Garden Pests

Every garden will encounter pests that are harmful to plants and vegetables, as well as many other beneficial insects that feed off those harmful pests. How do you distinguish friend from foe? Please use this guide to find information on commonly found garden pests, as well as information about control solutions.

Aphids

Aphid

Aphids, or plant lice, are small sap-sucking insects. They have piercing-sucking mouth parts which are used to pierce the skin of leaves  in order to extract sap from the plant. Low numbers of aphids aren’t usually damaging in gardens or on trees. However, large populations cause leaves to turn yellow.  They also excrete a dark sticky substance called ‘honeydew’, a favorite food of many ant species. It’s not unusual to find ants protecting aphid-infested trees or plants!

Caterpillars

Caterpillar

Caterpillars are soft, segmented larvae of moths and butterflies, and they can cause serious damage to plants by chewing on leaves and flowers. They are best managed by hand-picking them as they are found. You can also invite natural predators to your garden, such as birds, by hanging feeders to attract birds to problem areas.

Slugs

Slug

Slugs are soft-bodied mollusks that pose danger to flowers and other garden plants by feeding on plant foliage or roots. They must have large amounts of moisture to survive, and will spend their days under damp boards, logs, or stones, coming out at night to feed. Wherever they go, they leave a tell-tale silvery mucus trail. Any control method should include the removal of any of usual hiding spots.

Snails

Snail

Snails are soft-bodied mollusks easily recognized by their shells. They are reliant upon calcium for shell production, and can be found on limestone. They pose danger to flowers and other garden plants by feeding on plant foliage or roots. They must have large amounts of moisture to survive, and will spend their days under damp boards, logs, or stones, coming out at night to feed. Wherever they go, they leave a tell-tale silvery mucus trail. Any control method should include the removal of any of usual hiding spots.

Thrips

Thrips are small, slender insects commonly found in flower gardens. They will feed on flowers, leaves and twigs, and some species are known to transmit plant disease. This pest likes to hide in plant debris, so maintaining a tidy garden free from debris will help control thrip populations. They also like to feed on drier plants, so keeping your garden consistently watered will make it a less attractive target for the thrip.

ARE YOU PROTECTED?

If you have a problem with pests around your garden, call University Termite & Pest Control and have one of their professionals come over and take a look.  They have the skill and knowledge to identify them and make a correct diagnosis the first time, every time.

University Termite & Pest Control, The Ones Who Know…