A plant pest is any animal, pathogen, or environmental factor that negatively affects the health or growth of a plant. Plant pests can be classified into several categories, including insects, mites, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, viruses, and abiotic factors such as drought or excess heat. Some common examples of plant pests include aphids, caterpillars, mealybugs, fungus gnats, and various types of fungus.
They can cause a wide range of problems, including damage to leaves, stems, and roots. As well as stunted growth and reduced crop yields. In some cases, pests can even kill plants. To control them, gardeners often use a combination of physical, chemical, and biological methods. Such as handpicking, pesticides, and releasing predatory insects like Ladybugs.
It is important to use these methods carefully, as overuse of pesticides can lead to environmental problems and the development of pesticide resistance in pest populations.
Here you will find information on all types of plant pests for indoor and outdoor plants. How to identify, how to get rid of plant pests and prevent future infestations.
Scale insects on houseplants can be a major headache. There are more than 8,000 different species, all within the superfamily Coccoidea[1]. Around 1,000 scale species can be found feeding on plants in North America. They are extremely diverse in appearance, behavior, lifecycle, and reproductive strategies. Scale bugs are difficult to control due to the protective …
There are several ways to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants. The best method is to keep the soil surface dry since eggs are only laid on wet soil. Let the top 1 inch of soil dry between waterings and/or add a 1 inch layer of coarse sand on top. The sand will dry …
How to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants – GIY Plants Read More »
It’s important to know how to get rid of spider mites since they are a common house plant pest. There are more than 1,200 species of spider mites in the family Tetranychidae! They average 1/50th of an inch long, making them difficult to detect. Spider mites leave signs you can look for including their webbing …
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