Questions tagged [pests]

For questions about garden pests such as insects, birds and mammals.

In horticulture, the word "pests" is usually used for macroscopic animals, although smaller organisms (e.g. bacteria, fungi, viruses, nematodes) could be considered pests, as well as invasive plants (e.g. vines and parasitic plants).

Macroscopic animal pests are dominated by insects and mammals, although other arthropods, reptiles, and birds could all be pests.

All of these groups primarily contain beneficial or neutral organisms, so generally control methods should be limited and in the form of deterrents rather than chemical poisons.

544 questions
5
votes
1 answer

What's attacking our lemons?

Our lemons have just started to ripen, but something has started attacking them and eating through the skin. Can anyone identify what is likely doing this and what we can do to protect the other lemons on the tree?
Dmihawk
  • 215
  • 2
  • 6
5
votes
2 answers

How can sunflowers be grown in a squirrel and chipmunk rich environment?

I'm trying to grow sunflowers from seed and have been unsuccessful due to chipmunks and/or squirrels eating all of the seeds. So far I've tried the following: Spread a lot of seeds and maintain an active bird feeder with lots of sunflower seeds to…
John
  • 151
  • 1
  • 4
5
votes
4 answers

What is this powder-like substance on the leaves of my kiwi tree?

I have a white powder-like substance on my kiwi tree. It always appears overnight and some leaves look like they were burned. I have washed the leaves several times, but it always comes back. What would be causing it? How can I help my tree? I live…
vidriduch
  • 151
  • 5
5
votes
1 answer

Pest on my chili plants

I have a pest on my chili plants. It manifests as white powdery substance with black spots. I am not sure What this is And How to treat It. I assumed It was a fungus, but now I also saw some small white worms or larvae. I sprayed with both white…
Lucas Kauffman
  • 255
  • 2
  • 6
5
votes
2 answers

Can someone tell which pest droppings looks like this?

I found these droppings near a flower pot in the front of our house. Has anyone seen anything like this? Btw, I live in the pacific NW area. Adding some more pictures as per request in comments and answers: Disclaimer: Image look very big than…
yasouser
  • 1,509
  • 2
  • 12
  • 20
5
votes
2 answers

Can Spinetoram be used to control cherry tree slugs without harming nearby bees and fruit?

I'm looking to control cherry tree slug in an orchard and have found a Spinetoram based product to be effective. In terms of toxicity, there's limited information out there. In particular, I'm interested in impact on bees (spraying on trees after…
Simon
  • 153
  • 3
5
votes
3 answers

Could a wasp be hurting my apple tree?

First of all, my apple tree is young, just about two feet tall. More importantly my apple tree is on my porch in a pot, and it's been there for at least, say, a month or two. Also, on my porch ceiling there are about 4 wasp nests of at least 3…
5
votes
6 answers

What are these little black bugs on my Chives, Welsh and Spring Onions?

What are these little black bugs in my Chives, Welsh and Spring onions? They don't seem to be eating anything, they are clustered around the base and a short way up some of the stems.
John Petrak
  • 355
  • 1
  • 4
  • 12
5
votes
2 answers

Why are my zucchini dying off so early?

I've been loosing more zucchini than have been ripening, and I'm trying to figure out why. This is what I've been noticing: Many fruits wither and die when they are just buds - before they fully blossom Many more fruits turn yellow and begin to…
doub1ejack
  • 1,039
  • 1
  • 11
  • 17
5
votes
1 answer

What sort of insects are these?

I threw some infected tomato, and potatoe plants into a bath, and hope to drown all the pests including psyllids. But then these slimy things appeared in the liquid. Their body is the same size as their tails, and they have feet like caterpillars,…
Graham Chiu
  • 23,044
  • 5
  • 36
  • 92
5
votes
2 answers

How to remove woodchucks and rabbits from under my shed?

There are woodchucks and/or rabbits living under my shed. How can I make them find a new home? I'm in Massachusetts where it is illegal to trap them or to catch & relocate them. I've tried used cat litter and flooding with the hose, but failed.
Jay Prall
  • 237
  • 2
  • 10
5
votes
2 answers

What are these insects called and how do I get rid of them?

I have a lemon tree cutting put in a paper cup wrapped in a plastic bag to contain the moisture. Everything looks good but when I lifted the cup, I saw these creepy insects. The climate in my area is hot. It is summer here in the Philippines. What…
rmartinez
  • 121
  • 1
5
votes
1 answer

Identify ant-like pests under rock

I turned up a rock just outside my house in the garden and found these ant-like creatures. Are these termites or ghost ants or what? And see the video
P.Brian.Mackey
  • 367
  • 1
  • 2
  • 10
5
votes
7 answers

What vegetable/fruits plants will rabbits not eat?

I have an area for a few raised beds were it would be impractical to secure against rabbits. What can I plant there that they won't be interested in? I'm assuming they won't eat any berry types, but what about newly planted tomatoes and other kinds…
Philip
  • 1,162
  • 3
  • 11
  • 20
5
votes
3 answers

What are my options for securing my fenced back yard against rabbits?

I want to plant a vegetable garden in my backyard, but there are a ton of rabbits in the neighborhood. Instead of enclosing my entire raised bed(s), it seems like it could be simpler to just make the entire backyard impregnable to bunnies. Is this…
Philip
  • 1,162
  • 3
  • 11
  • 20