Bug Control Protecting Plants

Bug Control Protecting Plants

An aphid infestation on a rose.

By Heather Stickney

( SPONSORED CONTENT)— Growing and maintaining vibrant plants, both indoors and outdoors, often requires diligence in monitoring them for insects. Aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, scale and whiteflies are all common soft-bodied insect pests that can cause serious damage to your greenery.

Let’ s discuss how to recognize these common pests— and the best ways to protect your plants from them:

Spotting the Signs of Pest Trouble

Aphids are small insects that are about the size of a pinhead. Depending on their species, aphids can appear yellow, light green, brown, black, pink or white in color.

Aphids usually make their home on the underside of leaves. They feed on a wide variety of plants, drawing nutrient-rich sap from plant material with mouthparts called stylets. This feeding can lead to damage in the form of yellowing, curling or misshapen leaves and stunted leaf growth.

In addition to stripping plants of vital nutrients, aphids can carry and spread plant diseases. They secret a sticky substance called“ honeydew” which can attract other nuisance insects, like ants, who gather it for food. Honeydew can also encourage fungal growth called sooty mold.

Mealybugs are also sap-sucking insects. Sometimes described as“ alien-looking,” the bodies of female mealybugs are usually pink and distinctly segmented.

Mealybugs often cover themselves with a waxy coating to protect their bodies from heat and loss of moisture. Male mealybugs are rarely seen. They look distinctly different from the females, and more closely resemble gnats. They are commonly found feeding in colonies on areas of plants that are partially protected, like the crown, or between the stem and touching leaves. Their feeding deprives a plant of nutrients, which can result in plant wilt and stunted growth.

Like aphids, mealybugs also produce honeydew, which can attract mold.

Spider Mites include over 1,200 species of mites. They are more closely related to ticks and spiders than insects. Like other arachnids, spider mites have two body segments and eight legs. Spider mites vary in color depending on their age and species, and may be green, orange, red or yellow. They feed on a variety of plants using a set of piercing mouthparts to draw sap out of leaves.

Spider mites thrive in dry, hot conditions. Their short life cycle and ability to reproduce quickly can lead to rapid population growth, with females capable of producing 100 to 300 eggs during their brief two- to four-week life span.

Although spider mites may appear as visibly moving dots on foliage, particularly on the undersides of leaves, they are usually difficult to see because of their small size. Evidence of spider mite infestation can include cupping and curling on new leaves and blooms, small white or yellow spots on leaves, leaf shedding and dying plants. A tell-tale sign of spider mites is thread-like webbing on plant leaves.

Identifying Scale Before It Spreads

There are over 8,000 varied species of scale insects. They vary in appearance and often look more like a blemish on a plant than an insect.

Scales are divided into two types— soft bodied and hard bodied. Soft scales produce a waxy coating to protect themselves. Hard scales, also referred to as armored scales, have hard, shield-like covers to protect themselves.

Scales feed using sucking mouth parts to withdraw sap from plants. Scale feeding can cause leaf wilting and yellowing, can stunt plant growth and lead to loss of vigor. Heavy scale infestations can cause plant death. Like aphids and mealybugs, scales produce honeydew that attracts other scavenger insects like ants and can encourage the growth of black sooty mold.

Whiteflies: Smalls Bugs, Big Problems

Although whiteflies have wings and are capable of flying, they are not actually flies. They are also soft-bodied insects that are closely related to aphids and mealybugs.

Whiteflies are yellow to white in color with triangular bodies that measure about one-half inch long.

Outside, they feed on various ornamental flowers, vegetables and citrus trees. Indoors they feed on common houseplants, favoring plants with soft, smooth leaves. You will often find them in clusters on the underside of leaves. Whiteflies feed on plant sap with sucking mouth parts. Signs of an infestation can include leaf yellowing, plant wilt, fallen leaves and stunted growth.

Fighting Fungus Gnats at the Roots

Another problematic plant pest is fungus gnats. These flying insects are small, dark and resemble little flies. Commonly found in potted plants, adult fungus gnats may be an annoyance but are harmless to humans.

The larva, or immature stage of these gnats, however, can cause noticeable damage in plants by feeding on their roots. Adult females are attracted to moist soil, where they deposit their eggs. The eggs hatch into larvae after a few days, and the larvae burrow into the soil to feed on decaying plant material and fungi. Fungus gnat populations can grow quickly as new adults emerge two weeks later to mate and repeat the lifecycle process.

Signs of plant damage resulting from large fungus populations resemble other root related issues. The plant’ s growth may slow or stop and lower leaves may turn yellow and drop. The entire plant may wilt or die in case of severe infestation.

Mosquito Bits by Summit Responsible Solutions is a biological larvicide that delivers effective fungus gnat control in potted plants. Simply soak the granules in water according to label directions and water your plants.

The active ingredient in Mosquito Bits, Bti( bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis) kills fungus gnat larvae in the soil without the use of synthetic toxins to break the life cycle. This larvicide will not harm beneficial insects, pets or birds.

You can find Mosquito Bits at local garden centers, hardware stores, select home improvement centers and farm and ranch stores and also online at Summit Chemicals’ website.

Natural Solutions for Pest Control Success

Treating your plants for these intruders doesn’ t have to be difficult. Year Round Horticultural Spray Oil from Summit Responsible Solutions is an effective way to kill soft bodied pests including aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, scale, whiteflies and other menaces without the use of synthetic toxins.

This spray oil is made of the highest quality horticultural oil. It kills insect pests and their eggs by smothering them instead of poisoning them. This refined horticultural spray can be used all season in temperatures from 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 100 degrees Fahrenheit without fear of burning or damaging your plants. It is Organic Materials Review Institute-listed for organic production and can be used on fruit trees, ornamentals, shrubs, vegetables and fruits.

Year Round Spray Oil also aids in preventing fungal and bacterial diseases all year. The product is available in concentrate, ready-to-spray and ready-to-use formulas.

You can find the product at local garden centers, hardware stores, select home improvement centers and online.

14 AcreageLife June 2025 AcreageLife. com

AcreageLife. com June 2025 AcreageLife 15