Soft-bodied rounded insects that range from pin to match-head size. May be black, white, pink, or pale green. They cluster on new growth.
actual length
1/16″ – 1/8″
plants affected
Most vegetables & small fruits.
damage
Suck plant juices. Feeding causes leaf, bud, & flower distortions, curl, & discoloration. Can transmit viral diseases.
management
Use floating row covers. Release lacewings & lady beetles. Hose off aphids w/ a strong blast of water. Spray w/ insecticidal soap.
Adults are dark flies w/ transparent banded wings, brown heads, & a white spot on back. Larva are small legless maggots that develop inside fruit. Found throughout North America.
actual length
1/4”
plants affected
Apples
damage
Fruit dimpled where eggs are laid. Brown tunnels inside fruit. Fruit may drop early.
management
Discard dropped fruit daily. Trap females in sticky red spheres (1 per dwarf tree, 6 for full sized). Grow ground cover to promote ground beetles.
Adults have long black wing covers w/ white patches bordered in red. Larva are fat gray grubs w/ black heads & legs. Eggs are black & attached to stems & spears. The Spotted Asparagus Beetle is reddish orange w/ 12 dark spots & the larva is orange
actual length
Adult: 1/4”, Larva: 1/3″
plants affected
Asparagus
damage
Chew holes in spears creating brown spots. Consumes leaves from fronds leaving empty branches
management
Handpick beetles daily. Use floating row cover. Harvest spears frequently.
Many different species found throughout North America. Colors range from brown, black, red, or gray w/ some brightly colored. Nymphs smaller & look like wingless adults. Adults are flat with narrow heads, curved beak, & long thin legs. May bite & cause a reaction in some.
actual length
1/2″ – 3/4″
pest control
Aphids, Cabbage White, Cabbage Looper, Colorado potato beetles, cucumber beetles, cutworms, earwigs, lined plant bugs, Japanese beetle, lace beetle, Mexican bean beetle, tobacco budworms, tomato hornworms, & other pests.
how to attract
Present if they have insects to eat. Avoid using pesticides.
Adults are gray-brown moths w/ a silver V spot on wings. Larva are green caterpillars that arch back into air w/ light lines down their backs & a line on each side. Eggs are green domes on the underside of leaves.
actual length
Adult: 3/4″, Larva: 1″ – 1 1/2″
plants affected
Beets, cabbage, celery, peas, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, & lettuce.
damage
Chew large holes in leaves. Will tunnel into cabbage heads.
management
Handpick caterpillars & eggs daily. Attract predatory & parasitic insects w/ pollen & nectar plants. Use floating row covers.
Adults are white butterflies w/ black spots seen in most gardens. Larva are green caterpillars w/ yellow stripes.
actual length
Adult: 1″ – 2″, Larva: 1/2″ – 1″
plants affected
Broccoli, cabbage, & cauliflower.
damage
Chew large uneven holes in leaves & florets of cauliflower & broccoli. Distribute green pellets as they feed.
management
Handpick caterpillars daily. Use floating row cover. Attract parasitic wasps. Place yellow sticky traps to catch female butterflies.
Brown moths w/ wings that have copper patterns & dark brown tips.
actual length
3/4″
plants affected
Apples, crabapples, & pears.
damage
Fruit will have a (sometimes unnoticeable) hole near the base w/ dark castings coming out of it. Undamaged flesh is edible.
management
Spray dormant oil. Remove cocoons that are under tree bark. Use tree bands of cardboard to trap caterpillars. Tie paper bags around fruit. Attract ground beetles w/ cover crop or mulch.
Orangish yellow beetles w/ ten black stripes on wing covers. Larva are reddish orange grubs w/ a row of black spots on both sides. Eggs are upright & yellow & found on the underside of leaves.
actual length
Adult: 1/3″, Larva: 1/16″ – 1/2″
plants affected
Potatoes, tomatoes, & eggplants.
damage
Chew on leaves & stems. Can kill younger plants & defoliate more established crops. On potatoes some damage will not affect yield.
management
Shake plants early in the morning & kill larva & adults. Plant resistant varieties. Mulch plants deeply. Use floating row cover. Release soldier bugs or parasitic wasps.
Look like greenish yellow lady beetles w/ 12 black spots on wing covers. The Striped Cucumber Beetle is oblong, yellowish green in color & marked by three black stripes.
actual length
1/4”
plants affected
Corn, cucumbers, peanuts, & potatoes.
damage
Larva feed on roots of young plants. Adults chew holes in leaves & fruit. Feeding on established plants cause mostly cosmetic damage. May transmit cucumber mosaic virus & bacterial wilt disease.
management
Use floating row cover & hand pollinate. Handpick daily.
Small black or brown beetles w/ large hind legs that will jump when disturbed.
actual length
1/10”
plants affected
Most vegetables.
damage
Feeding causes small holes in leaves & can spread viruses. Vigorous plants can w/stand damage. Larva feed on roots.
management
Use floating row cover. Use parasitic nematodes to control larva. Plant vulnerable crops as late as possible.
Metallic green beetles w/ bronze wing covers. Tufts of white hairs can be found on the sides of abdomen. Long legs & big claws. Larva are found in the soil w/ brown heads & C shaped off-white bodies.
actual length
Adult: 1/2”, Larva: 3/4”
plants affected
Most vegetables.
damage
Adults feed on plants creating lace damage. Leaves may wilt & drop. Larva feed on roots of lawn causing patches of wilted turf.
management
Hand pick adults every morning. If trapping, should be community wide. Nematodes (Heterorhabditis) to control larva.
Adults are usually shiny black, but can be metallic green, blue, gold, or red. Larva are dark colored grubs, with 10 segments. Most have mandibles. Feed at night & hide during the day. Many species common in North America.
actual length
Adult: 1/3″ – 1 1/2″, Larva: 1/2″ – 1″
pest control
Asparagus beetle, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, cutworms, Slugs, snails, squash vine borer, & other pests.
how to attract
Permanent beds & perennial plantings help protect populations. Stones, rocks, logs, or mulch provide places for them to hide during daytime.
Adults are thin green insects w/ large net-like transparent wings, & large eyes. Larva are flat brown & white & are fast moving w/ large mandibles. Found all through North America.
actual length
Adult: 1″, Larva: 1/2″
pest control
Aphids, asparagus beetle, colorado beetle, mexican bean beetle, scale, spider mite, whiteflies & other pests.
how to attract
Plant pollen and nectar flowers including: Angelica, caraway, cosmos, goldenrod, marguerite daisies, Queen Anne’s lace, tansy, and yarrow. Let a few weeds go to flower such as dandelions. Larva and eggs can be purchased and released widely into the garden.
Adults have black & orangish red shield shaped wing cover. Nymphs are wingless & look similar to adults. Found across North America.
actual size
1/2″
plants affected
Beans, cabbage, corn, peaches, peas, squash, & tomatoes.
damage
Suck plant juices & cause leaves & shoots to blacken & die. Plants may fail to produce fruit.
management
Handpick daily. Remove or mow weedy areas close to garden. Attract parasitic wasps & flies.
Adults have round bodies, short legs, and antennae. Colors range from pale-yellow to orange to red, with or without black spots. Can also be solid black, or black with red spots. Larva are black and look like small alligators. Eggs are white or yellow and found in clusters.
actual length
Adult & Larva: 1/4″
pest control
Aphids, asparagus beetle larva, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetle larva, mealy bugs, scales, spider mites, whiteflies, & other insects.
how to attract
Diversity of plants with pollen and nectar flowers sustain them when pest populations are low. Some options include dandelions, thyme, yarrow, bugleweed, fennel, cilantro, and dill. Purchased lady bugs are only good for greenhouses; will fly away when released in gardens.
Brownish yellow beetles w/ 16 spots on wing covers. Larva are yellowish orange w/ multiple spines. Found in states east of the Mississippi; also in Texas, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, & Nebraska.
actual length
Adult: 1/4”, Larva: 1/3”
plants affected
Beans: cowpeas, lima beans, snap beans, & soybeans.
damage
Larva & adults feed on the underside of leaves creating lace damage. Leaves can drop & plant may die.
management
Handpick larva & adults daily. Use floating row cover. Attract predators or parasites. Use a trap crop.
Females are oval to round, soft, legless, & wingless bumps. Males are small, yellow, & winged. Larva are mobile & look like mealybugs. Found across North America.
actual length
1/4″
plants affected
Citrus, palms, & roses.
damage
Suck plant sap weakening plants & turning leaves yellow. Leaves may drop & plant could die. Sooty mold or black fungus can be found growing on honeydew secreted by scales.
management
Hand pick scales or remove infested leaves or branches. Attract predatory beetles, lady beetles, or parasitic wasps.
Soft bodied green, black, yellow, tan, or spotted legless pest found across North America. Create mucus trials. Clear oval or round eggs laid in masses under garden debris.
actual length
1/8″ – 8″
plants affected
Most vegetables.
damage
Eat large holes in leaves, stems & bulbs. Prefer tender plants & can destroy seedlings.
management
Pick off every morning. Use small container of beer as trap w/ container lip slightly above soil surface. Surround plants w/ diatomaceous earth to prevent movement.
Very small red, green or yellow 8-legged mite with fine hairs found across North America. Most spin webs on the underside of leaves.
actual length
1/50″
plants affected
Beans, cucumbers, eggplants, fruit trees, melons, peppers, squash, & tomatoes.
damage
Suck juices from underside of leaves & weakens plant turning leaves yellow to brown. Leaves can drop & fruit may be stunted.
management
Water down plants to reduce reproduction. For greenhouses release predatory mites. Spray insecticidal soap.
Adults are brownish black in color, flat-backed, & covered w/ fine hairs. Nymphs are whitish green or grey; similar shape as adults. Eggs are shiny yellow to brown; found on underside of leaves. Can give off an unpleasant odor in defense.
actual length
1/2″
plants affected
Pumpkins, squash, & cucurbits.
damage
Suck plant juices & cause leaves & shoots to blacken & die. Plants may fail to produce fruit.
management
Hand pick all bugs from undersides of leaves. Support vines off ground w/ trellis. Control w/ native parasitic flies; attract w/ pollen & nectar plants. Cover Vines w/ floating row cover.
Narrow-winged moths; reddish orange abdomens w/ black rings; fringed hind legs & clear wings. White larva w/ brown heads. Eggs are laid on stems & leaf stalks.
actual length
1″ – 1 1/2″
plants affected
Squash family w/ large stems: gourds, pumpkins, & hubbard squash
damage
Larva bore into vine & cause sudden wilting & death of stems.
management
For infested vines, slit stems & remove insects. Cover vines w/ soil to induce rooting. Kill young larva w/ pyrethrin spray at base of plant before they enter stems. Early in season cover vines w/ floating row cover.
Yellowish to brown or black in color. Fast moving; leap or fly when disturbed. Eggs are laid in plant tissues.
actual length
1/50″ – 1/25″
plants affected
Asparagus, cabbage, fruit trees, lettuce, onions, & peas.
damage
Causes silvery speckling or streaks on leaves. Can damage flowers & developing fruit, & can stunt plants.
management
Control w/ predators: pirate bugs, lacewings, or lady beetles. Spray dormant oil on fruit trees. Catch adults w/ blue or yellow sticky traps. Spray insecticidal soap.
White winged insects. Adults, nymphs & eggs found on underside of leaves in large numbers.
actual length
1/4″ – 1/8″
plants affected
Citrus, Ornamentals, Annuals, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Grapes, Squash family, & Tomatoes
damage
Plants weakened by adult & nymph feeding. Mold can grow on honeydew that insects secrete. Feeding can spread viral diseases.
management
Vacuum adults from leaves or catch on sticky traps. Spray w/ insecticidal soap. Control w/ native parasitic wasps or predatory beetles.
Larva are mostly found in soil & are plump & brown or shiny gray w/ shiny heads. Are slightly buried during the day, curled next to damaged plants.
plants affected
Most seedlings & transplants.
damage
Larva feed at night on young plants severing the stem near or below the surface of the soil. Seedlings can disappear during the night.
management
Cutworm collars: cardboard, hard plastic, or tin cans w/ both ends removed surrounding seedlings & pressed an inch into the soil. Use parasitic nematodes. Search for larva in the morning around damaged plants. Cultivate a few inches to expose cutworms before planting.
