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Know
Your Garden Bugs |
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| Insects
and mites can destroy or greatly reduce the yield potential of a number of
our garden vegetables. These pests may damage the plants by eating the foliage,
boring in stems or roots, sucking plant juices, or attacking the fruit. Control
measures are often required to maintain good quality vegetables. These measures
include good cultural practices and the safe and effective use of chemicals.
Note:
Follow
label directions on the product you are using. Use only if crop, pest, or specific
use is stated on the label. Control
of these pests can begin by using good quality seed or healthy seedlings. The
quality of the plants should be maintained throughout the growing season. To
do this, you should follow a sound fertilization program for your garden site.
To help prevent pest buildup, you should destroy crop residue once the harvest
is completed. This is especially true at the end of the growing season, because
old plants can provide food for late feeding by pests and afford good overwintering
sites.
Chewing
InsectsNote:Click
On Images To See Larger View. AntsAnts
may be found in gardens for many reasons. They may feed on "honeydew" produced
by aphids, feed on decaying fruit, or forage for other insects. They do very
little, if any, damage to the plants and are largely a nuisance pest. The fire
ant can be more than a nuisance because of its painful sting. Control aphids
by spraying with one of the materials listed on the pesticide chart. Harvest
vegetables on time and remove over-ripe vegetables from the garden area. Treat
all fire ant mounds within 30 to 40 feet of the garden site with diazinon.
Bean
Leaf Beetle Description.
Coloration
will vary, but adults are typically red to yellow with a black band around
the margin of the wing covers. Black spots may or may not be present.
Injury.
Adult
beetles often feed on the underside of the leaf, creating holes. If disturbed
the beetles will drop to the ground and remain motionless for several minutes.
Plants
Attacked.
All
kinds of beans and peas. Blister
Beetle Description.
These
insects are long (3/4 inch) slender beetles. Their color patterns may vary
from black, gray, or yellow and black striped. The yellow and black striped
beetle is probably more common in our area.
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Injury.
Blister
beetles rarely do extensive damage in gardens. However, some years you will
find many beetles feeding in large groups. During these periods, they may defoliate
a number of garden plants.
Plants
Attacked.
The
insect will attack most garden crops, especially tomatoes.
Cabbage
Worm
Description.
The
larva of the cabbage looper is a slender green caterpillar with a thin white
line located on each side. Its body tapers slightly toward the head. Adults
are dull-colored moths. The female lays eggs in the night. The imported cabbage
worm is leaf-green with a velvety appearance. Adults are white butterflies
with three or four black spots located on the wings. They may be seen flitting
around gardens during daylight hours.
Injury.
These
two insects are often found on the same plant, and they damage the plant in
the same manner. The outer leaves will be covered with large irregular shaped
holes, along with damaged heads. Scheduled pesticide applications and good
coverage, especially with the biological pesticides, are important in controlling
these insects.
Plants
Attacked.
Cabbage,
collards, and related plants.
Colorado
Potato Beetle
Description.
Adults
are small, oval shaped insects with black and yellow stripes on the wing covers.
The immature beetles are red with black spots.
Injury.
Both
adults and immatures damage the plant by feeding on leaves and new growth.
Plants
Attacked.
This
insect prefers potatoes but will feed on eggplants, tomatoes, and peppers.
Corn
Earworm or Tomato Fruitworm
Description.
The
adult, a gray-brown moth, is most active during late evening and night hours
and deposits eggs at this time. At the immature stage, the insect has a variety
of color patterns that range from green or brown to a pink color with light
colored stripes along the sides. This is the stage where the insect does the
most damage.
Injury
and Control.
In
early season, this insect will feed in the whorl of young corn plants, giving
the leaves a ragged appearance. They rarely cause significant damage during
this period. Later, adult moths will deposit eggs on emerging silks and the
larvae will burrow into the ear. The larvae feed on developing kernels near
the tip of the ear. To prevent ear damage, you should begin spraying or dusting
when young silks first appear. Apply the insecticide every three to four days
until silks begin to dry. To protect bees, make applications in early morning
or late afternoon. When eggs are deposited on tomato plants, the young worms
will burrow into the tomatoes. Inspect tomatoes regularly and apply an insecticide
when young worms first appear.
Cowpea
Curculio
Description.
This
insect is a small black beetle. The immatures are white legless grubs.
Injury.
Adults
feed on young pods, and females deposit eggs in small holes eaten through the
pods. The young grubs feed within the developing pods.
Plant
Attacked.
Southern
peas.
Cucumber
Beetle
Description.
Two
cucumber beetles may be a problem in Mississippi: the striped cucumber beetle
(SCB) and the twelve-spotted cucumber (TSCB). The SCB is yellow and black striped,
while the TSCB is yellow-green with 12 black spots on its back.
Injury.
Adults
feed on leaves, stems, and fruit. The larvae bore into roots and stems below
ground. The larva of the TSCB has proved so destructive to corn in some areas
that it is known as the Southern Corn Rootworm.
Plants
Attacked.
The
SCB feeds on cantaloupe, cucumbers, squash, and watermelons. The TSCB feeds
on beans, peas, and corn silks as well as the above mentioned plants.
Cutworm
Description.
The
adults are dull-colored moths that are most active during the night. The immatures
are dull gray, brown, or black and may be striped or spotted. They generally
feed at night and remain hidden during the day.
Injury.
The
immature or worm is the damaging stage of this insect. It will generally cut
young plants in two right at the soil line, while other types will climb plants
and feed on leaves and buds. Most damage occurs in early spring shortly after
plants have emerged from the soil. Cutworms may be controlled by using a preplant
application of an insecticide. Diazinon as a spray or granules can be used.
For the spray, mix 6 ounces of diazinon (25 ) in 3 gallons of water and spray
this mixture over 1,000 square feet before planting. Immediately work the soil
to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. Diazinon granules (5 ) should be applied broadcast
at the rate of 10-12 ounces per 500 square feet and mixed into the soil to
a depth of 2 to 3 inches.
Plants
Attacked.
Nearly
all vegetables.
Fall
Armyworm
Description.
The
adult is a dull-colored, nightflying moth. It usually does not appear in our
area until the first part of June. Larvae will vary in color from light tan
or green to nearly black, with yellowish lines down their sides.
Plants
Attacked and Injury.
The
larvae feed primarily on corn but will, on occasion, feed on peas, tomatoes,
and beans. They infest the whorls of corn and can be found 1 to 2 inches deep
in the whorl. It is difficult to get insecticides to the target. Direct sprays
into the whorls or use 4 to 7 ounces of diazinon (5 ) granules per 500 square
feet.
Flea
Beetle
Description.
These
are very small beetles that jump vigorously when disturbed. The color patterns
may vary from black to brown, and some may be striped.
Injury.
Damage
by this insect is caused largely by the adult beetles when they eat small holes
in the leaves. At times the damage is so extensive that leaves look like they
have been peppered with fine shot.
Plants
Attacked.
Flea
beetles will feed on eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, and
sweet potatoes.
Mexican
Bean Beetle
Description.
The
adult varies from a yellow to copper color with 16 black spots on its back.
The yellow, soft-bodied larvae have six rows of small black-tipped spines on
their backs.
Injury.
Both
the adults and larvae cause plant damage. They usually feed on the under surface
of the leaf, rarely eating entirely through the leaf. As the damaged tissue
dries, it breaks through, giving the leaf a lace-like, skeletonized appearance.
Plants
Attacked.
All
kinds of beans and southern peas.
Pickleworm
and Melonworm
Description.
The
adult in a moth that is somewhat wasp-like in appearance with a cluster of
hairs located on the tip of the abdomen. The pickleworm larva is yellow green
with numerous black spots. The melonworm is similar, but it lacks the black
spots.
Injury.
The
larvae do the most damage because they feed on foliage, leaf bud vines, and
fruit, which causes the damaged fruit to sour and rot. The melonworm is more
of a foliage feeder than the pickleworm.
Plants
Attacked.
Cantaloupe,
cucumber, and squash.
Serpentine
Leaf Miner
Description.
The
adult is a small fly, while the larva is a white maggot.
Injury.
The
larvae feed between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. This feeding
causes severe leaf damage that looks like slender, white, winding trails throughout
the leaf.
Plants
Attacked.
Beans,
tomatoes, peas, and cucumbers. The most severe damage occurs with tomatoes.
Squash
Vine Borer
Description.
The
adult moth is very wasp-like in appearance and coloration. Eggs are glued one
at a time on stems and leaf stalks, especially toward the base of the plant.
The larvae are pale white and are about 1 inch long at maturity.
Injury.
The
young larvae bore into leaf stalks and vines, causing them to wilt. If enough
larvae are present, they will kill the plant.
Plant
Attacked.
Squash.
Tomato
Hornworm
Description.
The
adults are very large moths with a 4- or 5-inch wingspan. The larvae are large
green worms with white diagonal lines on each side and a prominent horn located
toward the back.
Injury.
The
larvae feed on leaves and may attack the fruit.
Plants
Attacked.
Tomato,
pepper, and eggplant.
Vegetable
Weevil
Description.
Adult
weevils are gray-brown with a light colored "V" on the wing covers. The larvae
are cream-colored with a tinge of green and light yellow heads.
Injury.
The
adults and larvae feed on leaves and roots of crops.
Plants
Attacked.
Tomatoes,
potatoes, spinach, cabbage, radishes, and turnips.
Sucking
Insects
Aphids
Description.
These
are small, soft-bodied insects with a wide color range varying from green to
black.
Injury.
The
aphids remove plant juices, causing the leaves to curl and turn yellow. They
may cause a failure of bloom set in tomatoes.
Plants
Attacked.
Aphids
attack most vegetables, but they tend to cause more damage to peas, okra, mustard,
cabbage, and turnips.
Harlequin
Cabbage Bug
Description.
Adults
are black, red, and yellow and shield-shaped.
Injury.
These
insects (adults and nymphs) suck plant juices, causing the plant to wilt and
die.
Plants
Attacked.
Cabbage,
collards, mustards, and turnips. May also feed on potatoes, tomatoes, and okra.
Spider
Mites
Description.
These
small, eight-legged creatures are light green to red and are barely visible
to the naked eye. A fine web is often formed on the infested plants.
Injury.
Adults
and immatures remove plant juices with small needle-like mouthparts. They feed
primarily on the underside of the leaves and infest plants during hot, dry
weather. We do not currently have a control for this pest.
Plants
Attacked.
Beans,
cucumbers, and tomatoes.
Squash
Bug
Description.
This
brownish-black insect is a large (5/8 inch) flat-backed bug.
Injury.
This
insect can cause rather extensive damage due to its large size and large number
of nymphs. It removes plant sap, causing the plants to blacken and die.
Plants
Attacked.
All
curcubits with a preference for squash and pumpkins.
Stink
Bug
Description.
The
adults are brown or green, shield-shaped bugs. They secrete a disagreeable
odor when crushed.
Injury.
Adults
and nymphs feed on developing fruit of peas, beans, tomatoes, and okra. They
are usually mid- to late-season pests.
Whitefly
Description.
The
adult has four wings with a yellowish body and looks like it has been dusted
with a very fine white powder.
Injury.
Both
immatures and adults damage the plant by withdrawing plant juices.
Plants
Attacked.
Tomatoes,
and okra.
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