As temperatures
start to cool down, insect activity can increase. Here are several insects to
watch for in your garden this time of year.
Pear slugs eat the leaves of pears,
cherries, plums, cotoneaster and others. The adult is a glossy black sawfly; it
lays eggs in the leaf, which become slug-like larvae. What we’re seeing now is
the second generation, which is generally more destructive. Some of these
larvae will over-winter underground and emerge next spring to start the cycle
again. Control with Sevin or Spinosad.
Aphids come in many colors,
not just green. They cause direct damage to plant leaves and they can transmit
diseases to the plant. Apply Neem Oil or
Eight, to control.
Wasps and aphids can go hand
in hand. If you see a lot of wasp activity in trees, check for aphids. The wasps
are there because of the secretions (honeydew, sugars) which the aphids produce.
Get rid of the aphids and the wasp problem will be reduced. Also, keep your
wasp traps baited and look for the wasp’s nest nearby. Spray late in the
evening or early morning.
Leaf Hoppers show up now, particularly on tomatoes and grapes, causing
leaf damage and reducing fruit quality. Look for blotchy leaves with white
spots. Control with Sevin®
Garden slugs can commonly be
found under mulch, boards, pots and overgrown vegetation. Pull mulch back from plants, prune leaves that
are close to the ground, apply diatomaceous earth or Sluggo®.
Not sure what’s bugging your
plants or lawn. Bring a sample to the Flower Bin Diagnostic Center for
identification and control options.
No comments:
Post a Comment