Garden and Landscape Pests

"Good information, common sense and a little elbow grease equals less pesticide! We'll help with the information part."

Root Weevils C-shaped larvae (left) feed on roots sometimes killing the host plant. Adults notch leaves in early summer.

Beneficial nematodes can be used to control root weevil larvae in fall.

Many insects target turf grass. Some feed on roots, like crane flies, while others feed on the above ground parts.

Spider mites Tiny (1/32") mites that feed on leaf surfaces. Overall, they are the most frequent and damaging pests of landscape plants.

Slugs and snails Land mollusks that damage many landscape and garden plants. Easily identified by the slime trails they leave behind. Newer baits pose much less threat to wildlife and pets.

Spotted cucumber beetles These foliage and root feeders are a common problem in landscapes and vegetable gardens.

Aphids These insects tap into plant tissue and feed on plant sap. They may inject the plant with toxins or plant disease while feeding.

<==Tulip tree flower bud infested with aphids.

Beneficial Insects & Mites Lady beetles (left), syrphid flies, mantids, predator mites, parasitic wasps, and parasitic flies are among the thousands of species of beneficial insects that help with natural pest control.

spruce spider mite stippling on Doug-fir

Spruce spider mite is the most common spider mite found on conifers like Douglas-fir, pine, spruce, etc. Damaging populations can develop on landscape trees.

Aphid & adelgids on conifers (evergreens) - Conifers have a special set of aphids that specialize on these plants.

Chinch bugs - Small bugs that damage grasses and grain crops.

Codling moth - Larvae of these small moths are the "worms" in wormy apples, pears and walnuts.

Scale insects are closely related to aphids. They feed by tapping into plants to obtain sap. Most often natural enemies keep scale insects under control.

Earwig damage in gardens - Earwigs feed on tender plant leaves resulting in damage that is similar to slug feeding.

Garden composting - Cold-composted piles support a thriving insect community.

Hobby greenhouse pests - Greenhouses harbor their own particular pests.

Houseplant pests - Several pests are common on plants that are grown indoors.

Japanese beetles - These landscape pests damage both turf and garden plants.

Jerusalem crickets - These strange looking insects often startle people. They are harmless.

Neem oil as insecticide - A low toxicity, general purpose insecticide that can be safely used for a variety of leaf-feeding pests.

Rose pests Fungal diseases and aphids are the important ones.

Sowbugs and pillbugs These land crustaceans (related to shrimp and lobsters) usually don't cause any harm but may damage seedlings if present in large numbers.

Springtails or collembola These small soil-dwelling arthropods feed on decaying plant matter but may occasionally damage tender garden plants.

Tent caterpillars & webworms - These caterpillars feed under a distinctive silken "tent".

Uninvited houseguests - Plants that are moved indoors during winter may harbor unwanted, hitchhiking houseguests.

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