Bugs and Pest FAQ

What's eating my broccoli?
How do I get rid of Japanese beetles on my beans?
How do I keep slugs from eating my annuals?
My squash have wilted and turned black. I found a small brown bug on the leaves.....
I have many tiny green insects on the stems of my lupine
Why is the center of my oregano plant rotting and turning black?
My Rosemary plant is turning yellow and has a bunch of tiny white flying insects around it.
Should I leave ladybugs on my plants or should I spray them with insecticide?
What is a cutworm collar and why do I need it?

Q: There are small green caterpillar type insects on my broccoli. The leaves have small holes and areas that look like they are being eaten. What is this insect? 

A: From what you have described, the culprit sounds like a cabbage worm. They feed on the plant leaves and affect broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, radishes, turnips, rutabagas, Chinese cabbage.The worms are found in gardens throughout the United States. Control - Handpick worms off the plants in the early morning. This will make a sizeable difference in the number of worms feeding on your plants.
Dust plants with insecticide. The worms eat the dust and die. Available at garden and hardware stores. *Always follow directions on package! 

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Q: How do I get rid of the Japanese beetles on my beans? 

A: Setting out pheromone beetle traps in late-Spring to early-Summer will attract and trap most of the beetles coming to your area. Once they enter the bag with the pheromone attractant in it they cannot get out. The traps need to be placed 50 or more feet away from target crops. Handpicking is another option if you have a small garden with only a few beetles. Pick off plants in the early morning if possible and squeeze or put into can of detergent and water to kill. Pyrethrum is a product which paralyzes beetles on contact. It must be applied directly to the beetles to work. Two applications, 3 to 4 days apart will control the beetles. 

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Q: How do I keep slugs from eating my annuals? 

A: Slugs are at their most active during wet, rainy weather. They feed only at night and hide in moist, dark places during the day. There are many ways to catch slugs. Handpicking - This method will work if done early in the season. Slugs should be picked at night when they are active.
Beer Trap - Set a shallow container of beer in your garden. Slugs will be attracted to the yeast, fall into the container and die. Some gardeners mix a teaspoon of yeast with 5 ounces of water with the same results as beer. Replace beer or yeast mixture every few days or after a rain. Commercial Traps - These work in the same way as beer trap above. Small boxes containing beer or slug poison are placed in the garden. These traps do not have to be replaced as often as beer or yeast container since they are covered. Can be found at hardware or where garden supplies are sold. Prevention - Spread Diatomaceous Earth (used for pool filtration and available where you buy pool supplies) can be sprinkled around and on the plants. Dust stems and the underside of leaves. Reapply dust after a rain. Also, sprinkle crushed eggshells around plants. Snails will not cross these rough surfaces. 

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Q: My squash plants have wilted, and turned black. I found insects that are medium brown with a triangle shape on its back, there are many bugs on the plants. What are they? 

A: The insects you describe sound like squash bugs. They are 1/2 to 3/4 inches long laying brown or red eggs on the leaves. When crushed, the adult, dark brown insects emit a disagreeable odor which is why they are sometimes confused with stinkbugs. They attack cucumbers, pumpkins, muskmelons, squash, and watermelons. Use a barrier such as light row cover, cheesecloth, ect. to keep bugs off the plants while still letting sun, air, and rain in. If they do get to the plant, use an insecticidal soap spray. It is safe to use insecticidal soap up until harvest time. Prevention - Clean up your garden as soon as plants bear fruit. Dispose of the affected plants by burning or putting them into a plastic trash bag and throwing them away. This will reduce the number of squash bugs for the next growing season. 

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Q: I found masses of tiny, light green insects on the stems of my lupine. They are 1/8" long, have fat bodies and thin legs. Are these aphids? 

A: What you have described sounds like the common Aphid. They are common in most gardens all around the country. Aphids are relatively easy to kill. Some gardeners use a rigid spray of water to knock the aphids off the plants. However, this will not kill them, they will be back once they recoup from the spray. For large infestations use a chemical spray of Orthene to kill insects. Check plants every two weeks or so. Aphids multiply rapidly and will re-infest your garden in a short time. Prevention - Keep garden cleaned up and free of debris such as dead flowers, branches, and decaying fruit which will attract aphids along with a host of other insects. 

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Q: Why is the center of my oregano plant rotting and turning black? 

A: Many plants get a disease called botrytis. The older leaves in the center of the plant get black at the base of the plant and rot. The disease is encouraged by damp conditions. Remove infected parts to control the spread of the disease. Locate plant in a sunny spot with plenty of air circulation.

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Q: My rosemary plant is starting to turn yellow and it has a bunch on tiny white flying insects on it. When I touch the leaves, they all fly around. What are these insects and are they causing my plant to yellow? 

A: Sounds like your rosemary plant has whitefly. Plants that have whitefly turn yellow, weaken and die if the infestation is left untreated for too long. To control infestations of whitefly, spray with insecticidal soap every 3-5 days for 2 weeks. Check plants often and spray if re-infestation occurs. 

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Q: Should I leave ladybugs on my plants or should I spray them with insecticide? 

A: Ladybugs are beneficial to your garden. They consume up to 40 aphids an hour and also eat thrips, scales, spider mites, whiteflies and other insects. If you have these pests in your garden, you can buy extra ladybugs and release them in the area where infestation is at its worst. For a 1 acre area you will need 3,000 individual ladybugs or 2 ounces. 

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Q: What is a cutworm collar and why do I need it? 

A: Cutworm collars protect vulnerable plants such as broccoli, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, corn, eggplants, kohlrabi, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and turnips from cutworm. Cutworms sever the stems of seedlings at or below the soil surface. They do most of their damage in the Spring. To make a cutworm collar, use a tin can such as a tuna can or plastic cup and cut out the bottom so you are left with a ring. Fit can over the plant and push can into the soil about 1 inch. The only time to do this is when the seedlings are small. The collar will protect the roots and the stem from the worm while they are the most vulnerable.