Ants
Aphids
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.
Cabbage root fly
Cabbage Root Flies affect the brassica family of cabbages, sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli.
Capsid bugs
Capsid bugs are nasty little green things about 6mm long with six long legs. They love tips of young shoots and have wide tastes.
Carrot root fly
Caterpillars
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.
Chafer grubs
Chafer grubs have white bodies, brown heads and three pairs of legs (close to the head end), when disturbed they curl up into the shape of a ‘C’.
Codling Moth
Codling Moth pale pink larvae that attack the fruit of apples and pears by burying into them.
Flea beetle
Certain species of the adult flea beetle are fond of cabbages, brussels sprouts, swede and other brassicas; some like potatoes.
Leaf cutter bee
A native bee that cuts pieces of plant leaves to line its nest. Don’t begrudge these useful animals a waterproof nest.
Leaf hopper
Leaf hoppers are yellowish in colour. The immature nymphs are creamy white and crawl. Both nymphs and adults feed on the sap of plants.
Leaf miner
Leaf miners leave pale twisting tunnels under the surface of affected leaves. Decoratively unsightly, but normally does no major harm to plants.
Leatherjackets
Leatherjackets are lengthy (up to 50mm), legless, seemingly headless, grey brown wiggling tubes. They grow up to become Crane Flies.
Mealybug
Mealybugs can be present in the house, the conservatory, the sun lounge or the greenhouse, few plants will escape its attention.
Red spider mite
Leaves first develop a pale mottling but as the infestation progresses so the leaves become increasingly yellowish white.
Scale insects
Scale insects are sap feeding bugs that gradually weaken plants. So called because a colony on the leaf or stem of plants resemble fish scales.
Scarlet lily beetle
Adult scarlet lily beetles and their next generation grubs eat holes in the leaves of lily plants often leading to leaf drop.
Slugs and snails
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.
Thrips
Thrips (also called Thunder Flies) are yet another sap feeding insect but one with a difference: this one will happily feed on the surface of a leaf.
Vine weevils
Vine weevils are particularly rampant in containers but at least they are somewhat restricted to the plants in the container.
Whitefly
Whitefly set up home and live out their lives on the underside of leaves. As adults they are about 2mm long with white wings.
