in large numbers on the undersides of leaves and fly up in a cloud when disturbed. Whiteflies are found year-round in warm climates; in colder climates, they are seen in the summer. They thrive […] More
Stephen Albert