21
votes
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Is this caterpillar-like insect a good guy or a bad guy?
It seems to be a garden centipede - they don't damage plants, they predate other creatures rather than plants. They like to hide in damp places during the day, they need moisture to survive, so ...
- 132k
15
votes
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Are these bright orange bugs with beady black eyes ladybugs?
Looks like a red pumpkin beetle Aulacophora foveicollis
- 23.1k
12
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How do I identify and control spider mites
How to check for spider mites.
Spider mites live on the underside of leaves, and are reddish brown or pale in color, oval-shaped, and very small.
Obvious signs of infection are white webbing, yellow ...
- 605
12
votes
Keeping rats from eating my plants
I'd be very surprised if its actually rats eating your plants - rats will eat almost anything, but plants would be the last thing on the list, unless its a fruiting vegetable plant such as corn. You ...
- 132k
11
votes
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Will growing Garlic in a garden keep insects away?
As far as I can tell, there is very little empirical data on garlic and mosquitoes. And all of the studies I have seen show mixed results for ingesting garlic or using garlic as a mosquito repellent. ...
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10
votes
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Caterpillars don't lay eggs so how is this happening?
A photo would be great, but maybe some of the caterpillars have fallen prey to a parasitic wasp and what you're seeing are the wasp larvae, see image below
https://www.wired.com/2014/10/absurd-...
- 132k
9
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Which spiders should I allow in my garden?
Spiders in the garden are total GOOD GUYS. The amount of insects they control is wonderful!! They will not bother you! Now Tagenaria aggrestice or the Hobo Spider, Aggressive House Spider, Wolf ...
- 40.2k
9
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What is this bug on my adenium plant and what should I do?
Agreed, its an aphid infestation, specifically what's known as Oleander Aphid, which affects plants in the Apocynaceae family (which Adenium belongs to) as well as Asclepiadaceae - more info in the ...
- 132k
9
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Should I remove the tiny, cute, white and red bugs from my Umbrella plant (Variegated Schefflera)?
Your Pokemons are waxy scale, or coccidae. Your description in the comments above is spot on: another name is "tortoise scale".
The Florida wax scale (Ceroplastes floridensis) looks quite similar, ...
- 16.3k
8
votes
How do I identify and control spider mites
There are so many species (and genera for that matter) of spider mites that one set of guidelines is likely not going to fit all of them. If you ask about a specific kind of spider mite, you might get ...
- 18k
8
votes
How can I get rid of fungus on my pepper plants?
There appears to be a long standing insect infestation, possiby whitefly (does anything rise up and fly about when you go near or disturb the plant?) or scale infestation of some sort. The leaves ...
- 132k
8
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Basil: Are these aphids, whiteflies or something else?
It's nice to see a post about potential infestation and being able to calm the poster:
These are adventitious root stubs, or in other words, tiny roots starting to form. There are a number of reasons ...
- 16.3k
8
votes
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Request for identification of insects on Brussels sprouts
Those „eggs” are not eggs, but cabbage aphids at different stages of maturity. They feed exclusively on brassicaceae, so other non-brassica plants nearby remain safe.
In dry summers they can cause ...
- 16.3k
7
votes
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What is this pest attacking a fig tree?
The brown dots are an advanced infestation of scale. This is not the fig scale which looks pinkish and has an unusual shape but a more common variety. This is a common pest and regardless of the ...
- 58.8k
7
votes
Mice eating sown grass seed
That is not so small an area. Four square meters ~= 43 Square feet
I would just sod this and have the job finished in a few hours. A typical sod roll measures 24" x 81" or 2 ft x 6.75 ft. Each roll ...
- 58.8k
7
votes
Treating Azaleas without harming Bees
Well, I wouldn't be using any of those, particularly not imidaproclid, and I don't keep bees - that substance has been or is about to be withdrawn in the EU for two to five years to see if it impacts ...
- 132k
7
votes
Could a wasp be hurting my apple tree?
Disclaimer: we haven't identified the wasps in question
Wasps are insectivores. If they are flyng back and forth between or around plants, they are on the hunt or scouting for food.
The wasps' ...
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7
votes
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How can I get rid of fungus on my pepper plants?
Your close up leaf images show an aphid infestation. In my experience, this is a highly persistent insect that infests chili plants amongst others with over 500 different types of Aphids specific to ...
- 23.1k
7
votes
Accepted
What pest is this and how do I treat it?
This is another case of "dog vomit slime mold", or Fuligo septica.
It pops up unannounced, often on wood chips (which I see isn't your case here), and spreads a little bit, but in sort of a limited ...
- 3,639
7
votes
What is afflicting this sick Bay Laurel (Laurus Nobilis) -- and how do I fix it?
You have a scale infestation.
I know I’ll get responses to this blog, that sympathetic gardeners will be recommending me a wide range of products and treatments to control scale insects: rubbing ...
- 23.1k
7
votes
How to get rid of worms in containers?
If the plants are outdoors some of the year or all of the year, then earthworms are inevitable, and are not undesirable. If these are plants he wants to keep indoors, then I suggest he decants them, ...
- 132k
7
votes
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What is this insect with a funny color pattern?
This is a stink bug, possibly Southern Green Stink Bug (Nezara viridula); for reference see Field Guide to Stink Bugs thumbnail Sec1:2 for photo close to this one. Since it is listed in this guide it ...
- 20.4k
6
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What is this bug on my adenium plant and what should I do?
I agree they look like aphids - aphids come in a variety of colours, so you might not have seen this type before.
To control aphids, I just spray the plant all over with a spray bottle containing ...
- 715
6
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How helpful are whirligig mites?
Whirligig mites will eat whatever is small enough for them to catch and pierce with their mouthparts, when they suck out the contents of the body of whatever it is they've caught, usually aphids and ...
- 132k
6
votes
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What sort of insects are these?
You've created a drone fly nursery! These are the rat tailed larvae of drone flies - they love stagnant, contaminated water, specially if its got faeces or manure or rotting organic material in it, ...
- 132k
6
votes
Are these spider mites on my indoor eggplant?
Yes, spider mites, and quite a heavy infestation. Next they start floating to other plants. Get the soap and water out quick or throw the plant out.
The key to success with soap is to apply at 5 - ...
- 58.8k
6
votes
Accepted
What are these little black bugs on my Chives, Welsh and Spring Onions?
I really can't tell much from the picture. However insects are quite purposeful. If they are on your plants they are not there for a vacation. The most likely candidate are aphids who come in many ...
- 58.8k
6
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What are these little black bugs on my Chives, Welsh and Spring Onions?
They're onion aphids. They infest my green onions, and garlic. Although visible on the green garlic shoots, they get into the bulb. I've even found them inside garlic imported from overseas.
Just ...
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