Pest of the Week

In the segment The Pest of the Week, Jessica acquaints us with a local insect and all its nasty habits. She presents the listener with natural, economical and reliable ways to deal with the pest along with a list of plants likely affected by it.

December 3, 2006

Whiteflies- A major pest of the greenhouse industry, whiteflies suck plant juices and weaken many plants, making them more succeptable to attack from other pests and diseases. Control is best obtained by using sprays of horticultural oil or insecticidal soap at 14-21 day intervals. Whiteflies are most commonly found on tomatoes, flowering tobacco and roses.

November 19, 2006

Colorado potato beetles- feed on the foliage of potato plants. The adults appear as large striped beetles while the larvae are dark red and soft bodied. Organic control can be maintained with Neem or hand-picking.

November 5, 2006

Overwintering pests- Many common garden pests, including the squash vine borer shown above, overwinter in the soil as pupae. By turning over your veggie garden's soil in the fall, you are exposing these sleeping pests to damage from cold temperatures and hungry birds. Jess recommends tilling the areas where you grew squash or eggplants (flea beetle's pupate the same way) to help reduce spring pest populations.

October 29, 2006

Deer- Bambi and his kin can be very destructive to gardens. 8 foot fencing, spray deterrents, guard dogs, human hair, smelly soap: we've tried it all. Electric fences are best, with strong, high mesh fences running a close second. The trick is to change their habits and deter them from entering the garden in the first place. Our favorite products include PlantSkydd and Tree Guard, though regularly switching products will help.

October 22, 2006

Piggyback bugs- Jess calls the likes of mealybugs, aphids and the spider mites pictured above 'Piggyback Bugs'. These are the critters that hop a ride inside your home on the backs of your houseplants. This time of year, we bring in our tender tropicals and other plants that need to spend the winter indoors. To prevent these pests from making your home thiers, use a single application of horticultural oil or insecticidal soap before moving the plants inside.

October 15, 2006

Box Elder bugs- Box Elder bugs feed on adult box elder trees and begin to come indoors to hibernate in late fall. They congregate in door frames and on window sills. They are harmless to the house, but can be a nusiance. Suck them up with the vacuum or sweep them away.

October 8, 2006

Mosquitoes- All gardeners know what a pest these little critters can be. Adults lay eggs in stagnant water where larvae live for 7-10 days before maturation. Eliminate all sources of stagnant water and keep screens on windows. In the garden, use lemon balm or lavender leaves crushed and smeared onto your skin for a natural repellant. For rainbarrels, water troughs or small ponds use the natural biological insecticide Bt. It comes in round dunks that are easy to use and quite effective.

September 24, 2006

Yellow jackets and wasps- These stinging insects can be quite aggressive this time of year. They can nest in attics, under porches, and in the ground. Safer Co. has recently introduced an organic wasp and yellow jacket spray formulated from mint oil. It is just as effective as conventional products, and much safer.

September 17, 2006

Black Vine Weevil- The adult black vine weevil chews irregular notches in the leaves of rhododendrons and other species. This aesthetical damage is unsightly, but it's the larvae that can do the most harm. These larvae feed on the roots of the plants and can be erradicated using beneficial nematodes available through www.gardensalive.com or www.marchbiological.com.

September 3, 2006

Squash Bug- The squash bug is one of the most common and troublesome pests attacking squash and pumpkin plants. Both nymphs and adults suck sap from the leaves and stems. They also spread disease called Anasa wilt that resembles bacterial wilt. Use neem and hadnpicking to control them.