Pesky insects and bugs are a problem for most vegetable gardeners. Most bugs aren’t particularly destructive, they’re just annoying. But if you find a garden pest devouring your harvest, you’re not going to be too happy.
Among the ugliest garden pests is the tomato hornworm. It is a fat, white and green worm with a big horn that resembles a stinger. You can pull it off the plant while wearing gloves, and kill it by dunking it in soapy water. Alternatively, you could spray the tomato hornworm with stomach poison insecticide, neem oil, or Bacillus thuringiensis.
Thrips overrun numerous plants and create uneven white markings on the plant’s leaves. To get rid of them, use a hose to wash off the bugs and then spray on some contact poison.
Snails and slugs will devour the leaves on your plants, and they always leave a slimy trail as evidence. You can buy bait to attract and kill them, but you can achieve the same thing with a shallow dish of beer; they’ll be drawn to it and drown.
If you notice fat white worms in the soil, you’re probably looking at grubs. When grubs attack your plants they start to droop and their growth will be stunted. You can usually eliminate them with some milky spore added to the earth. Grubs eventually grow into beetles, which you can rid of with stomach poison insecticide.
Cutworms typically cut down the stem near the bottom of the plant. The only successful means of controlling them is by placing a paper collar around your plants.
A corn earworm will attack your corn cobs and make a meal of the kernels. Likewise, a tomato fruitworm consumes the insides of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Try using an insecticide that specifically targets earworms.
Borers are found in many vine plants with thick stems. You have to cut them out of the plant in order to get rid of them. You might end up having to pull up the plant and destroying it if you find a borer near the base of the plant. You can usually get rid of them with insecticide.
Beetles are bothersome pests that enjoy munching on leaves. You have to get rid of them because they can do a tremendous amount of damage to your garden. You can either spray them with insecticide or just pick them off the plants.
Aphids are frequently found in a vegetable garden. Usually you’ll spot them as a group of small bugs in a variety of colors. To eliminate aphids, use neem oil or insecticidal soap.
