Red Spider Mites

The tiny mites live under leaves and suck sap, causing yellow mottling. Fine webs are sometimes visible.
Raise humidity and use a biological control under glass. Otherwise try organic sprays.

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LEARN MORE : Controlling Aphids, Slugs and Snails

Gall Mites

Gall Mites

These microscopic mites suck sap and cause abnormal growths. These include raised pimples or clumps
of matted hairs on leaves, or enlarged buds. Most are harmless and can be tolerated.

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Bagworm

Bagworm

Bagworms are the larval form of a moth that attacks evergreens and other trees. The worm inside each
bag feeds on the evergreen bush or tree, building a case around itself for protection from predators. The
case is made from bits of the plant the insect is feeding on and slowly enlarges over time as the insect
grows. Females lay eggs in the bags in late fall. The best control, if you only have a few bagworms, is to
handpick the bags and drop them into soapy water or put them out with the trash. Predatory insects
including wheel bugs or insect-eating birds will attack these insects, even inside their bags. You can also
spray traditional or bioinsecticides. Follow directions carefully on timing. Once larvae are more mature
and tucked into thicker bags, the chances of a spray reaching the worm itself are small.

Photo Credit: Julie Martens Forney

Japanese Beetles
Japanese Beetles

Japanese beetles aren't picky about what flowers they chew and even attack the otherwise pest-proof
purple coneflower.

Photo Credit: Julie Martens Forney

LEARN MORE : 10 Ways To Deal With Japanese Beetles

Leaf Miner

Leaf Miner

Leaf miners create discolored blotches or surface trails on leaves. Most leaf miner damage is relatively
harmless and can be left untreated.

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Codling Moth

Codling Moth

To avoid maggots in apples, spray emerging caterpillars twice using bifenthrin, starting in midsummer.
Also hang pheromone traps in late spring to catch male moths and prevent them from mating.

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Winter Moth

Winter Moth

In spring, the leaves of fruit trees are webbed together and hide green caterpillars inside. Holes are
visible when leaves expand. Apply sticky traps to capture adult moths.
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Aphids

Aphids

Aphids leave a sticky substance called honeydew on plants, which can allow black fungus to grow.

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Scale Insects

Scale Insects

Tiny blister or shell-like bumps on leaf backs result in poor growth. Other symptoms are sticky excretions
and sooty mold on evergreens. Wash off mold, and spray with horticultural oil.

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Whitefly

Whitefly

Under glass, hang yellow sticky pads to trap the tiny white flying adults, which suck sap from plants; use
a biological control (Encarsia wasp) on larvae or spray with organic chemical controls.

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LEARN MORE : Controlling Whiteflies and Aphids

Viburnum Beetle

Viburnum Beetle
Both the adults and larvae eat holes in the leaves, mainly on Viburnum tinus and V. opulus; this can slow
growth and looks unsightly. Spray badly affected plants in spring with bifenthrin or thiacloprid.

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Thrip

Thrip

This tiny black sap-sucker, known as "thunder fly," causes white patches on the petals and leaves of
indoor plants, and also peas, leeks, onions and gladioli. Use biological controls.

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Vine Weevil Larvae

Vine Weevil Larvae

Small cream grubs with a brown head feed on plant roots, especially those growing in containers or with
fleshy roots. This can cause plants to suddenly collapse.

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Adult Vine Weevil

Adult Vine Weevil

The adult beetle is nocturnal, flightless and makes notches in leaves. Use a biological control
(nematodes).

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Cabbage White Caterpillars

Cabbage White Caterpillars

These voracious eaters decimate brassicas and nasturtiums. Rub off egg clusters and pick off any
caterpillars you find.

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Tomato Moth

Tomato Moth

The tomato moth damages fruits. Pick off any caterpillars you find.

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Rose Slug

Rose Slug

A rose slug is the larvae or immature stage of a rose sawfly. It's easy to overlook on roses, until its
feeding begins to damage leaves. Rose slugs feed on leaf undersides, out of sight, nibbling on leaf tissue
— the part between the veins. When they're done eating, leaves resemble skeletons. Usually when
gardeners spot rose slug damage, they think their roses have a disease because leaves are speckled and
have holes in them. Sawfly larvae are not slugs or caterpillars, but a different type of critter. Blast them
off roses with a spray of water, or spray them with spinosad, a bioinsecticide made from soil bacteria.

Photo Credit: Julie Martens Forney

Grasshopper

Grasshopper

When grasshoppers hit your garden, nothing is safe. These insects chew their way through leaves,
flowers and fruits without stopping, eating up to half their body weight per day. Kill grasshoppers when
they're young anytime you can. Create a garden where bluebirds feel at home, because they'll help eat
these pests, as will toads, snakes and shrews. Explore the world of grasshopper baits to discover
bioinsecticides that kill these insects using various strains of fungi or bacteria. Don't just ignore
grasshoppers, because if you have a severe problem one year, you will continue to have issues in the
future.

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Stink Bug

Stink Bug

The brown marmorated stink bug has been in the United States 20 years, and in that time it's spread
throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Upper Midwest and along the West Coast. Stink bugs attack many home
garden crops, including beans, corn, tomatoes peppers, apples and raspberries. Their feeding wounds
fruits and veggies, resulting in corky spots that are inedible. Stink bugs spend winter inside, invading
home voids and attics. With their stinky personalities, these bugs stir up drama indoors when they
emerge from hiding in hordes, usually in winter. In the garden, knock stink bugs into soapy water to kill
them. Indoors, the same method works, or you can try vacuuming up the stinkers (which might make
your vac stink). Another indoor option is using a dry-mop cleaning tool (think Swiffer-type) that you
cover with duct tape, sticky side out. That device gives you reach to grab stink bugs climbing curtains,
walls and ceilings.

Photo Credit: Julie Martens Forney

Sawfly Larvae

Sawfly Larvae

The caterpillar-like larvae devour the foliage on plants such as roses, gooseberries and Solomon's seal.
Leaf rolling is usually the first sign of sawflies. Pick caterpillars off by hand or spray with bifenthrin or
pyrethrum.

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Woolly Beech Aphid

Woolly Beech Aphid

Seen in early summer, these white fluffy aphids coat shoots and the undersides of leaves. They suck sap
and excrete honeydew that supports black sooty mold.

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Earwig

Earwig

Mostly beneficial, earwigs are nocturnal and feed on dahlia, chrysanthemum and clematis flowers. Lure
them into upturned flower pots filled with straw and release them elsewhere.

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LEARN MORE : Bug Off: Get the Earwigs Out of My Garden!

Cabbage Looper Caterpillar