There are pests in my vegetable garden and flower gardens that are starting to cause major injury to my plants. The Colorado potato beetles are on my potatoes and tomatoes, flea beetles are on my sweet potatoes, and grasshoppers are on my hollyhocks and mums. Knowing these pests, they are probably on more plants. I just haven’t discovered them yet. The following information will describe these pests and ways to control them in case you have them on your garden plants, too.
Colorado potato beetle
Adults and larvae feed on leaves of eggplant, potato, tomato and pepper plants. The adults are hard-shelled beetles with yellow and black stripes on the wing covers and dark spots just behind the head.
The bright orange-yellow eggs are laid in rows on the underside of the leaves. The immature larva is reddish with black legs and head, and black spots on each side. There are up to three generations per year. The adults over-winter in the soil.
To control:
Scout for the eggs and destroy them.
Rotenone is labeled for most vegetables. Read and follow label directions.
Mulch plants with a one-foot layer of straw.
Flea beetles
These pests can be found on broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, sweet potato and most other vegetable leaves. Although they are not fleas, these beetles use their legs to jump like fleas when disturbed. When the adults feed, they create tiny pitting and small holes on leaves and they may transmit viral and bacterial diseases.
Adult flea beetles are black and shiny with curved yellow or white stripes.
The very tiny eggs are laid in the soil where the larvae feed on plant roots.
To control this pest:
Clean up garden weeds and debris at the end of the growing season because this pest over-winters there.
Dust with diatomaceous earth, rotenone or sevin. Read and follow all label directions.
Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers are brown to reddish-yellow or green colored. They have long bodies (1 to 2 inches) with a prominent jaw and short antennae. Their very large hind legs are ideal for jumping. Immature grasshoppers do not have fully developed wings.
Grasshoppers feed on the stems and foliage of a variety of vegetable, flower, and herb plants, often defoliating plants. There is one generation per year. Grasshoppers over-winter in the egg stage.
To control this pest:
Trap grasshoppers in a glass jar partly filled with molasses and water and bury in the garden.
Spray with an insecticide containing sevin (carbaryul) or hot pepper spray.
Be sure the plant is listed on the label.
If there are only a few, handpick and destroy.
If you have tried to reduce any pests by trapping and/or handpicking, but populations still are high and causing major damage, spraying may be necessary. Remember to use the least toxic pesticide available. Also, read and re-read all pesticide labels and follow directions. We only want to destroy the pests — not the good bugs and our living environment.
