Questions tagged [insects]

Six-legged arthropods

Arguably the most successful group of animals to have existed, and they will significantly out number all other groups of animal in your garden. Most insects are benign, although some (eg. aphids, and hornworm larvae) can be pests. Similarly, many are encouraged as predators to eat those that are considered pests (e.g. Ladybugs and lacewings).

Insects typically have six legs, although larvae are an obvious exception. Similarly, most are capable of flight although not necessarily in all stages of growth.

Use this tag for questions about insects in the garden or landscape. For an unknown insect, also add the tag and include a photo. For questions about controlling insects, add the tag.

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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.
JStorage
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What are these insects on my Arabian Jasmine plant & how can I eradicate them?

I have found these white moths (very small, winged, can fly) below the leaves of my Arabian jasmine plant, and the plant has stopped flowering and is in a poor state. There are surprisingly some white scaly patches too on the leaves, though I am not…
Joydeep
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How do I keep house flies away from flowers without harming bees?

Is there a pesticide or other method that can be used to keep flies off of flowers (or kill the flies) but that won't harm bees? I am in the northeastern US, dense urban area; the flowers are Chrysanthemums, outside, full direct sun, potted, not…
Jason C
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Can rubber gloves spread plant diseases?

I use thin rubber gloves when gardening. It's autumn here in zone 6, and I'm in the process of pruning and pulling up spent perennials and all manner of wildflowers which have been growing since the spring. I leave them until the bees, butterflies…
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How to preserve dried herbs from fungus/bacteria or even insect attack?

My garden produces a lot of herbs, like mint, sage, rosemary, lavender, etc. I use to wash them, after gathering, and dry them in the shadow to preserve (as much as possible) their scent, color and beneficial qualities. Once dried, sometimes it…
Starnuto di topo
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Getting rid of maggots in a compost vessel

Related: Compost has larva or maggots? We have a compost vessel (around 300L) which we use as a supplement to our garbage can. We don't usually throw meat in it and we don't intend to ever do it again. However, somewhere around two weeks ago…
Mast
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Are cockroaches pests in the compost heap?

I dug up my compost pile last weekend. it is made of aerated concrete blocks, just layed in a square, no cement. located on the rooftop of our 4 stories building, located in Hong Kong. Beside the worms, BSF larvae, flies and other insects, I saw a…
Memes
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How can I remove locust eggs from the soil, and prevent future infestations?

A few days ago I saw a locust standing still in my little vegetable garden. I was really surprised that even though I went close it wouldn't jump away. After looking closer I figured that it was actually "pumping" eggs into the soil (check this link…
Matteo
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What are these insects laying eggs on the underside of this butterfly flower leaf?

+1 for manual pest control. I just snipped these infected leaves off a butterfly flower plant growing in a bucket in the yard. What are these? (besides now ashes)
Charney Kaye
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What insects killed this red cabbage?

Watering the lettuces, I spotted a Red Cabbage head leaning sideways on the ground. On close inspection, here's what I saw: Three little worm-like bugs having a feast of the bottom of the stalk of this head of red cabbage. Their posse was crushed…
Charney Kaye
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Are ants/flies a threat to a raspberry bush?

Ants in my garden seem to especially love this raspberry bush at the moment. I also notice these two little things that look like tiny flies sitting on the leaves- except they are not moving, like dead flies. Ants seem to be hanging out around…
Charney Kaye
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What is this saw tooth leaved plant, and will it flower and attract bees?

I've got these in my garden in the city of Innsbruck, Austria and I'm wondering what they are and if their flowers attract bees or other insects. They just popped up by themselves and feel really good there, would be a shame to remove them if they…
Evgeni
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What is this shrub with fan shaped toothed leaves and small white blooms, and what are these small bugs?

Can anyone help ID this shrub growing in Zone 6. It's about 5' tall and 3' spread after pruning in the fall. It grows fairly fast. Leaves sort of look like a fan leafed hawthorne to me but not quite. Has clusters of small white blooms with yellow…
OrganicLawnDIY
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caterpillar identification and eradication

Can you help me identify this type of caterpillar and what is the solution to eradicate them? i keep removing them from the tree but after a few days I find them again...
RockScience
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What are these black spots on my rose tree?

If I press these little dots, there is a white cream-like substance inside. Some leaves are completely eaten, but I am not sure if it is linked. This plant, a rose tree, had fallen on the ground when I arrived in the garden, hence lot of insects…
RockScience
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