3. The two main dangers to a plant are pests and
diseases. Over the past 20 years, they have
destroyed billions of plants in both urban and rural
areas throughout the world.
Pests and insects have the potential to negatively and
destructively affect agricultural productivity, market
access, the environment, and our way of life. They are
a major concern as they have the potential that can
harm crops and food production, parasitize livestock,
or even just bother people with health risks.
4. 1. Aphids
Aphids live only about a week,
but a mature female can
reproduce rapidly. The tiny
sucking pests, often found
growing en masse on the
underside of leaves, emit a
sticky substance that draws
ants and attracts sooty mold.
Control aphids with neem oil
or insecticidal soap.
5. 2.Thrips
Thrips are tiny flying insects
with fringed wings. The sap-
sucking insects discolor and
distort nearly any type of plant.
They leave tiny black specks
of excrement on the leaves
and often create white patches
on leaves and petals. Thrips
are difficult to control and often
require a combination of
methods such as sticky traps
and insecticidal soap or neem
oil.
6. 3.Spider mites
Spider mites are difficult to see with the naked eye, but they are
easily recognized by the fine webs. The pests cause streaking,
spotting and discolored leaves that may fall off the plant if not
controlled. Neem oil and insecticidal soap are effective. Water
properly, as mites are drawn to dry, dusty conditions.
7. 4. Leaf miners
Leaf miners are the larvae of various pests, including moths,
flies, and beetles. Although the larvae create trails and blotchy
areas as they feed on the leaves, they are relatively harmless
and usually, no treatment is necessary. Sticky traps will catch
egg-laying adults and insecticidal soap may help if control is
needed.
8. 5. Scale
Scale damage can be
devastating, as the tiny pests
suck out the sweet nectar.
There are two types of scale:
hard scale, found primarily
on woody tissue such as
branches, trunks and twigs;
and soft scale, which has a
waxy protective covering.
Control can be difficult, but
neem oil works well by
suffocating the pests.
Regular use of insecticidal
soap is also effective.
9. 6. Whiteflies
Whiteflies are yet another
type of sap-sucking pest.
Small numbers are relatively
harmless but large
infestations can cause yellow
or dry leaves that may fall off
the plants. Like other sap-
sucking pests, the sweet
substance created by
whiteflies attracts ants and
sooty mold. To control
whiteflies, try sticky traps and
insecticidal soap or neem oil.
10. 7. Earwigs
Earwigs are mostly beneficial, but they can be harmful when they
feed on vegetables and certain other plants, including mums,
clematis and dahlias. Earwigs are easy to trap with short lengths
of garden hose, or in tuna cans with cooking oil. You can also cut
a tiny hole in the side of a cardboard box baited with a small
amount of oatmeal. Keep the area free of debris, as earwigs hide
in cool, moist areas.
11. 8. Cutworms
Cutworms are the larval stage of certain moths. The destructive
pests hide under leaves or other plant debris, emerging to lay
masses of eggs on plants. They eat nearly anything in their paths,
often cutting through stems of young plants at ground level. Remove
plant debris. Pick off the pests by hand in late afternoon or evening.
Create barriers with cardboard collars or gritty substances like
eggshells, coffee grounds, or diatomaceous earth. Encourage birds
to visit your garden.
12. 9. Fungus gnats
Fungus gnats are tiny, annoying
pests that wreak havoc on
houseplants or in gardens or
greenhouses. The swarms of
flying insects are annoying, but
it’s the larvae that does the most
harm by eating plant roots.
Fungus gnats may also carry
disease from plant to plant.
Control adults with bright yellow
sticky traps and/or insecticidal
soap.
13. 10. Mealybugs
Mealybugs are common both
indoors and outdoors, where
they cause stunted growth,
withering and yellowing of
plants. The pests are easily
recognized by the cottony
protective covering. Insecticidal
soap works well against the
pests. Light infestations on
indoor plants can also be
removed with a toothpick or a
cotton swab dipped in rubbing
alcohol.
14. 11. Locusts
These small, short-horned grasshopers known for
consuming almost anything that comes their way, made
recent headlines when massive swarms of them
invaded several Indian areas, destroying crops, posing
a threat to human life, and seriously harming
agriculture.
15. 12. Bollworms
A cotton planter receives warning indications when a
bollworm is discovered. But they have also been
observed degrading tomatoes, soybeans, peanuts,
chickpeas, sunflowers, and pigeon peas. When they
are discovered, but are not monitored or controlled,
they will grow and cause considerable harm to the
harvest and production.
16. 13. Stem borer
Stem borers are caterpillars that eventually develop
into yellow or brown moths, which is how they kill.
17. 14. Fruit fly
They get their name because of their strong attraction to
ripening or rotting fruit, which serves as a food source as
well as a place to lay their eggs. Adult fruit flies typically
reach 3-4 mm in length and live 40 to 50 days.
18. 15. Cucurbit Beetle
Cucurbit Beetle. Cucurbit beetle is
an insect from South America
whose hosts include plants in the
family Cucurbitaceae.
Cucumber beetle is a common
name given to members of two
genera of beetles, Diabrotica and
Acalymma, both in the family
Chrysomelidae. The adults can be
found on cucurbits such as
cucumbers and a variety of other
plants. Many are notorious pests of
agricultural crops.
19. 16. Flea Beetle
Flea beetles are common pests found on many
vegetable crops including radishes, broccoli, cabbage,
turnips, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes,
spinach and melons.
Flea beetles can be black, bronze, bluish or brown to
metallic gray.
Some species have stripes.
