It ’s a give that insects will always be with us . They fly , crawling , record hop , jaw , take in , bore , and mine . If their damage is minor , then it ’s by and large OK to adopt a “ hold out and let live ” posture toward them in our flower gardens . But when they run through our coneflower petals , down payment clusters of unappetizing “ spit ” in the Achillea millefolium , or chew vast holes in the genus Hosta , that ’s when we are force to announce war !
The iconic bookGood Bug , Bad Bugexplains that 90 % of all dirt ball are either benign or beneficial . Of the remaining 10 % of insect , the equipment casualty they bring down depends on whether they arechewersorpiercers / sucker . It also depends in many cases on whether the insect is in the larval , nymph , or grownup stage of their exploitation . This article provides exercise of insect pestilence belonging to both category , the type of damage they inflict , and recommendations for managing them .
The non - chemical management controls describe are meant to be as non - toxic and environmentally friendly as possible . But if chemic controls are betoken , then refer to the Virginia Cooperative Extension ’s ( VCE)2022 Pest Management Guideand the plant life fact sheet list under Resources at the end of this article for information on pesticide and extra control condition . To avoid inadvertently harm beneficial insects or doing price to the surroundings , comply in full with direction on pesticide labels .
CHEWING INSECTS
Chewing insects have mouthpart that allow them to feed on all voice of a plant . They jaw and swallow bits and pieces of plant tissue , bequeath an unsightly , ragged foliage or prime gross profit margin . Here are some clues that bespeak the culprit is a jaw dirt ball :
Four examples of chewing insect pestis include bulla mallet , iris borer , earwig , and leaf mineworker .
BLISTER BEETLE
Of the bulla beetle family of insects , theblack blisterbeetle ( Epicauta pennsylvanica)is commonly find in garden east of the Rockies . Thischewinginsect has a slender , stretch body and soft annex covers that do n’t cover the peak of the abdomen . Blister beetle produce cantharidin , a justificatory crude that can annoy skin and cause blister – hence the common name of this insect . The grownup beetles feed on parting and flowers of a wide chain of industrial plant , including aster , calendula , chrysanthemum , dahlia , dianthus , delphinium , goldenrod , Nipponese anemone , lupin , phlox and zinnia . In large identification number , these insects can promptly defoliate a works . The larva are predaceous ; that is , they feed on the eggs of grasshoppers as well as wild bee larvae .
Signs of Blister Beetle Damage :
Blister Beetle Management Control :
bleb beetle damage on hosta foliage . Photo : Missouri Botanical Garden
IRIS BORER
Not all insect pests limit themselves to chewing leaf and stem . Some , like the larval human body of the iris borer moth ( Macronoctua onusta ) , do their dirty employment underground and out of deal . Using itschewingmouthparts , the caterpillar tunnel down into the hugger-mugger iris rhizome and take it undetected . Unfortunately , iris borer harm can rig the stage for bacterial soft rot , which typically mollycoddle the rhizome and often spread out to other nearby iris rhizome . By the time borer equipment casualty becomes noticeable , it is generally too late to save the affected portion of the plant .
foretoken of Iris bore bit damage :
Iris Borer Management Controls :
Bacterial soft spot in iris rhizome as solvent of impairment done by tunneling iris stone drill . Photo : Missouri Botanical Garden
EUROPEAN EARWIG
The European earwig ( Forficula auricularia ) is achewinginsect that is both a pest AND a good insect . It is a pest because both adult and nymphs significantly damage the foliage and flowers of a wide variety of plants . It is beneficial because it feed on other insect such as aphid , armyworm , maggot , mites , slugs , and snail . It also wipe out all in or decaying bloom and vegetable plant matter . It is easily identified by the tearing looking large pincers on the hind death . Earwigs are nocturnal and fertilise on a variety of plants including dahlia , chrysanthemum , clematis , and zinnia plus a variety of fruit and vegetable . During the day , these worm hide in glum , cool places . Their population can detonate during periods of wet , warm weather .
sign of the zodiac of earwig equipment casualty :
Earwig Management control :
Male earwig insect . photograph : Pixabay , Franco Patrizia
AGROMYZID LEAFMINER
In its larval conformation , the Agromyzid Leafminer fly differs from otherchewinginsects by feedingwithin leaves . In bound , the flies lay their eggs on the undersurface of foliage . After the maggot hatch , they burrow between the upper and low-down surface of the leaves to fertilise on ornamental flora species such as aquilegia , chrysanthemum , butterfly weed , daylily , mist flower , and verbena . The tunnel increase in size of it as the maggot produce , significantly impact the coming into court of the plant life . This is not a serious pest . Their legal injury is more cosmetic in nature than harmful to the industrial plant .
Signs of leafminer damage :
direction controls for leafminer insects :
Leafminer damage on Golden Ragwort ( Packera aurea ) foliation . picture : Pat Chadwick
PIERCING / SUCKING INSECTS
Insects belonging to this grouping are known astrue bug . They are members of theHemipteraorder of insects , which comprises close to 80,000 species including aphids , assassin bugs , cicadas , leaf hoppers , planthoppers , and shield bugs . A true hemipteran has a stiff beak ( also forebode a proboscis ) that is designed to pierce and suck fluids from plant cells . Some insects such as bee or butterflies , which belong to theHymenopterafamily of louse , also have a beak - similar proboscis . However , their proboscis is retractable whereas a true bug ’s proboscis is non - retractable .
Here are some clew that indicate a pest may be a piercing / sucking insect :
Four example of piercing / imbibe insect blighter include four - lined plant hemipteron , milkweed bug , phlox glitch and spittle bug .
FOUR - LINED PLANT BUG
Thepiercing / suckingfour - lined plant life bug ( Poecilocapsus lineatus ) pierces plant cellular telephone in a destructive manner called “ lacerated - flush . ” After it draw out the juices from the cells , it flushes the damage area with digestive enzymes , which lead in localized areas of beat cells . The bright cerise and pitch-black nymph brood out around midspring and mature into their adult form around July . The adult is greenish - yellowness with four pitch-dark lines that continue the length of the wing covers . They are shy and hard to blob but their harm gives aside their presence . This insect flow on over 250 herbaceous plants let in chrysanthemum , lavender , Russian sage , and shasta daisy .
mansion of four - delineate plant hemipterous insect legal injury :
Four - Lined Plant Bug Management Control :
Four - line Plant bug on oregano folio . exposure : Missouri Botanical Garden
MILKWEED BUG
In addition to aphids , milkweed species ( Asclepias)are also feign by milkweed bugs ( Oncopeltus fasciatus ) . The nymphs and grownup of thispiercing / suckinginsect species can be found feeding on milkweed leave-taking , stem , and seminal fluid in mid to tardy summertime . They normally seem in summer after milkweed seed pod strain . Their bodies arrest toxic compound from the sap they suck , which intend shuttle and piranha do n’t typically put out them . Also , their colored markings monish predators to stay away .
sign of Milkweed bug damage :
Milkweed Bug Management Control :
Milkweed bugs in several stages of development . photograph : Missouri Botanical Garden
PHLOX BUG
The colorful grim and reddish - orangeness phlox bug ( Lopidea davisi ) is apiercing / suckinginsect that can inflict significant scathe to both cultivated and wild phlox species . It feeds on leave of absence , halt , flower and seed but may be hard to find because it hide out on the bottom of leaves .
planetary house of Phlox hemipteron damage :
Phlox Bug Management Control :
Extensive terms to phlox leaf due to phlox germ . Photo : Missouri Botanical Garden
SPITTLEBUG
Both adults and houri of this aptly namedpiercing / suckingspecies ( Philaenus spumarius ) feed on a wide variety of herbaceous and woody plants as well as comestible crops . The adult are small , hopping insects that resemble leafhopper . The nymphs make white , sticky , frothy masses , which blot out them from predators such as dame , protect them from extremes in temperature , and prevent dehydration in a low humidness surroundings . The masses come out on the stems of plants where the houri thrust the stem and suckle the plant juices . They are often seen on ornamental plants such as rose , shasta daisy , goldenrod , lilac , and sens . as luck would have it , spittlebugs do n’t typically do much damage to annuals and perennials , but they can be a problem on woody flora and their feeding can affect yield on intellectual nourishment crops . As an aside , the spit arrive not from the hemipteron ’s mouth but from the other goal .
Signs of Spittlebug Damage :
Spittlebug ManagementControl :
Spittlebug larva camouflage in spittle on lavender prow . Photo : Missouri Botanical Garden
INSECT - corresponding PESTS THAT DESERVE MENTION
A few insect - like species are included here because the damage they do is uniform with that of many insect gadfly . fit with either chewing or piercing / lactate mouthpart , the scathe they inflict can be significant .
SLUGS AND SNAILS
These nocturnal creatures are not worm . They are members of the shellfish family and have more in mutual with wampum and mussels . They can inflict pregnant harm on decorative plants with theirchewingmouthparts . They need moist conditions to continue awake , so they last out out of sight in sinister , dampen sites during the heating system of the daytime and emerge after darkness to feed . Because they are nocturnal , their vile trails are often the only indication of their presence besides the obvious damage they do . Best live for their damage to hostas , they are attract to many other mature perennials and annuals but avoid plant life with extremely fragrant or foggy leaf , such as salvias , lavender , lamb ’s ear , and most herbaceous plant .
Signs of slug and snail scathe :
Slug and Snail Management Controls :
Extensive slug damage on a woodland plant . pic : Missouri Botanical Garden
SPIDER mite
Related to spiders and tick , adult wanderer mites have eight legs rather than six . The twospotted spider mite ( Tetranychus urticae ) is perhaps the best acknowledge of the mite species and is the most common mite pesterer of houseplants . Because they are so small , they are often difficult to descry , but they make their presence known through the damage they do to plants with theirpiercing / suckingmouth parts . The damage is most detectable during hot , wry weather condition when plants are stressed . In improver to houseplants , wanderer mites feed on a extensive kitchen range of other decorative plant species including salvia , daylily , marigold , phlox , pansies , and verbena .
Signs of Spider Mite Damage :
Spider Mite Management Controls :
wanderer jot stipple price on box leaves . Photo : Missouri Botanical Garden
IN CONCLUSION
While most dirt ball in the efflorescence garden are good , a few coinage can cause significant damage to plants . Recognizing the signs of chewing versus piercing / sucking louse is important to specify the salutary course of activeness to take . If harm is minor or merely decorative , a “ go and allow live ” coming may be the knowing choice . A divers garden filled with pollinator - friendly plants will attract natural predator species that can help keep pest plague under control for you . Otherwise , utilize non - toxic control condition method to the extent potential to manage pests while protecting beneficial louse species . For further recitation on additional insect plague such as Nipponese beetle and aphid and their controls , seeEleven Common Garden Pests — Identification and Management , which appeared in the June 2022 proceeds ofThe Garden Shed .
characteristic photoof chewing insect equipment casualty to Nipponese Anemone foliage . Photo : Pat Chadwick
author
Garden Allies(Lavoipierre Frederique , 2021 ) .
Garden Insects of North America(Cranshaw , Whitney , 2004 ) .
adept hemipterous insect , Bad Bug(Walliser , Jessica , 2008 ) .
2022 Pest Management Guide — Home Grounds and Animals , Virginia Cooperative Extension ( VCE ) Publication 456 - 018 .
Blister Beetles , Bug of the Week website , Michael J. Raupp , PhD. , University of Maryland Extension Specialist
earwig in Virginia , VCE Publication
Flower Garden Pests , Purdue University Extension Publication E-70 - westward
Flower Insects , University of Maryland Extension
Four - line Plant Bug , North Carolina State Extension Fact Sheet
Iris Borer , VCE Publication
Leafminers , VCE Publication
Milkweed Bug , North Carolina State Extension Fact Sheet
Phlox Bugs , Missouri Botanical Garden
job uncouth to Many Perennials and Annuals , Missouri Botanical Garden
slug and Snails on Flowers , University of Maryland Extension
Spider Mites , VCE Publication
Spittlebugs , University of Wisconsin - Madison Publication
