Agriculture Pests Information Guide

Agriculture Pests Information:

Introduction to Agriculture Pests/Garden Plant Insects

Well, If you are into farming/gardening, you must be aware of many insects and pests. We know all pests need to be controlled either in an organic way or chemical way. Another thing you must understand that all insects are not pests and some insects are beneficial which can feed on these plant-damaging pests. There are many insecticides available in the market depending on the mode and action of insect pests. For healthy plant growth and higher yields crops, appropriate control measures should be taken. In the case of organic farming, these pests should be controlled by organic pest control methods. Identifying the plant pests in your garden is the utmost priority. There are three types of insect pests; Sucking insects, Chewing insects and Boring, mining, and soil insects. Monitor plants in the garden on a regular basis so that you can be aware of problems early enough to prevent major damage caused by these insect pests. Proper identification leads to getting rid of these bugs. Let us discuss various insect pests such as Garden Pests, Household Pests, Landscape and Lawn Pests, Orchards & Tree Pests.

Aphids of Agriculture Pests: What are Aphids? Well, they are small pear-shaped insects with a soft body. These can be in brown, yellow, green, or in black color depending on food source or species. These adult aphids can be with wings or wingless. If your garden is infested with heavy aphid pests, the plants in the garden look curly, wilted, and stunted. You can pinch off heavily infested plant leaves or any other part of the tree. You can release beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewing to feed on these aphids. Avoid overwatering and over-fertilization. It is advised to use organic fertilizers to effectively control aphids.

Thrips of Agriculture Pests: What are thrips? they are pests found mostly in protected environments such as a greenhouse, Polyhouse, and indoors as well as outdoor gardens. These insects damage the crop by sucking the plant leaves, scraping at flowers and fruits. The affected plants of this pest turn pale/discolored and eventually die. Regular inspection is required to find out these insects. To remove these thrips from your garden, Usual intercultural operations such as weed removal, and other grasses should be carried out. Clean any crop debris after the harvest. You can control by releasing beneficial insects such as minute pirate bugs. Smothering Insecticidal soaps are useful in case of heavy infestations.

Mealy Bugs of Agriculture Pests: You can treat these soft light pink, white or gray sucking insects the exact same manner as scale. Usually, Indoor plants are more prone to these insect pests due to the sheltered surroundings, therefore on your backyard, mealy bugs adore glass homes and plants growing close or beneath weather protection.

Mealybugs grow very fast and will sap the lifespan of a plant, resulting in distortion and stunted growth of the whole tree. They have a small waxy coating, so whatever burns off this, like meth, causes death by dehydration. Smothering with oil can also be powerful to control this.

Scales of Agriculture Pests: Scales are common insect pests that can attack backyard plants, ornamental shrubs, greenhouse plants, Polyhouse crops, and indoor houseplants. These insects are two types; hard scales and soft scales. The heavily infested garden may have poor growth, reduced vigor, and yellowish leaves. If they are not treated on time, eventually the plants start dying.

In order to get rid of these pests, prune and remove infested tree branches, twigs, and plant leaves. Ladybugs and lacewing of beneficial insects may be released in the garden to feed on these scales. Oil-based insecticides or any organic pesticides can check these scales.

Spider Mites /Red Spider Mite: There are unknown millions of mite species, many similar to thrips. From the backyard the two-spotted mite is generally called red spider mite since in the cold weather it changes from light green with two reddish areas to orange/red, looking like a miniature red spider.

Much like thrips, spider mites suck on the chlorophyll in the leaves of plants/trees. These insect pests leave white translucent spots of damage and no shadowy droppings. In case of heavier infestations, a silky web is obvious, which is secreted from the mites to protect themselves from enemies and poisons. These webs can ensure a whole plant. Natural predatory mites would be the best control, therefore having mulch and compost to encourage beneficial mites are going to keep the right balance.

You can use a soap spray to eradicate these insect pests. Spray plants until fleas are gone then monthly to prevent them from returning. You can find sprays in the market to control these.

Grasshoppers of Agriculture Pests: They are easily recognized by their large hind legs made for leaping, grasshoppers are cyclical insects of perennials. Plants endure some foliage damage from these pests, but in years with large populations, they could strip plants of each of their leaves. These insects prefer tender shoots or flowers, but will certainly proceed to broadleaf perennials if their favored food dries up. Grasshoppers usually cut irregular cuts and punctures on plant leaves. A couple of grasshoppers from the garden in early summer will normally proceed after a few weeks without causing harm. During big population cycles, there’s not much recourse. Planting a boundary of tall, well-maintained grass, or trap plants can keep grasshoppers away from your garden plants.

Chafer Beetle of Agriculture Pests: Chafer Beetle Larvae is commonly called the May Bug which may be observed flying around on hot summer evenings. Chafer grubs are white, comma-shaped, fleshy grubs with brown heads and 3 pairs of legs in front sections of their entire body. Patches of dead or dying grass very similar to that due to leatherjackets are brought on by the grubs. Historical and proper pest identification is significant If a pest problem is found in your garden, the turf ought to be analyzed thoroughly to get the culprit. Pests are usually found first intense areas, like the borders of yards or in unethical or moist places. They aren’t typically distributed evenly so it’s wise to search for stains which have discolored, stunted or jagged tree. Insects often move out of a central point; hence they’re typically most busy on the external border. Part the leaves of this grass and start looking in the thatch layer.

Brown Tussock Caterpillar of Agriculture Pests: It’s a larva of a moth that places its white eggs in clusters, usually on the underside of leaves. The miniature, hairy caterpillars at a flock begin scratching leaves. This produces the affected leaves seem translucent. As they expand, they begin nibbling the leaves, which make them cut irregularly. Tender shoots, flower buds are too influenced. Droppings of those caterpillars are globular.

Leaf Tier Caterpillar of Agriculture Pests: These insects usually attack ginger family plants. They look pale green with blackheads. It is a larva of a moth. This insect ties a plant leaf edge with silky secretion. The hidden caterpillar feeds on leaves.

Lemon Butterfly Caterpillar of Agriculture Pests: This Caterpillar lays its eggs on citrus plant leaves. The tiny caterpillars are born from eggs that can resemble the droppings of sparrows. These insects attack by chewing existing leaves and new growth of the shoots. The color of the caterpillar becomes green in color as it grows bigger and which can easily hide in plant leaves.

Semi Looper of Agriculture Pests: These insects are tiny caterpillars that can easily hide and feed on leaves. Usually, they possess the same color as the plant on which they stay and feed. These insects sometimes look like leaf stalks.

Read this: Common Plant Diseases.

Cabbage Worm of Agriculture Pests: Cabbage worm is velvet green-colored insect pests having short fine hairs and faint yellow stripes. These pests cause great damage to brassica & other cabbage-family crops. The population of these pests grows very rapidly and can be destructive to growing crops. These pests can be noticed in the garden from early spring to late fall. They damage by chewing the outside leaves of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, turnip, and radish. This makes a hole in the center of the cabbage heads.

How to control cabbage worms? well, there are many predators which can feed on these pests. Beetles, green lacewing, spiders, yellow jackets, and Birds are natural enemies which can control these worms. You can use pheromone traps and protect the garden plants with floating row covers.

Cutworm of Agriculture Pests: Cutworm is the larva (caterpillars) which are in gray or brown color with stout and soft body. Usually, these worms curl up at resting time. These cutworms feed at night times by clipping off young plant stems and young plants near or below the soil surface. Cutworms can climb garden plants and can cause damage to foliage, buds, and shoots. These can be controlled by planting sunflower at the edges of the garden or agriculture field. Make sure the garden is weed-free and debris-free. You can also turn the soil to make them available for birds.

Slug & Snail of Agriculture Pests: These insect pests are some of the troublesome pests in home gardens, landscapes, and orchards. These insect pests can thrive in damp, shady spots and also can be found under rocks or in well. These insect pests can attack mostly at night times. These insect pests live in healthy plant leaves and decaying plants. Slug and snail pests may chew large holes in plant leaves and can cause damage to young plants or seedlings. The most affected plants are strawberries, artichokes, and tomatoes, of course, all the vegetable plants. To control these, make trapping arrangements such as strips of cardboard, cabbage leaves, plywood. Copper Tape and diatomaceous earth are some of the preventive measures to stop these pests to reach the plant leaves.

Whitefly of Agriculture Pests: Whitefly insects are easily identified and often found near the tops of plants or sometimes even you can find them at stem ends. These flies can attack houseplants and controlled environments like greenhouses/Polyhouse. You can control these with yellow sticky traps. These insect pests look like powdery white wings and short antenna.

European Corn Borer of Agriculture Pests: This is a major pest in the corn crop and can damage the crop by chewing the young leaves. These pests may attack crops like peppers, snap beans, potatoes, tomatoes, apples, and gladiolus. To control these, release the beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and lacewing larvae in the garden and open field crop. Treat silk frequently with garden dust to kill young larvae.

Psyllid of Agriculture Pests: These can attack most of the fruit trees and tomato and potato crops. These insects pierce the plant leaf surface and can extract the sap. The leaves of the plant may turn yellow and curly. Heavily infested plants may eventually die. In order to control this, spray horticultural oils in early spring to destroy any insect eggs. In case of heavy infestation, use a least-toxic, short-lived natural pesticide to be effective control measures.

Wireworm of Agriculture Pests: These are common in home gardens /indoor gardens. These insect pests consist of shiny skin and 3 pairs of legs just behind their head. These insects are in yellow to brownish-reddish color. These pests mostly attack germinating seeds, roots, bulbs, and tubers. They are kind of soil insect pests.

Squash Bug of Agriculture Pests: Squash bugs are usually in dark brown color and they easily hide on the plant. These insects are also known as true bugs and these bugs unpleasant smell when infested with high numbers. These bugs can attack all the vegetable crops and get together in large numbers in clusters of leaves, vines, and fruits. They cause damage both sucking the sap from the plant leaves and nymphs. These bugs can suck the sap from pumpkins, cucumbers, squash, and other related plants in the garden. To control these, choose pest-resistant varieties. Floating row covers are very useful in protecting young plants or seedlings. You can also place the boards near to the host plants on the ground.

Cucumber Beetle of Agriculture Pests: These insects usually feed on cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, and melons. The most hosting crops are beans, corn, groundnut, and potato. These insects are in yellowish-green color with darkish heads and legs. These insect pests have black spots on their wings. These can feed on leaves, young plants, flowers. To control this, You must choose pest-resistant varieties. You should monitor your garden frequently for beetles. You can release beneficial insects such as ladybugs, green lacewing, and the spine soldier bug to feed on eggs. You should remove any crop debris and weeds after the harvest of the crop.

In case if you are interested in this: How To Grow Organic Lettuce.

Agriculture Pests Information Guide

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