A-Z of Pests

Ants in the garden more of a nuisance than a real problem. They rarely damage plants.

Aphids are the most common of all pests and almost every plant from the smallest shrub to the tallest oak tree can potentially become infested.

Capsid Bugs are nasty little green things about 6mm long with six long legs. They love tips of young shoots and have wide tastes.

Yes they will eat through fruit leaves, stems and even roots but one day the very hungry, creepy crawly before you may become a beautiful butterfly.

Cockroaches are a nocturnal household pest that will eat almost anything, even the grease on walls and the wallpaper.

Earwigs eat the developing buds of chrysanthemums and dahlias. These bugs cause damage to plants as they eat the young leaves and flowers.

Certain species of the adult Flea Beetle are fond of Cabbages, Brussels Sprouts, Swede and other brassicas; some like Potatoes.

A native bee that cuts pieces of plant leaves to line its nest. Don’t begrudge these useful animals a waterproof nest.

Leaf Miners leave pale twisting tunnels under the surface of affected leaves. Decoratively unsightly, but normally does no major harm to plants.

Mealybugs can be present in the house, the conservatory, the sun lounge or the greenhouse, few plants will escape its attention.

Leaves first develop a pale mottling but as the infestation progresses so the leaves become increasingly yellowish white.

Adult Scarlet Lily Beetles and their next generation grubs eat holes in the leaves of lily plants often leading to leaf drop that weakens the plant.

Slugs and snails, there’s no need to tell you what they look like. The silvery trails will tell you where they came from and where they went after lunching.

Vine Weevils are particularly rampant in containers but at least they are somewhat restricted to the plants in the container.

Whitefly set up home and live out their lives on the underside of leaves. As adults they are about 2mm long with white wings.