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Questions tagged [bugs]

Colloquial expression usually referring to arthropods.

The term "bug" has multiple meanings. In horticulture, it is typically a colloquial expression referring to , especially .

Colloquially, it can also be used to refer to microbes (micro-organisms). This meaning is discouraged here.

Entymologically, a "bug" is a specific sub-order (Hetereoptera), the so-called "true bugs". This sub-order contains about 40,000 species, in the order Hemiptera of insects. Example Heteroptera include bed bugs, leaf-footed bugs, seed bugs, pond skaters, and stink bugs.

When referring to "bugs" in a question (eg. "How do I remove this bug?", "What is this bug?"), try to be as specific as possible. For example, if it is a spider, use and not .

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What is this Michigan garden insect with a striped body and reddish head?

Here's a photo of a bug in Michigan that's eating my tomato, chard, and other plant leaves. Can you identify it? For extra credit, can you tell me how to get rid of it organically?
Feature
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What are these tiny white spider-like bugs in my soil and on plants?

Since we bought some soil from Tescos recently, we've suddenly had an influx of lots of tiny white bugs in our soil. We have had spider-mites and aphids before, but these don't look like either (as far as I can tell). Below are the best images I…
Michal Paszkiewicz
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What is the white residue spreading across my dracaena and how do I treat it?

I have a white residue spreading across my dracaena at home. I tried wiping it with wet sponge when it was on one leaf only but its come back and spreading across now 50% of the plant. Some of the leaves are turning brown as well. The white residue…
Mobbie Nazir
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Help identifying a bug that's attacking my Mimosa pudica

I have a sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) that has gotten infested with tiny black bugs. They're roughly 0.76mm (3/100ths of an inch) long. I'd like some help identifying what they are and how to treat them. I've sprayed them with Neem Oil. That…
watkipet
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Oil/sap from the trees

So we moved to a new home last week. There are two different trees, one in the backyard, one in the front. However, both trees have some oil or sap like things on the leaves, and what's worse, wind spreads the oil all over my car or anything under…
Carl
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Identify striped bug on plants: safe or suspect?

New to gardening, many species are unknown to me. This one (and many of its friends) with nice metallic colored stripes just apppear on my lavender, rosemary and slightly less on honeysuckle. What is its name? It looks (to me) like a Rosemary…
Laurent Duval
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Rollie pollies - are they harmful to vegetables?

I have a vegetable raised box where I grow various vegetables in spring and summer. I noticed quite a few Rollie pollies in the box. Wondering if they will harm my vegetable crop this year and what if anything I can do to prevent that.
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Managing Bronze Orange Bugs on citrus trees

How can I eliminate Bronze Orange (stink) Bugs from my citrus trees? I know that spraying the trees with Confidor will get rid of these bugs, however I've been told that it's not suitable to use on citrus, especially when bearing fruit. Is there…
Adam
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Night-blooming Jasmine (cestrum nocturnum) leaves are being eatin by something!

My Night-blooming Jasmine (cestrum nocturnum) leaves are being eatin by something. Anyone know what it could be and how to avoid this?
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Is this a pest? How can I get rid of it?

I found these bugs on my Kalanchoe plant this morning. I might have overwatered it for a while so that may be the reason why they appeared. They're tiny and green in colour, though there are some that look like little fruit flies. I'm not exactly…
user33807
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Mint plant with white spots and black dots. Possible insect culprit

My mint plant has been getting white spots with black small dots all over it. I've cut them all down at some point, they always start to grow/sprout again perfectly without any spots, but soon enough the spots always reappear all over the…
cbdeveloper
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What are these yellow bugs and should I be worried?

I took a close look at one of my plants, and saw all these tiny yellow bugs. They don't seem to be hurting the plant, but I thought I'd ask to make sure. If it helps, this is in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Andres
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What kind of bug is this and do I need to get rid of it?

I was looking through my vegetable garden this evening and noticed two of these bugs crawling over my lettuce: Does anyone know what type of bug this is and if it's something I need to get rid of? Thanks!
Joel Eckroth
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What's this hard, brown bug with lots of legs and will it harm my veggies?

I recently moved my seedling outside and as I started removing weeds and moving the soil I found several of these bugs, is it something I should worry about? In case it matters, I moved some watermelons, pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers and plan on…
geermc4
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Bugs on mint leaves

We have small, dark brown bugs on the underside of our mint plant (in a window box on our balcony). I noticed today these bugs on the underside of our leaves. Could someone please help identify what these are, and how we could prevent them?
anotherdave
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