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ANR-1045




Garden
                       Alabama A&M and
                       Auburn Universities




Bugs
                       Insect Pest Management
                       in the Home Vegetable Garden




Q. How can I keep “bad bugs” out of my garden?


Q. How can I attract “good bugs” to my garden?


Q. How can I control slugs and other soil insect pests?


Q. What insect pests are common to Alabama?


Q. How can I control insect pests without insecticides?




                                       www.aces.edu
Garden Insect Pest Management in the Home Vegetable Garden - Auburn University
Alabama A&M and


GardenBugs
                                                                                               ANR-1045
                Auburn Universities



   Insect Pest Management in the Home Vegetable Garden


T
         he best way to manage insect pests in
         the home vegetable garden is to use
                                                           Making Your Garden
         a combination of strategies, including            Vegetables Less Susceptible
         cultural, mechanical, and biological
         controls. Organic gardeners rely totally on
                                                           to Insect Damage
nonchemical methods. Most home gardeners can                   In home vegetable gardens, insecticides should
tolerate some insect damage on their vegetables;           be used only as a last resort to prevent serious
consequently, they are able to use many                    insect damage. Insecticides kill beneficial insects as
nonchemical control strategies that can reduce,            well as harmful insects. You may not even notice
but not always eliminate, insect damage. Home              that these “good” insects are present, but if they are
gardeners not opposed to using chemicals may use           destroyed, pest insect populations can increase to
chemical controls when nonchemical methods do              very high numbers.
not provide sufficient levels of control.                      You can reduce or eliminate the need for
    Modern pest management relies on “planning             insecticides in your garden by using a variety
before planting” rather than responding to a               of techniques. The best approach to successfully
pest problem after it has occurred. For example,           control garden pests is to use a combination
you can prevent many insect pest problems by               of techniques.
using what you know about the pest to make the
vegetable planting less suitable for pest devel-           Healthy Soil
opment. This could mean planting early to avoid                Healthy soil will produce plants better able
high pest numbers that occur late in the season.           to resist insects and disease. Before planting your
    Correct identification of insect pests infesting       garden, turn over the soil and add organic matter
the vegetable garden is critical so you can develop        such as manure or compost to supply essential
a management plan. Equally important is recog-             nutrients. Organic nutrients are released slowly,
nition of beneficial insects. Your county Extension        in contrast to synthetic fertilizers which provide
agent can help you identify pests and develop              “quick-fix” nutrients.
management strategies for specific pest and                    It’s a good idea to have your garden soil tested
crop situations.                                           to determine if soil nutrients and pH are suitable
    This publication provides:                             for growing vigorous plants. Soil testing can be
    • Tips on making your garden vegetables less           done for a nominal fee; contact your county
susceptible to insect damage.                              Extension agent for more information.
    • General recommendations for managing
soil pests.                                                Companion Planting
    • General recommendations for managing                     Some plants contain or give off compounds that
above-ground pests.                                        repel insects. Companion planting is the practice
                                                           of strategically placing insect-repelling plants
                                                           next to crops that will benefit from their repellent
                                                           effects. For example, planting garlic among
                                                           vegetables helps to deter Japanese beetles, aphids,
                                                           vegetable weevils, and spider mites; basil planted
                                                           near tomatoes repels tomato hornworms; and
                                                           marigolds interplanted with squash or cucumber
                                                           repel cucumber beetles and nematodes. Check
                                                           the organic gardening section in your library or
                                                           bookstore for books on companion plants.
                                                       3
Crop Rotation                                                Mulch
     Planting different kinds of vegetables in a                 Mulching is the spreading of organic matter
different section of your garden each year will help         in the garden and around plants. It is an effective
reduce pest infestation. Some insect pests overwinter        method to control weeds and also serves as a
in the garden soil and emerge in the spring and              refuge for predatory insects like ground beetles.
begin searching for food. If the plant they prefer to        Mulch also helps the soil to retain moisture
eat is located several yards away, the insect must           and stay cool, which promotes plant vigor and
move to the source. Many will die along the way or           tolerance to insect attack.
fall prey to birds and other insects.                            Add mulch to the garden when plants are 4 to
     Also, many vegetables may absorb a particular           6 inches high. Grass clippings, leaves, hay, sawdust,
nutrient from the soil. By rotating your vegetable           wood chips, and compost make excellent mulches.
crops each year, the soil in a particular section            One drawback of using mulch may be increased
of the garden will have the opportunity to rest              numbers of slugs that may feed on young and
and regenerate. In general, avoid planting crops             succulent plants.
in the same plant family in the same location in
consecutive years. For example, potato, eggplant,            Compost
and tomato are all in the Solanaceae family, so
these crops should be rotated with vegetables in                 Fertile soil is the foundation of a healthy
another plant family, such as the squash or cucurbit         garden. One of the most effective ways to enhance
family, the bean or legume family, etc.                      soil fertility is to add compost. Compost is made
                                                             by mixing organic matter and allowing it to decay
                                                             through a natural process. The end product is a
Diversified Planting                                         dark, rich substance called humus which can be
     A common practice among home gardeners                  added directly to the soil.
is to plant a single crop in a straight row. This                The first step in composting is to build a
encourages pests because it makes it easy for them           holding bin or composter. Construct the bin from
to travel from one host plant to another. If different       chicken wire, scrap wood, or cinder blocks. The
plants are intermingled and not planted in straight          dimensions should be at least 3 × 3 × 3 feet but can
rows, an insect is forced to search for a new host           vary depending on your needs. Place the bin in a
plant thus exposing it to predators. Diversified             convenient location. Add leaves, grass clippings,
planting also works well with companion planting.            and household vegetable food waste. Do not
                                                             add animal residues as they may attract rats and
Trap Plants                                                  raccoons. Turn the pile to aerate the material. If
      If given a choice, some insects will opt to feed       you turn the pile every month, humus will be ready
on one plant type over another. For example,                 in about 6 months.
pickleworms prefer squash to cucumber, and some
tomato worms prefer dill over tomatoes. With a               Beneficial Insects
little knowledge of host preferences, you can take               Not all insects are “bad bugs.” Your garden and
advantage of this by placing certain plants where            surroundings contain many insects that are actually
they can lure harmful insects away from the plants           beneficial because they feed on harmful insects.
you wish to protect. Once the “trap plants” have             Therefore, as a gardener, you should be able to
become infested, the target insect can be picked off         identify garden insects and determine whether they
and dropped in soapy water or the entire plant can           are harmful or beneficial. Many organic gardening
be disposed of.                                              books provide pictures of the most common
                                                             beneficial and pest insects and information on how
Barriers and Traps                                           to encourage populations of beneficial insects.
    Barriers and traps can be employed to capture            Another good reference book with pictures of
or impede movement of pests. A collar made of                beneficial insects is Natural Enemies of Vegetable
thick paper or cardboard which is placed around              Insect Pests by Michael Hoffman and Anne
the stem of a plant and pressed into the soil an             Frodsham. This book may be ordered by phone
inch or so deep will prevent cutworms and other              (607-255-2080) from Cornell University Resource
burrowing insects from getting into the soil around          Center. Your county Extension agent can also assist
your plants. A board or thick piece of paper                 you with insect identification.
painted yellow and coated with a sticky substance,
such as Tanglefoot, will attract and intercept
aphids, whiteflies, and other small flying insects.

                                                         4
Table 1. Attracting Beneficial Insects
Name of Beneficial Insect	        Prey	                                         Methods to Attract
Ladybugs	                         Adults and larvae eat aphids, 	               Grow pollen and nectar plants
	                                 scales, mites, and eggs of 	                  like dill, goldenrod, yarrow,
	                                 some pest insects.	                           cosmos, sweet alyssum. Spray
		                                                                              non-crop plants with sugar water.
		                                                                              Provide water in a pan filled with
		                                                                              gravel during dry periods.
Hover flies	                      Larvae feed on aphids and 	                   Grow pollen and nectar plants
	                                 small caterpillars.	                          in the Umbelliferae family. Allow
		                                                                              some broccoli to flower. Plant tall
		                                                                              plants like sunflower so flies can
		                                                                              hover.
Robber flies	                     Adults capture flying insects. Larvae	        Plant flowering plants
	                                 live in soil and feed on soil pests 	         as a nectar source.
	                                 like grubs.
Ground beetles	                   Feed on snails, slugs, cutworms and 	         Grow pollen-providing plants. Grow
	                                 other caterpillars, and on potato beetle 	    dense cover crops to provide
	                                 eggs and larvae.	                             shelter. Incorporate grass or stone
		                                                                              walkways between garden beds.
Big-eyed bugs, flower bugs	       Adults eat aphids, small caterpillars, 	      Grow pollen and nectar plants
	                                 mites, turf pests, thrips, and other 	        like sweet alyssum, alfalfa,
	                                 small insects.	                               goldenrod, and cosmos.
Assassin bugs	                    Both nymphs and adults use their 	            Grow perennials to provide
	                                 needle-like stylets to suck fluids from 	     permanent shelter plantings.
	                                 and kill aphids and other small insects
	                                 and their eggs. Larger wheel bugs attack
	                                 large caterpillars.
Lacewings (green and brown)	      Larvae eat aphids, scales, thrips, mites, 	   Plant dill, sunflowers, caraway,
	                                 and eggs of some pest insects.	               cosmos, sweet alyssum, and golden-
		                                                                              rod flowers. Spray sugar water on
		                                                                              non-crop plants to attract adults.
Tachinid flies	                   Larvae are parasites of squash bugs, 	        Grow plants in the Umbelliferae
	                                 cutworms, Japanese beetles, and many 	        family and other small-flowered
	                                 caterpillars.	                                plants like sweet alyssum and
		                                                                              spearmint.
Wasp parasites 	                  Adults inject eggs inside caterpillar 	       Grow pollen and nectar plants in
(non-stinging to humans)	         prey; wasp larvae develop, eventually	        the Umbelliferae family, also mints
	                                 killing the host. Some species parasitize 	   and herbs. White clover and other
	                                 insect pest eggs.	                            legume cover crops planted adjacent
		                                                                              to garden beds also attract parasites.
		                                                                              Provide shelter with tall plants like
		                                                                              sunflowers. Let some broccoli and
		                                                                              radishes flower.


    A good way to attract beneficial insects into the
garden is to incorporate plants inside or adjacent
                                                              Managing Soil Pests
to the garden that will supply alternative sources            in the Garden
of food, such as pollen and nectar, and shelter
for beneficial insects. Remember that application             General Recommendations
of synthetic insecticides can destroy the natural                  Many soil insect pest populations reach high
balance by eliminating beneficial insects. Table 1            numbers in grass or turf, and home gardens are
presents a partial listing of methods to attract some         often established in areas previously covered with
of the more common beneficial insects.                        grass. To reduce soil insect problems, thoroughly
                                                              till or spade the area well in advance of planting
                                                              (30 days or more) and again just before planting.



                                                          5
This will bring up soil pests near the surface where             Cutworms
their chances of mortality are increased. In most
cases, tilling the soil or sod in fall and early spring               Cutworms are active only at night and remain
will sufficiently control soil insects without the               buried below the soil surface near food plants
need for a soil insecticide.                                     during the day. They emerge to feed at night and
                                                                 often cut seedlings or small stems, causing the
    If tilling is not an option, apply a broadcast soil
                                                                 plants to fall over.
insecticide 2 weeks before planting to help control
some soil insects like cutworms, wireworms, and                       • Because grass
white grubs. Check with your local Extension                     and many weeds
System office for available insecticides.                        are preferred hosts,
                                                                 remove grass and
                                                                 weeds in the garden,
Slugs                                                            and plow the soil well in advance
     Slugs like to feed on young seedlings and                   of planting.
succulent parts of plants. They leave a trail of                      • You can also prevent damage by
mucus on the surfaces on which they crawl. Moist,                placing a paper or plastic “sleeve” over the
humid environments favor slug development, and                   plant and pressing the bottom into the soil.
slugs usually overwinter in sheltered locations                  Place sleeves around newly set transplants or
outdoors. They deposit their eggs in moist areas                 newly emerged seedlings so that 1 inch is below
and require a year or more to mature.                            ground and 3 inches above ground. Paper cups
     • Spade or till garden area in the fall and again           with the bottoms removed or 4 inch high sections
in the spring before planting                                    of 1⁄ 2 gallon paper milk cartons are ideal. Tuna cans
     • Pick slugs by hand. Using a flashlight, check             with the bottoms removed may also work.
the garden around 10:00 p.m. for active slugs. If                     • Check with your local Extension System
you find any, pick them up with an old teaspoon.                 office for available insecticides.
Place captured slugs in a container of salt which                     • Use Sevin bait after plant emergence. Apply
will kill them. Continue this activity for 3 to 4                Sevin according to label directions late in the
nights in a row to greatly reduce damage.                        afternoon so the bait will be fresh when the worms
     • Place stale beer in small cups or pans sunken             come out to feed at night.
in the soil so the lip of the container is slightly
below ground level. Slugs are attracted to the beer,             Wireworms
fall into the container, and drown. For best results,
replace the stale beer about every 3 days. Setting                    Wireworms are the slender, yellowish
out enough containers early in the spring can                    brown, hard-bodied larvae of click
greatly reduce slug populations.                                 beetles. They can survive deep in the
                                                                 soil for up to 5 years and can move
     • Use diatomaceous earth, lime, or sawdust as
                                                                 up to attack seed or young plants.
a barrier; replace after each rain.
                                                                 Several wireworm species prefer
     • Pesticide baits are minimally to moderately               plants in the grass family and are
effective against slugs. To increase their effec-                usually not a problem unless
tiveness, apply them late in the afternoon. Bait in              the garden is planted into land
the fall after the first fall rains to target slugs before       that previously contained grasses                 or
they can lay eggs. Check with your local Extension               crops in the grass family.
System office for available pesticide baits.
                                                                      • Turn over the soil in the
                                                                 fall, and again in the spring well
                                                                 in advance of planting, to help
                                                                 reduce wireworm populations.
                                                                      • Use a granular insecticide.
                          Slug                                   Apply granules according to label       Pacific
                       0.5-4.0 in.                               directions, and work then into the soil C o a s t
                                                                 to a depth of 4 to 6 inches, followed   Wireworm
                                                                                                         0.4 in.
                                                                 by a good watering.




                                                             6
White Grubs                                                  Managing Above-Ground
    White grubs are Japanese, May, and June beetle           Pests in the Garden
larvae that are dirty white in color. The tip of their
abdomen is a blue-black color.                                   Nonchemical methods for managing garden
They roll into a C shape when                                pests that feed on the foliage and fruit of garden
                                         L a rva
disturbed. Mature grubs may            0.5-2.0 in.           vegetables are presented here.
reach 2 inches in length.
They live in the soil and                                    Aphids
sometimes feed on                                                • To repel aphids, anchor aluminum foil to the
plant roots and tubers.                                      soil for 1 foot around transplants. Slope soil away
About the only time                                          from plant so rain water and mud do not
they are troublesome                                         obscure reflective surface. You may
is when parts of                                             remove foil after plants flower.
the lawn or sod are                                              • Make a water trap by
turned under in the                                          painting a small, shallow pan
spring for garden use.                                       bright yellow and filling it
    • If you must                                            with soapy water. Place several
plant in previ-                                              pans in the garden and refill
ously grassy areas,                                          them after each rain. Use bright
prepare the garden                                           yellow-painted (Rust-Oleum
well in advance                                              659 or Safety Yellow) 6- x 8-inch
of planting. As sod is        Lined June Beetle
                                   0.9-1.1 in.               cards or pieces of plywood as sticky
turned over, raked, and                                      traps. Anchor vertically to garden
prepared for planting,                                       stakes and spray with Tanglefoot        Pea Aphid
pick up the grubs by                                                                                0.12-0.17 in.
                                                             or other sticky substance. Replace
hand for the best control.                                   Tanglefoot weekly.
    • Check with your local Extension System                     • Repel aphids by spraying
office for available insecticides.                           a mixture of 2 tablespoons hot red pepper, 2
                                                             cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon liquid soap (Tide liquid
Mole Crickets                                                laundry detergent, for example), and 1 quart of
     Mole crickets have brown, velvety bodies with           water.
broad front legs for digging in the soil. They have              • Hand remove and destroy aphid colonies on
large eyes and are about                                     plant leaves.
1 inch long when mature.                                         • Use a strong spray of water from the hose to
As mole crickets tunnel                                      knock aphids from plants.
through the soil, they can                                       • Spray plants with insecticidal soap or
disrupt the root system                                      liquid laundry detergent mixed with water (2 to 3
of vegetables. They may                                      tablespoons per gallon). Test tender plants first to
also feed on plant root                                      ensure they are not burned by the soap solution.
and underground stem                                             • Because aphids can transmit plant virus
tissue.                                                      disease, remove and destroy diseased plants to
     • Avoid planting the                                    delay spread of virus to healthy plants.
garden in previously grassy
areas. If you observe mole
cricket tunnels around plants,
tamp the soil back down to restore
support to the root system.
     • Check with your local
                                                         m o l e   c r i c k e t
Extension System office for available                    0.8-1.2     in.
insecticides.




                                                         7
Asparagus Beetles                                            Corn Earworm
    • Plant marigolds near                                   (Tomato Fruitworm)
asparagus to repel beetles.                                       • With no controls
    • Destroy and bury plant                                 applied, earworms
refuse in the fall to remove                                 usually damage
overwintering sites.                                         only the tip of the
                                                                                                Corn Earworm
    • Handpick and destroy                                   ear. Cut off the                         1.5 in.
eggs, larvae, and adults in the                              damaged tips
morning before they become                                   and you can eat the rest.
active.                                                           • If possible, avoid planting other vegetables
    • Spray asparagus ferns                                  near corn, a favorite food of corn earworm.
                                  Spotted
with pyrethrin or rotenone in     A sp a r a g u s                • Plant and harvest corn as early in the season
late summer so fewer beetles      B e e t l e 0.25-          as possible to avoid heavy infestations.
will overwinter.                  0.3 in.                         • Drop 1⁄ 4 teaspoon of mineral oil on the silks
    • Cut foliage off at the                                 of each corn ear after the silks have wilted but
ground as soon as it begins to die back.                     before they begin to dry; this helps to repel moths
                                                             and egg-laying.
Cabbage Loopers and                                               • Select tight-husked corn varieties for planting.
Cabbageworms                                                 Tight husks inhibit worm movement into the ear.
    • Cover                                                       • Beginning at the flower stage, check upper
plants with                                                  tomato leaves once a week for small, round, white
cheesecloth                                                  fruitworm eggs. Spray plants with Bacillus thuringi-
or floating                                                  ensis weekly as long as you detect eggs.
row cover to                     Imported
prevent egg-laying.              C a bb a g e w o r m        Cucumber Beetles
                                 1.25-2.0 in.
    • Handpick. The green                                         • Plant nonbitter cucumber varieties;           (B)
worms are much easier to                                     the bitter compound in cucumber
spot on red-leaf varieties.                                  attracts beetles.
    • Spray plants with Bacillus                                  • Cover young plants
thuringiensis when worms are still small.                    with cheesecloth or
    • Remove alternate host weeds, such as wild              floating row covers
mustard and shepherd’s purse, from the garden.               until just before bloom.
                                                                  • Interplant cucumber           (A)
    • Interplant a hot pepper plant between every
two cabbage plants.                                          with radishes; radish seems to
                                                                                                  Striped (A)
                                                             repel cucumber beetles. Tansy,       a n d S p o t t e d
Colorado Potato Beetle                                       marigolds, and nasturtiums also ( B ) C u c u m b e r
                                                             repel beetles.                       Beetles
    • Potato beetles prefer to feed on potato,                    • Eliminate weeds in and        0.2-0.25 in.
eggplant, and tomato. Rotate these preferred hosts           around the garden; some weeds are hosts for
with other crops in alternate years.                         bacterial wilt disease that is spread by cucumber
    • Interplant nonhost crops, such as beans, with          beetles.
preferred host crops.
    • Handpick orange                                        Flea Beetles
egg masses, reddish brown
larvae, and yellow-and-                                          • Unless flea beetle populations are heavy,
black striped adults and                                     their feeding will not kill plants or reduce
destroy.                                                     yields; control is usually unnecessary.
    • Place straw mulch                                          • Flea beetles are most numerous
around plants as a barrier to                                in the spring; plant susceptible
beetle colonization of plants                                crops like eggplant and radish later
in the spring.                                               in the season.
                                                                 • Weeds bordering the garden
                                     C   o l o r a d o
                                                             may serve as alternate hosts;
                                         Potato
                                         Beetle              removing weeds will reduce flea P o t a t o
                                          0.4 in.            beetle populations.                    Flea Beetle
                                                                                                   0.05-0.08   in.
                                                         8
False Chinch Bugs                                                Leafhoppers                             L e a f h o pp e r
                                                                                                         0.05-0.25 in.
    False chinch bugs are weed-feeding insects that                  • Protect plants
may build up in large numbers in arid conditions.                with cheesecloth or
They migrate in huge numbers that may overwhelm                  other fine mesh row
any control efforts.                                             covering.
    • Early-season control of cruciferous weed                       • Hang bright
hosts may help reduce numbers.                                   yellow (Rust-Oleum 659
    • If damage from false chinch bugs reaches                   or Safety Yellow) 6- x
unacceptable levels, treatments to field edges will              8-inch boards covered with
help control this pest.                                          a thin coat of Tack Trap or
    • False chinch bugs are easily drowned. Heavy                Tanglefoot at crop level. When
watering or use of a strong hose spray will drown                the boards are filled with insects,
many. Trenches or pans of water may be put                       wash them and repeat.
around plants during periods of insect migration.                    • Spray plants with
                                                                 insecticidal soap.
                                                                     • Because leafhoppers can transmit
                                                                 virus diseases, remove diseased plants to
                                                                 delay spread to healthy plants.

                                                                 Mexican Bean Beetles
                                                                      • Handpick and destroy egg masses and beetles
                                  Differential
                                                                 in early morning before they become active.
                                  G r a ss h o pp e r                 • Interplant
Grasshoppers                      1.5-2.0 in.                    nonhost crops like
                                                                 potatoes among
    • Trap grasshoppers by using a 1 quart                       bean plants to
container half filled with a 10% molasses and                    disrupt egg-laying.
water mixture.
                                                                      • Use
    • Grasshopper populations are most damaging                  soybeans as a
in late summer. Use a floating row cover to protect              trap cover. Bean
late-season plantings.                                           beetles prefer
    • Plow the garden in the fall to expose                      soybeans planted      Mexican
grasshopper eggs to the weather and insect                                           Bean Beetle
                                                                 nearby over snap     0.25-0.33 in.
predators. Be sure to plow fence rows and                        or lima beans.                            L a rva
garden borders too.                                                                                            0.33    in.

                                                                 Spider Mites
Japanese Beetles                                                      • Spray plants with insecticidal soap.
    • Avoid planting garden near                                      • Keep the foliage wet to
lawns or in land previously                                      deter mites, which don’t like moist
containing lawn.                                                 conditions; however, keeping the
    • Purchase a Japanese beetle                                 foliage wet can also encourage
pheromone trap                                                   plant diseases.
to reduce beetle numbers. Locate                                      • Cover plants with
trap at least 30 feet away from                                  an old blanket to create
crop plants.                                                     a cool, moist
    • Protect plants with       J a pa n e s e B e e t l e       environment that
floating row covers.                  0.3-0.5 in.
                                                                 deters mites.
    • Apply milky spore                                               • Spray plants
powder to surrounding lawn or pasture. Milky                     with water or insec-
spore powder is generally available on the Internet.             ticidal soap; then
                                                                 cover infested plants
                                                                 for 3 days and
                                                                 follow with a second
                                                                 soap spray.                            T w o sp o t   t e d
                                                                                                        Spider M        i t e
                                                                                                         0.01-0.02      in.
                                                             9
Squash Bugs                                                     Weevils (Bean Weevil or
    • Remove and destroy                                        Cowpea Curculio)
clusters of oval, orange-                                           • Plant resistant, thick-
brown squash bug eggs.                                          hulled southern pea
    • Remove and destroy                                        varieties like AUbe or
vines and unused fruit after                                    Freeze-Green.
harvest to eliminate overwin-                                       • Plant beans
tering sites.                                                   as early as
    • Place shingles or                                         possible,
boards near squash or                                           and turn
pumpkin plants in spring or                                     plants
early summer to attract squash                                  under after
bugs; then collect and destroy                                  harvest.
                                    Squash Bug                                                             C o wp e a
adult bugs under the boards             0.7 in.                     • Pick shell                         Curculio
each morning.                                                   beans when                                  0.2 in.
    • Plant nasturtiums and marigolds near squash               somewhat green;
plants to deter squash bugs.                                    then blanch before freezing; this will kill weevil
                                                                eggs and larvae which are seldom seen in the
Squash Vine Borers                   V
                                           Squash
                                         i n e B o r e r
                                                                frozen beans.
    • Cover plants with fine                1.0 in.
                                                                    • Before storing, heat beans in a 175°F oven for
mesh cloth or row cover until                                   an hour. Cool beans; then bag and freeze them for
female flowers appear. Female                                   a week to kill any weevil larvae or eggs. After this,
flowers have a bulge between                                    store beans at room temperature.
flower and stem that is absent
in male flowers.                                                Whiteflies
    • Plant squash varieties with long vines.                       • Whiteflies are rarely a
These varieties of squash may continue to grow                  problem in outdoor gardens.
despite borer damage.                                           Make sure purchased trans-
    • Plant in late summer or fall to avoid heavy               plants are not infested with
vine borer infestations.                                        whiteflies or other insects.
    • Cut open borer entry holes in the stem with a                 • Hang bright yellow
knife; then remove the worm and pack moist earth                (Rust-Oleum 659 or Safety
around the stem.                                                Yellow) 6- x 8-inch boards,
                                                                covered with a thin coat of
Tomato Hornworms                                                mineral oil, Tack Trap, or
                                                                Tanglefoot at crop level.
    • Handpick worms from                                                                            G   r e e n h o u s e
                                                                    • Spray plants                       W
plants; check plants in the                                                                                 h i t e f l y
                                                                with insecticidal soap.                    0.06 in.
evening with a flashlight.
    • Spray Bacillus thuringiensis
when the worms are still small.                                 Chemical Control of
    • Plant dill next to tomatoes                               Garden Pests
as a preferred trap crop;
                                                                    Check with your local Extension System
hand-pick worms off the dill.
                                                                office for available insecticides and the proper
    • Do not destroy                                            application rates.
hornworms with small, white
cocoons attached to their body.
These are parasite cocoons
from which small, parasitic
wasps (beneficial)
will emerge.
    • Turn the soil in          Tomato
the fall to expose             Hornworm
hornworm pupae to              3.0-4.0 in.
weather and predators.

                                                           10
Garden Insect Pest Management in the Home Vegetable Garden - Auburn University
Use this quick reference to find more
practical problem-solving tips for your home,
 lawn, and garden. Scan the symbol below
   using the code-reading app on a smart-
  phone or tablet equipped with a camera.




                        Charles Ray, Extension Research Fellow, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University.
                        Originally prepared by Geoff Zehnder, former Extension Entomologist.
                        Use chemicals only according to the directions on the label. Follow all directions, precautions, and restric-
                        tions that are listed.
                        Before you apply any pesticide, check with your county Extension agent for the latest information.
                        Trade names are used only to give specific information. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System does
                        not endorse or guarantee any product and does not recommend one product instead of another that might
                        be similar.
                        For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in
                        your telephone directory under your county’s name to find contact information.
                        Published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University),
                        an equal opportunity educator and employer.
                                                                                               12M, Reprinted Dec 2011, ANR-1045
      ANR-1045          © 2011 by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. All rights reserved.

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Garden Insect Pest Management in the Home Vegetable Garden - Auburn University

  • 1. ANR-1045 Garden Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities Bugs Insect Pest Management in the Home Vegetable Garden Q. How can I keep “bad bugs” out of my garden? Q. How can I attract “good bugs” to my garden? Q. How can I control slugs and other soil insect pests? Q. What insect pests are common to Alabama? Q. How can I control insect pests without insecticides? www.aces.edu
  • 3. Alabama A&M and GardenBugs ANR-1045 Auburn Universities Insect Pest Management in the Home Vegetable Garden T he best way to manage insect pests in the home vegetable garden is to use Making Your Garden a combination of strategies, including Vegetables Less Susceptible cultural, mechanical, and biological controls. Organic gardeners rely totally on to Insect Damage nonchemical methods. Most home gardeners can In home vegetable gardens, insecticides should tolerate some insect damage on their vegetables; be used only as a last resort to prevent serious consequently, they are able to use many insect damage. Insecticides kill beneficial insects as nonchemical control strategies that can reduce, well as harmful insects. You may not even notice but not always eliminate, insect damage. Home that these “good” insects are present, but if they are gardeners not opposed to using chemicals may use destroyed, pest insect populations can increase to chemical controls when nonchemical methods do very high numbers. not provide sufficient levels of control. You can reduce or eliminate the need for Modern pest management relies on “planning insecticides in your garden by using a variety before planting” rather than responding to a of techniques. The best approach to successfully pest problem after it has occurred. For example, control garden pests is to use a combination you can prevent many insect pest problems by of techniques. using what you know about the pest to make the vegetable planting less suitable for pest devel- Healthy Soil opment. This could mean planting early to avoid Healthy soil will produce plants better able high pest numbers that occur late in the season. to resist insects and disease. Before planting your Correct identification of insect pests infesting garden, turn over the soil and add organic matter the vegetable garden is critical so you can develop such as manure or compost to supply essential a management plan. Equally important is recog- nutrients. Organic nutrients are released slowly, nition of beneficial insects. Your county Extension in contrast to synthetic fertilizers which provide agent can help you identify pests and develop “quick-fix” nutrients. management strategies for specific pest and It’s a good idea to have your garden soil tested crop situations. to determine if soil nutrients and pH are suitable This publication provides: for growing vigorous plants. Soil testing can be • Tips on making your garden vegetables less done for a nominal fee; contact your county susceptible to insect damage. Extension agent for more information. • General recommendations for managing soil pests. Companion Planting • General recommendations for managing Some plants contain or give off compounds that above-ground pests. repel insects. Companion planting is the practice of strategically placing insect-repelling plants next to crops that will benefit from their repellent effects. For example, planting garlic among vegetables helps to deter Japanese beetles, aphids, vegetable weevils, and spider mites; basil planted near tomatoes repels tomato hornworms; and marigolds interplanted with squash or cucumber repel cucumber beetles and nematodes. Check the organic gardening section in your library or bookstore for books on companion plants. 3
  • 4. Crop Rotation Mulch Planting different kinds of vegetables in a Mulching is the spreading of organic matter different section of your garden each year will help in the garden and around plants. It is an effective reduce pest infestation. Some insect pests overwinter method to control weeds and also serves as a in the garden soil and emerge in the spring and refuge for predatory insects like ground beetles. begin searching for food. If the plant they prefer to Mulch also helps the soil to retain moisture eat is located several yards away, the insect must and stay cool, which promotes plant vigor and move to the source. Many will die along the way or tolerance to insect attack. fall prey to birds and other insects. Add mulch to the garden when plants are 4 to Also, many vegetables may absorb a particular 6 inches high. Grass clippings, leaves, hay, sawdust, nutrient from the soil. By rotating your vegetable wood chips, and compost make excellent mulches. crops each year, the soil in a particular section One drawback of using mulch may be increased of the garden will have the opportunity to rest numbers of slugs that may feed on young and and regenerate. In general, avoid planting crops succulent plants. in the same plant family in the same location in consecutive years. For example, potato, eggplant, Compost and tomato are all in the Solanaceae family, so these crops should be rotated with vegetables in Fertile soil is the foundation of a healthy another plant family, such as the squash or cucurbit garden. One of the most effective ways to enhance family, the bean or legume family, etc. soil fertility is to add compost. Compost is made by mixing organic matter and allowing it to decay through a natural process. The end product is a Diversified Planting dark, rich substance called humus which can be A common practice among home gardeners added directly to the soil. is to plant a single crop in a straight row. This The first step in composting is to build a encourages pests because it makes it easy for them holding bin or composter. Construct the bin from to travel from one host plant to another. If different chicken wire, scrap wood, or cinder blocks. The plants are intermingled and not planted in straight dimensions should be at least 3 × 3 × 3 feet but can rows, an insect is forced to search for a new host vary depending on your needs. Place the bin in a plant thus exposing it to predators. Diversified convenient location. Add leaves, grass clippings, planting also works well with companion planting. and household vegetable food waste. Do not add animal residues as they may attract rats and Trap Plants raccoons. Turn the pile to aerate the material. If If given a choice, some insects will opt to feed you turn the pile every month, humus will be ready on one plant type over another. For example, in about 6 months. pickleworms prefer squash to cucumber, and some tomato worms prefer dill over tomatoes. With a Beneficial Insects little knowledge of host preferences, you can take Not all insects are “bad bugs.” Your garden and advantage of this by placing certain plants where surroundings contain many insects that are actually they can lure harmful insects away from the plants beneficial because they feed on harmful insects. you wish to protect. Once the “trap plants” have Therefore, as a gardener, you should be able to become infested, the target insect can be picked off identify garden insects and determine whether they and dropped in soapy water or the entire plant can are harmful or beneficial. Many organic gardening be disposed of. books provide pictures of the most common beneficial and pest insects and information on how Barriers and Traps to encourage populations of beneficial insects. Barriers and traps can be employed to capture Another good reference book with pictures of or impede movement of pests. A collar made of beneficial insects is Natural Enemies of Vegetable thick paper or cardboard which is placed around Insect Pests by Michael Hoffman and Anne the stem of a plant and pressed into the soil an Frodsham. This book may be ordered by phone inch or so deep will prevent cutworms and other (607-255-2080) from Cornell University Resource burrowing insects from getting into the soil around Center. Your county Extension agent can also assist your plants. A board or thick piece of paper you with insect identification. painted yellow and coated with a sticky substance, such as Tanglefoot, will attract and intercept aphids, whiteflies, and other small flying insects. 4
  • 5. Table 1. Attracting Beneficial Insects Name of Beneficial Insect Prey Methods to Attract Ladybugs Adults and larvae eat aphids, Grow pollen and nectar plants scales, mites, and eggs of like dill, goldenrod, yarrow, some pest insects. cosmos, sweet alyssum. Spray non-crop plants with sugar water. Provide water in a pan filled with gravel during dry periods. Hover flies Larvae feed on aphids and Grow pollen and nectar plants small caterpillars. in the Umbelliferae family. Allow some broccoli to flower. Plant tall plants like sunflower so flies can hover. Robber flies Adults capture flying insects. Larvae Plant flowering plants live in soil and feed on soil pests as a nectar source. like grubs. Ground beetles Feed on snails, slugs, cutworms and Grow pollen-providing plants. Grow other caterpillars, and on potato beetle dense cover crops to provide eggs and larvae. shelter. Incorporate grass or stone walkways between garden beds. Big-eyed bugs, flower bugs Adults eat aphids, small caterpillars, Grow pollen and nectar plants mites, turf pests, thrips, and other like sweet alyssum, alfalfa, small insects. goldenrod, and cosmos. Assassin bugs Both nymphs and adults use their Grow perennials to provide needle-like stylets to suck fluids from permanent shelter plantings. and kill aphids and other small insects and their eggs. Larger wheel bugs attack large caterpillars. Lacewings (green and brown) Larvae eat aphids, scales, thrips, mites, Plant dill, sunflowers, caraway, and eggs of some pest insects. cosmos, sweet alyssum, and golden- rod flowers. Spray sugar water on non-crop plants to attract adults. Tachinid flies Larvae are parasites of squash bugs, Grow plants in the Umbelliferae cutworms, Japanese beetles, and many family and other small-flowered caterpillars. plants like sweet alyssum and spearmint. Wasp parasites Adults inject eggs inside caterpillar Grow pollen and nectar plants in (non-stinging to humans) prey; wasp larvae develop, eventually the Umbelliferae family, also mints killing the host. Some species parasitize and herbs. White clover and other insect pest eggs. legume cover crops planted adjacent to garden beds also attract parasites. Provide shelter with tall plants like sunflowers. Let some broccoli and radishes flower. A good way to attract beneficial insects into the garden is to incorporate plants inside or adjacent Managing Soil Pests to the garden that will supply alternative sources in the Garden of food, such as pollen and nectar, and shelter for beneficial insects. Remember that application General Recommendations of synthetic insecticides can destroy the natural Many soil insect pest populations reach high balance by eliminating beneficial insects. Table 1 numbers in grass or turf, and home gardens are presents a partial listing of methods to attract some often established in areas previously covered with of the more common beneficial insects. grass. To reduce soil insect problems, thoroughly till or spade the area well in advance of planting (30 days or more) and again just before planting. 5
  • 6. This will bring up soil pests near the surface where Cutworms their chances of mortality are increased. In most cases, tilling the soil or sod in fall and early spring Cutworms are active only at night and remain will sufficiently control soil insects without the buried below the soil surface near food plants need for a soil insecticide. during the day. They emerge to feed at night and often cut seedlings or small stems, causing the If tilling is not an option, apply a broadcast soil plants to fall over. insecticide 2 weeks before planting to help control some soil insects like cutworms, wireworms, and • Because grass white grubs. Check with your local Extension and many weeds System office for available insecticides. are preferred hosts, remove grass and weeds in the garden, Slugs and plow the soil well in advance Slugs like to feed on young seedlings and of planting. succulent parts of plants. They leave a trail of • You can also prevent damage by mucus on the surfaces on which they crawl. Moist, placing a paper or plastic “sleeve” over the humid environments favor slug development, and plant and pressing the bottom into the soil. slugs usually overwinter in sheltered locations Place sleeves around newly set transplants or outdoors. They deposit their eggs in moist areas newly emerged seedlings so that 1 inch is below and require a year or more to mature. ground and 3 inches above ground. Paper cups • Spade or till garden area in the fall and again with the bottoms removed or 4 inch high sections in the spring before planting of 1⁄ 2 gallon paper milk cartons are ideal. Tuna cans • Pick slugs by hand. Using a flashlight, check with the bottoms removed may also work. the garden around 10:00 p.m. for active slugs. If • Check with your local Extension System you find any, pick them up with an old teaspoon. office for available insecticides. Place captured slugs in a container of salt which • Use Sevin bait after plant emergence. Apply will kill them. Continue this activity for 3 to 4 Sevin according to label directions late in the nights in a row to greatly reduce damage. afternoon so the bait will be fresh when the worms • Place stale beer in small cups or pans sunken come out to feed at night. in the soil so the lip of the container is slightly below ground level. Slugs are attracted to the beer, Wireworms fall into the container, and drown. For best results, replace the stale beer about every 3 days. Setting Wireworms are the slender, yellowish out enough containers early in the spring can brown, hard-bodied larvae of click greatly reduce slug populations. beetles. They can survive deep in the soil for up to 5 years and can move • Use diatomaceous earth, lime, or sawdust as up to attack seed or young plants. a barrier; replace after each rain. Several wireworm species prefer • Pesticide baits are minimally to moderately plants in the grass family and are effective against slugs. To increase their effec- usually not a problem unless tiveness, apply them late in the afternoon. Bait in the garden is planted into land the fall after the first fall rains to target slugs before that previously contained grasses or they can lay eggs. Check with your local Extension crops in the grass family. System office for available pesticide baits. • Turn over the soil in the fall, and again in the spring well in advance of planting, to help reduce wireworm populations. • Use a granular insecticide. Slug Apply granules according to label Pacific 0.5-4.0 in. directions, and work then into the soil C o a s t to a depth of 4 to 6 inches, followed Wireworm 0.4 in. by a good watering. 6
  • 7. White Grubs Managing Above-Ground White grubs are Japanese, May, and June beetle Pests in the Garden larvae that are dirty white in color. The tip of their abdomen is a blue-black color. Nonchemical methods for managing garden They roll into a C shape when pests that feed on the foliage and fruit of garden L a rva disturbed. Mature grubs may 0.5-2.0 in. vegetables are presented here. reach 2 inches in length. They live in the soil and Aphids sometimes feed on • To repel aphids, anchor aluminum foil to the plant roots and tubers. soil for 1 foot around transplants. Slope soil away About the only time from plant so rain water and mud do not they are troublesome obscure reflective surface. You may is when parts of remove foil after plants flower. the lawn or sod are • Make a water trap by turned under in the painting a small, shallow pan spring for garden use. bright yellow and filling it • If you must with soapy water. Place several plant in previ- pans in the garden and refill ously grassy areas, them after each rain. Use bright prepare the garden yellow-painted (Rust-Oleum well in advance 659 or Safety Yellow) 6- x 8-inch of planting. As sod is Lined June Beetle 0.9-1.1 in. cards or pieces of plywood as sticky turned over, raked, and traps. Anchor vertically to garden prepared for planting, stakes and spray with Tanglefoot Pea Aphid pick up the grubs by 0.12-0.17 in. or other sticky substance. Replace hand for the best control. Tanglefoot weekly. • Check with your local Extension System • Repel aphids by spraying office for available insecticides. a mixture of 2 tablespoons hot red pepper, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon liquid soap (Tide liquid Mole Crickets laundry detergent, for example), and 1 quart of Mole crickets have brown, velvety bodies with water. broad front legs for digging in the soil. They have • Hand remove and destroy aphid colonies on large eyes and are about plant leaves. 1 inch long when mature. • Use a strong spray of water from the hose to As mole crickets tunnel knock aphids from plants. through the soil, they can • Spray plants with insecticidal soap or disrupt the root system liquid laundry detergent mixed with water (2 to 3 of vegetables. They may tablespoons per gallon). Test tender plants first to also feed on plant root ensure they are not burned by the soap solution. and underground stem • Because aphids can transmit plant virus tissue. disease, remove and destroy diseased plants to • Avoid planting the delay spread of virus to healthy plants. garden in previously grassy areas. If you observe mole cricket tunnels around plants, tamp the soil back down to restore support to the root system. • Check with your local m o l e c r i c k e t Extension System office for available 0.8-1.2 in. insecticides. 7
  • 8. Asparagus Beetles Corn Earworm • Plant marigolds near (Tomato Fruitworm) asparagus to repel beetles. • With no controls • Destroy and bury plant applied, earworms refuse in the fall to remove usually damage overwintering sites. only the tip of the Corn Earworm • Handpick and destroy ear. Cut off the 1.5 in. eggs, larvae, and adults in the damaged tips morning before they become and you can eat the rest. active. • If possible, avoid planting other vegetables • Spray asparagus ferns near corn, a favorite food of corn earworm. Spotted with pyrethrin or rotenone in A sp a r a g u s • Plant and harvest corn as early in the season late summer so fewer beetles B e e t l e 0.25- as possible to avoid heavy infestations. will overwinter. 0.3 in. • Drop 1⁄ 4 teaspoon of mineral oil on the silks • Cut foliage off at the of each corn ear after the silks have wilted but ground as soon as it begins to die back. before they begin to dry; this helps to repel moths and egg-laying. Cabbage Loopers and • Select tight-husked corn varieties for planting. Cabbageworms Tight husks inhibit worm movement into the ear. • Cover • Beginning at the flower stage, check upper plants with tomato leaves once a week for small, round, white cheesecloth fruitworm eggs. Spray plants with Bacillus thuringi- or floating ensis weekly as long as you detect eggs. row cover to Imported prevent egg-laying. C a bb a g e w o r m Cucumber Beetles 1.25-2.0 in. • Handpick. The green • Plant nonbitter cucumber varieties; (B) worms are much easier to the bitter compound in cucumber spot on red-leaf varieties. attracts beetles. • Spray plants with Bacillus • Cover young plants thuringiensis when worms are still small. with cheesecloth or • Remove alternate host weeds, such as wild floating row covers mustard and shepherd’s purse, from the garden. until just before bloom. • Interplant cucumber (A) • Interplant a hot pepper plant between every two cabbage plants. with radishes; radish seems to Striped (A) repel cucumber beetles. Tansy, a n d S p o t t e d Colorado Potato Beetle marigolds, and nasturtiums also ( B ) C u c u m b e r repel beetles. Beetles • Potato beetles prefer to feed on potato, • Eliminate weeds in and 0.2-0.25 in. eggplant, and tomato. Rotate these preferred hosts around the garden; some weeds are hosts for with other crops in alternate years. bacterial wilt disease that is spread by cucumber • Interplant nonhost crops, such as beans, with beetles. preferred host crops. • Handpick orange Flea Beetles egg masses, reddish brown larvae, and yellow-and- • Unless flea beetle populations are heavy, black striped adults and their feeding will not kill plants or reduce destroy. yields; control is usually unnecessary. • Place straw mulch • Flea beetles are most numerous around plants as a barrier to in the spring; plant susceptible beetle colonization of plants crops like eggplant and radish later in the spring. in the season. • Weeds bordering the garden C o l o r a d o may serve as alternate hosts; Potato Beetle removing weeds will reduce flea P o t a t o 0.4 in. beetle populations. Flea Beetle 0.05-0.08 in. 8
  • 9. False Chinch Bugs Leafhoppers L e a f h o pp e r 0.05-0.25 in. False chinch bugs are weed-feeding insects that • Protect plants may build up in large numbers in arid conditions. with cheesecloth or They migrate in huge numbers that may overwhelm other fine mesh row any control efforts. covering. • Early-season control of cruciferous weed • Hang bright hosts may help reduce numbers. yellow (Rust-Oleum 659 • If damage from false chinch bugs reaches or Safety Yellow) 6- x unacceptable levels, treatments to field edges will 8-inch boards covered with help control this pest. a thin coat of Tack Trap or • False chinch bugs are easily drowned. Heavy Tanglefoot at crop level. When watering or use of a strong hose spray will drown the boards are filled with insects, many. Trenches or pans of water may be put wash them and repeat. around plants during periods of insect migration. • Spray plants with insecticidal soap. • Because leafhoppers can transmit virus diseases, remove diseased plants to delay spread to healthy plants. Mexican Bean Beetles • Handpick and destroy egg masses and beetles Differential in early morning before they become active. G r a ss h o pp e r • Interplant Grasshoppers 1.5-2.0 in. nonhost crops like potatoes among • Trap grasshoppers by using a 1 quart bean plants to container half filled with a 10% molasses and disrupt egg-laying. water mixture. • Use • Grasshopper populations are most damaging soybeans as a in late summer. Use a floating row cover to protect trap cover. Bean late-season plantings. beetles prefer • Plow the garden in the fall to expose soybeans planted Mexican grasshopper eggs to the weather and insect Bean Beetle nearby over snap 0.25-0.33 in. predators. Be sure to plow fence rows and or lima beans. L a rva garden borders too. 0.33 in. Spider Mites Japanese Beetles • Spray plants with insecticidal soap. • Avoid planting garden near • Keep the foliage wet to lawns or in land previously deter mites, which don’t like moist containing lawn. conditions; however, keeping the • Purchase a Japanese beetle foliage wet can also encourage pheromone trap plant diseases. to reduce beetle numbers. Locate • Cover plants with trap at least 30 feet away from an old blanket to create crop plants. a cool, moist • Protect plants with J a pa n e s e B e e t l e environment that floating row covers. 0.3-0.5 in. deters mites. • Apply milky spore • Spray plants powder to surrounding lawn or pasture. Milky with water or insec- spore powder is generally available on the Internet. ticidal soap; then cover infested plants for 3 days and follow with a second soap spray. T w o sp o t t e d Spider M i t e 0.01-0.02 in. 9
  • 10. Squash Bugs Weevils (Bean Weevil or • Remove and destroy Cowpea Curculio) clusters of oval, orange- • Plant resistant, thick- brown squash bug eggs. hulled southern pea • Remove and destroy varieties like AUbe or vines and unused fruit after Freeze-Green. harvest to eliminate overwin- • Plant beans tering sites. as early as • Place shingles or possible, boards near squash or and turn pumpkin plants in spring or plants early summer to attract squash under after bugs; then collect and destroy harvest. Squash Bug C o wp e a adult bugs under the boards 0.7 in. • Pick shell Curculio each morning. beans when 0.2 in. • Plant nasturtiums and marigolds near squash somewhat green; plants to deter squash bugs. then blanch before freezing; this will kill weevil eggs and larvae which are seldom seen in the Squash Vine Borers V Squash i n e B o r e r frozen beans. • Cover plants with fine 1.0 in. • Before storing, heat beans in a 175°F oven for mesh cloth or row cover until an hour. Cool beans; then bag and freeze them for female flowers appear. Female a week to kill any weevil larvae or eggs. After this, flowers have a bulge between store beans at room temperature. flower and stem that is absent in male flowers. Whiteflies • Plant squash varieties with long vines. • Whiteflies are rarely a These varieties of squash may continue to grow problem in outdoor gardens. despite borer damage. Make sure purchased trans- • Plant in late summer or fall to avoid heavy plants are not infested with vine borer infestations. whiteflies or other insects. • Cut open borer entry holes in the stem with a • Hang bright yellow knife; then remove the worm and pack moist earth (Rust-Oleum 659 or Safety around the stem. Yellow) 6- x 8-inch boards, covered with a thin coat of Tomato Hornworms mineral oil, Tack Trap, or Tanglefoot at crop level. • Handpick worms from G r e e n h o u s e • Spray plants W plants; check plants in the h i t e f l y with insecticidal soap. 0.06 in. evening with a flashlight. • Spray Bacillus thuringiensis when the worms are still small. Chemical Control of • Plant dill next to tomatoes Garden Pests as a preferred trap crop; Check with your local Extension System hand-pick worms off the dill. office for available insecticides and the proper • Do not destroy application rates. hornworms with small, white cocoons attached to their body. These are parasite cocoons from which small, parasitic wasps (beneficial) will emerge. • Turn the soil in Tomato the fall to expose Hornworm hornworm pupae to 3.0-4.0 in. weather and predators. 10
  • 12. Use this quick reference to find more practical problem-solving tips for your home, lawn, and garden. Scan the symbol below using the code-reading app on a smart- phone or tablet equipped with a camera. Charles Ray, Extension Research Fellow, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University. Originally prepared by Geoff Zehnder, former Extension Entomologist. Use chemicals only according to the directions on the label. Follow all directions, precautions, and restric- tions that are listed. Before you apply any pesticide, check with your county Extension agent for the latest information. Trade names are used only to give specific information. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System does not endorse or guarantee any product and does not recommend one product instead of another that might be similar. For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county’s name to find contact information. Published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University), an equal opportunity educator and employer. 12M, Reprinted Dec 2011, ANR-1045 ANR-1045 © 2011 by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. All rights reserved.