As a garden coach I get a lot of questions about garden pest. When I surveyed my newsletter readers, pest control was a topic they wanted to know about. But only a very small percentage of the bugs you see in your garden are bad. And guess what? Those bad bugs are needed to feed the good guys. When you grab the pesticide spray at first sighting of a bug you are doing your garden harm. That spray, even if it says organic, doesn’t know the difference between the good guys or the bad guys.
While some bugs wreak havoc on your vegetables, others are working hard to protect them. The goal is not to eliminate all pests, but to manage them. And instead of using poison on our plants let’s invite the good guys in to the garden to do the dirty work.
Let’s take a look at three common garden pests and three beneficial insects so you know who to watch out for and who to welcome.
The Pests 🐛
- Tomato Hornworm
What it does: This large, green caterpillar can devour entire tomato plants in no time, munching on leaves, stems, and even fruit. Watch for stripped leaves and dark droppings on the soil or leaves on your plants—this is a sure sign hornworms are nearby.
Tip: Handpick them off your plants or use beneficial insects to help control them. Invite in parasitic wasps that lay their eggs on the back of the hornworm and the larvae eat them from the inside out. Yuck! The parasitic wasp loves sweet alyssum and dill. It’s a must in my garden each year. I never have over 3-4 hornworms on my 5-6 tomato plants each year. If I find one with eggs on it. I remove that stem from the tomato and put in another area close to my garden. I want those to hatch out and overwinter in my garden. More good guys next year.
- Aphids
What it does: Tiny but mighty, aphids suck the sap out of your plants, causing stunted growth and curling leaves. They multiply quickly and can easily take over your garden if not controlled. they come in a variety of colors. Orange, red, green, and black.
Tip: Use a strong spray of water to dislodge them or create a welcoming environment for lady bugs. (more on them below!).
- Squash Vine Borer
What it does: The squash vine borer is the larvae of a black and red moth. These pests lay eggs on squash plants on the soil at the base of your squash plant stem. Once the larvae hatch and grow into a big white grub, they bore into the stems, causing wilting and eventually killing the plant. Look for sawdust-like material at the base of your plants. Your plant will look fine one day, wilted the next making you think you need to water. In a week or two it will be dead, leaving you to wonder what happened.
Tip: The ONLY good way to prevent is to use netting as soon as you plant. I have tried collars made of aluminum foil or cardboard but didn’t get as good of a result as covering with insect netting. You will need to remove the netting when your squash starts to flower so that it can be pollinated. Keep an eye out on your stem near the soil for any eggs. Remove any leaves that are touching the ground. Also interplant strong smelling herbs such as chives, or flowers like marigolds next to your plant.
The Good Guys:
- Ladybugs
What they do: Ladybugs are natural predators of aphids and other soft-bodied pests. They can eat dozens of pests each day, helping to protect your plants from infestations.
Welcome them: Grow herbs like dill and fennel and flowers such calendula and marigolds to attract ladybugs. All of these can be planted directly in your raised bed. Other flowers and herbs such as sunflowers, angelica and yarrow can be planted nearby to attract ladybugs.
Just a warning to know what you are looking at before squishing. This mean looking bug is actually the larvae of the ladybug. Leave it alone and you’ll soon have one of those pretty red and black ladybugs.
Don’t confuse the potato or bean beetle for a ladybug. They are more orange/brown than the well known black and red ladybug.
- Green Lacewings
What they do: Green lacewing larvae, also called “aphid lions,” are fierce predators that eat aphids, caterpillars, and whiteflies. The adult lacewings also contribute to pollination.
Welcome them: Plant pollen and nectar-rich flowers like cosmos, dill, and yarrow to encourage lacewings to visit your garden.
Hoverflies
What they do: Hoverfly larvae are highly effective at eating aphids, thrips, and other soft-bodied pests, while the adults act as pollinators. They’re a great ally in any vegetable garden.
Welcome them: Plant flowers like alyssum, lavender, and yarrow to attract hoverflies.
This is only a small sample of the insects in your garden. Take the opportunity to visit your garden daily to go on pest patrol. Take a picture and check your google the image so that you will know what you are looking at until you get to know the bugs in your garden, good and bad.
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