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.

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When do whiteflies typically emerge?

When do whiteflies typically emerge in southwestern Idaho? (How far into the season, I mean.) I don't know if they're gone or if they just haven't hatched, yet. There's no sign of them, yet. They infested our grapes last year, but I didn't know they…
Brōtsyorfuzthrāx
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Corkscrew Willow Bark Peeling and Bugs

We have a Corkscrew Willow tree which currently has bark peeling off. We took the rest of the bark off to allow the tree to dry (to prevent moisture in the tree). I was wondering if we need to spray something on it? Also, we have been seeing some…
AwesomeMarioFan
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Ants, birds or another insect eating the fruit?

I discovered the nectarine below with some small black ants eating the raw flesh. I'm trying to work out if the ants ate through the skin and are the sole cause or if this was started by a bird or a different insect. I guess that my question is: Can…
Guy
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What is eating my basil?

I have had a terrible time with my basil. I do not see any bugs or slugs. Nothing on the undersides of the leaves BUT there are obvious holes from the center of the leaves as well as bites taken out from the edges. I don't know what to do. I have…
Amy
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Is this a desease or pest on my pepper-seedlings?

Today I noticed on my pepper seedlings that some of the leaves have on their bottom-side close to the steam some light-green-dots. To my uneducated eyes this looks like something is hatching inside the leaf. While rubbing and scratching I was not…
Patrick B.
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What is a good way to get rid of fire ants in Florida?

I unfortunately have huge 3 feet across and larger of fire ant nests in the yard. I have tried Ortho Orthene and Spectracide but they aren't getting all the ants. They just pack up and move over five or ten feet.
Lori
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What are some deer resistant edible plants?

I was browsing a gardening store online, and I came across a berry that it advertised as 'deer resistant' (the purple beautyberry). This made me laugh (gladly; not mockingly), because nothing seems to deter deer from what I've heard, and I've never…
Brōtsyorfuzthrāx
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What's flying around my basil?

I have a large pot of basil growing in my yard. The other day, I was cutting leaves for pesto, the first few minutes were ok, then a small black and silver (grey?) bee-like insect accompanied me (like it was overseeing my work). Within a few minutes…
Anjie
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Are my Salvia flowers dying?

I just dead headed all my salvias about a week ago and they aren't looking so good. Also, it's been raining like crazy the past week.. maybe this has something to do with it? The leaves are turning brown and whole stems are dying. Any ideas as to…
Ultravi01
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Easter Lily Cactus With Orange Spots?

I've had this easter lily cactus for about 5-6 years and it's doing good and even produced baby cactuses that I propagated but its got these orange spots on one side of it and not the other and it's had these for a while. When I repotted it I cut…
Twurti
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Need help with insects on bottle gourd leaves

Some of my bottle gourd leaves have thousands of tiny white spots like shown in the pic, and there are tiny brown insects crawling on them. The leaves look like they have sand along the veins. What are these insects? And how can I treat the infected…
Akshay
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Koleria stem is hardening from bottom eventually killing whole plant

I am very upset for so long time. Some of my kohlerias die before even had the chance to buildup buds. Very stall in growth. Some doing well, still stalling in growth though. Starts from direct below soil line. Stem shrinks a little, becoming…
Su Seven
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Diy treatment for spider mites on Alocasia (Elephant Ears)?

Assuming it's spider mites, is there a DIY treatment that I can use to eliminate, or control, the spider webs on my Alocasia plant? I cleaned each leaf a few days ago, and it's already coming back. I have other Alocasia plants, and I'm worried…
rbhat
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What is causing tiny new growth to die?

I have a young Jalapeno and its new growth is dead looking. It has tiny leaves and its flowers are dead and brown. I looked using a jewelry loupe and could not see any pests.
Valamas
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How do you treats ants in a raised Hügulkultur bed?

I have a raised bed that's 2 feet tall, by 12 feet long, by 3 feet wide. This bed is totally infested ants and it took only one week! The bed was constructed with hugulkulture principles, the bottom layer is logs, then sticks, then decomposed leaf…
Evan Carroll
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