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Q: My plant leaves look chewed! Do you know what type of insect might do that?
A: Insects that have the ability to chew plants must have special cutters in their mouths for this purpose. Such insects may include caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers, for example.
Q: There is something sticky on my plants’ leaves. Do you know what it might be?
A: It’s most likely the honeydew from “sucking” insects. These insects have mouthparts that allow them to penetrate the plant tissue and suck the juices of the plant. They then secrete the honeydew which is the sticky substance found on plant leaves. Such insects include aphids, thrips, squash bugs, and mites.
Q: We want to start a garden in an area of our backyard. How should we get ready for it?
A: One of the best ways to prevent insect problems in your soil is to till the soil. When you till it, insect grubs and larvae will be brought to the surface where they likely will end up dying.
To ensure their destruction, remove any by hand if you see them. Be sure to till the soil at least a month or so before planting and then again right before you actually plant your vegetables, fruit, or flowers.
At the end of the season, after you have harvested your plants, remove any leftover plant debris and till the soil again to destroy any insects, larvae, or eggs that are attempting to overwinter in your garden.
Q: I want an organic garden, so I don’t want to use harmful chemicals. Will the organic products work as well as the chemical pesticides?
A: Yes, they will be even better for the environment and for your insect control needs. Organic control methods target the specific insect pest, usually without harming the beneficial insects you want in your garden to help with insect pest control.At one time it was thought that a general chemical pesticide which would wipe out all of the insects was the best method, but since then, insect pest control has come a long way. It was realized that there are beneficial insects that are natural predators of insect pests, and these should be allowed to live in your garden, helping to control small infestations.In addition, the environment cannot safely handle general “umbrella” pesticides, which become absorbed into the ground soil and carried into streams and groundwater, resulting in toxic pollutants being released into our environment.