North Woods Field Guides PO Box 107 Wevertown
Garden Insect
Notes
Slugs ~
Spider Mites ~
Squash Bug ~
Squash Vine Borer ~
Cucumber Beetle ~
Tomato Hornworms ~
Weevils ~
Whiteflies ~
Wire Worm ~
Aphids ~
Cabbage Worms ~
Rust Flies ~
Corn Earworms ~
Cutworms ~
Flea Beetle ~
Japanese Beetle ~
Potato Beetle
Slugs ~ Evidenced by holes eaten through leaves, stems and fruits
there may also be evidence of slime trials on the leaves left from
the slug. They are active during dark cool periods. Once found
sprinkling salt on them will do the trick. Ashallow bowl filled
with beer will attract and drown them. Eggshells, wood ashes or
gritty sand placed around the base of the plants will deter slugs.
Back to Top
Spider Mites ~ Evidence of small webs covering leaves and
stems, leaf veins turning yellow first then spreading out into
the leaf and wilting leaves are signs of Spider Mites.
Plantings of garlic and onions interplanted will deter these
insects. Sprays made of garlic and onion will also work well.
Lady Bugs are a natural predator of Spider Mites.
Back to Top
Squash Bug
~
Look for wilted leaves turning black as they die.
One easy trap for them is to place a board on the soil. They will
seek out the damp cool soil under the board and you can simply
lift the board collect and dispose of them. Wood ashes placed in
an open trench a few inches deep around the plant will also deter
the bugs. Be careful not to let the ashes contact the plant.
Back to Top
Squash Vine Borer
~ Evidenced by wilted vines. Look for a hole
where the vine has wilted with greenish sawdust like piles next to
them. To remove the insect make a small slice where the hole is &
try to dig out the borer. Bury the stem in moist soil after to help it
heal. Stem covers & wraps help prevent the adult flies from laying
their eggs on the stems. Naphthalene mothballs buried in the soil
may prevent infestation as well as using Diatomaceous Earth or
wood ashes around the base of the plants.
Back to Top
Striped/Spotted Cucumber Beetle
~ They will eat holes through leaves,
fruits & flowers. More importantly they spread bacteria wilt & cucumber
mosaic virus. The larvae may feed on the roots of plants causing
them to wilt & die. Repellent plants of catnip, marigolds & radishes
interplanted will deter them. Mashing several beetles & mixing with
water & straining will make a good repellent spray. The same holds
true for a marigold spray. Try a barrier of wood ashes in a shallow
trench around the plant, be careful not to let the ashes touch the plant.
Back to Top
Tomato Hornworms ~ Evidenced by foliage that has been eaten
and by dark dropping of the Hornworms scat on leaves & stems.
Although very difficult to find, because they blend in so well,
spraying the plants with very cold water will make the Hornworm
move violently making them easier to see. You can then pick them
off and destroy them. Marigolds are a good repellent plant.
Back to Top
Weevils ~ There are several types of Weevils, the Cabbage,
Carrot, Bean & Vegetable Weevil. The larvae may burrow & tunnel
into the vegetables or consume the foliage. One of the few
ways to eliminate Weevils is to introduce predatory Nematodes
into your garden at planting time. Also try to rotate your crops
every year. Diatomaceous Earth dusted around the base of the
plants will also help deter them.
Back to Top
Whiteflies
~ Evidence of a shiny, sticky honeydew on fruit & leaves
accompanied by a black fungus that may be present will point to
these bugs. Onions or chives interplanted will deter Whiteflies. A
homemade spray made of 1 part rubbing alcohol to 4 parts of water
will rid the plants of flies. Asimple board painted bright yellow and
coated with a sticky substance such as Vaseline will catch and hold
the bugs. Place the traps level with the plants to be protected.
Back to Top
Wire Worm ~
Damage to plants is limited to the underground
roots & seedlings. Wilting dying plants with no obvious signs of
trouble from the ground up may tip you off to Wire worms. The
easiest method to see if you have wireworms is to place pieces of
potatoes a few inches underground. Make sure you mark the spots
so you don't forget. After a few days dig them up & discard any
wire worms that are present.
Back to Top
Aphids ~ Evidence of their presence are leaves turned yellow, dead
spots, wilting & stunted growth. They leave a sticky sweet substance
called honeydew on the plants that promotes mold growth
&attracts ants. Plantings of Garlic, Marigolds, Onions or Catnip
work well to repel them. They are attracted to the color yellow, a
simple dish filled with soapy water will attract and drown them.
Spiders and Ladybugs if present will feed on Aphids.
Back to Top
Cabbage Worms ~ Evidenced by irregular shaped or ragged holes
chewed through the leaves. There will also be evidence of green droppings
from the bugs digestion of the plant. The larvae will bore into
the head of the plant destroying it. Dust the leaves of the infected
plant with Rye Flour which they will ingest while eating the foliage &
die. Ahomemade spray of garlic, onion or hot peppers ground,
soaked in water, then strained & sprayed on the plant will repel
them.
Back to Top
Carrot Rust Flies
~ The only way to tell if your infested is to pull
up a plant as there is no evidence of them on the surface.
Evidence would be rust colored tunnels through the vegetable. The
rust color is from the larvae's droppings as it digests it's food.
Onions, leeks, rosemary and sage are some interplantings to repel
the insects. Wood ashes spread around the target plants will also
deter the adult flies from laying their eggs.
Back to Top
Corn Earworms Evidenced by stunted growth in Corn &
insect droppings in the tassels. There will also be fecal matter
present inside the husks. They also may infest tomatoes, peppers,
squash and beans. Try a homemade spray of garlic or onion to
deter the insects. Once the silk has turned brown, apply a few
drops of mineral oil to the silk which will drown any worms.
Back to Top
Cutworms If your plants were fine before you went to bed but are
cut off at the base the next morning, most likely you have Cutworms.
These worms come out at night & chew through the stem of plants.
Look for evidence of a small hole up to 1/2 inch wide near the base
of the plant. Try onion or garlic interplanted in your garden to deter
them. You can also use collars or wraps around the base of plants.
Make sure the wrap is at least an inch under the soil & a few inches
above. Cornmeal sprinkled around the base of plants will kill them.
Back to Top
Flea Beetle Look for an abundance of tiny holes in the
foliage. Flea Beetles prefer hot, dry conditions so keeping
the soil and plants moist will help deter them. A homemade
remedy of ground garlic, onion or hot pepper mixed with
water and strained makes a good repellent spray.
Back to Top
Japanese Beetle ~ Look for partial or entirely eaten foliage with
only the leaf veins present. Sex & food attractant traps work well.
Keep them away from the area you want to protect. Aspray made
from Forsythias works well in repelling them. Soak Forsythias in
hot water for several minutes, you will now have a repellent spray
to use. Adding a few drops of liquid soap to the solution will help it
adhere to the leaf rather than just drip off.
Back to Top
Potato Beetle
~
Look for signs of eaten foliage with black
droppings present on the leaves and stems. Some repellent
plants are garlic, marigolds, onions, catnip and horse radish
interplanted. Wheat bran or corn meal sprinkled on the moistened
leaves of the host plant will be ingested by the feeding
bugs killing them.
Back to Top
|