Garden Pests
A damaged leaf is a clue, not an identification. Browse questions about plant-feeding insects, lawn damage, tree pests, and the observations to collect before deciding on control.
327 questions · Page 1 of 10
Moths & ButterfliesApple maggot vs codling moth: what kind of fruit damage differs?Learn the key differences in fruit damage between apple maggots and codling moths, including identification, management choices, and safety warnings.Beetles & WeevilsAre all lawn grubs the same insect?Lawn grubs are the larvae of many different beetles, plus a few lookalikes. Why the difference matters for treatment, and how to check your own lawn properly.AphidsAre aphids bad for plants?Yes. Aphids drink sap, causing curled leaves, stunted growth and sooty mold. How much harm depends on numbers, plant age and natural predators.AphidsAre aphids harmful to humans?No. Aphids do not bite, sting or carry diseases that affect people. Their mouthparts are too delicate to pierce skin.Moths & ButterfliesAre bagworms common in Oklahoma?Yes. Bagworms are common in every part of Oklahoma, and eastern redcedar, junipers and arborvitae take the worst of it. How to spot them and when control works.Other True BugsAre boxelder bugs harmful?No. Boxelder bugs do not harm people, damage drywall or hurt shade trees. They are nuisance pests looking for a warm spot for winter.Other True BugsAre boxelder bugs in Ontario homes a seasonal entry problem?Yes. Boxelder bugs gather on warm walls in late summer and autumn and slip through cracks to spend the winter inside Ontario homes.Other True BugsAre boxelder bugs invasive?No. Boxelder bugs are native to North America. They do not damage trees or bite, though crushed bugs can stain surfaces.Other True BugsAre chinch bugs causing brown patches in a Florida St. Augustine lawn?Find out if chinch bugs are ruining your Florida St. Augustine lawn, how to identify them reliably, and what steps to take next.Beetles & WeevilsAre emerald ash borers found in Oregon?Official records do not show emerald ash borer established in Oregon right now. Check state maps for your county, and never move ash firewood.SlugsAre leopard slugs poisonous?No. Leopard slugs have no venom, fangs or stingers. Touching one leaves sticky mucus that washes off with soap and water.Scale Insects & MealybugsAre mealybugs on outdoor plants handled differently from houseplant mealybugs?Learn the key differences between managing mealybugs on indoor houseplants versus outdoor plants.Crickets & Mole CricketsAre mole crickets dangerous?No. Mole crickets have no venom or stinger and spread no disease. They can badly damage lawns, pastures and gardens by tunneling.Crickets & Mole CricketsAre mole crickets found in Oklahoma?Yes. Oklahoma has the native northern mole cricket, which rarely ruins lawns. The invasive lawn-destroying species are not established there.SlugsAre slugs dangerous?Slugs pose almost no direct danger to people, but they wreck plants. Toxic slug baits are often the bigger risk for pets and wildlife.SlugsAre slugs good for a garden?No. Extension services class slugs as plant pests. They chew ragged holes in leaves, cut young stems, eat roots and ruin ripening fruit.SlugsAre slugs mollusks?Yes. Slugs are mollusks in the class Gastropoda, alongside snails, and related to clams and octopuses. They simply lost the outer shell.SlugsAre slugs poisonous?No. Garden slugs have no venom, stings or toxins in their flesh, so touching one with bare hands will not poison you.SlugsAre snails and slugs the same thing?No. Snails carry a coiled shell big enough to hide inside. Slugs are close relatives whose shells are lost, reduced or internal.Moths & ButterfliesAre sod webworms common in Florida lawns?Learn if sod webworms are common in Florida lawns, how to identify them through signs and tests, and when to seek professional help.PlanthoppersAre spotted lanternflies found in Connecticut?Learn if spotted lanternflies are found in Connecticut, how to identify them through every season, and what practical steps to take next.PlanthoppersAre spotted lanternflies found in Illinois?Find out if spotted lanternflies are in Illinois, how to identify them, and what practical steps homeowners can take.PlanthoppersAre spotted lanternflies found in Rhode Island?Yes. The spotted lanternfly is established in Rhode Island, spreading as egg masses hitchhike on vehicles and outdoor gear.Other True BugsAre stink bugs invasive?Some are. The brown marmorated stink bug is an invasive from East Asia, first found in Pennsylvania in 1996. Many other species are native.Other True BugsAre stink bugs toxic to cats?Stink bugs are not poisonous to cats, but biting one releases bitter fluids that cause drooling and head shaking, usually gone in 15 to 30 minutes.Beetles & WeevilsAsian lady beetle vs ladybug: what is the difference?Asian lady beetles have an M or W mark on a whitish shield behind the head and swarm indoors in autumn. Native ladybugs winter outdoors.Moths & ButterfliesBagworm cases vs ordinary plant debris: how can you tell?Learn how to distinguish between protective bagworm cases and harmless plant debris on your trees and shrubs.AphidsBlack aphids vs green aphids: does color change the response?Learn why aphid color does not change management strategies and how to identify and control these common garden pests.Other True BugsBoxelder bugs vs stink bugs: which tree or building clues differ?Learn the key differences between boxelder bugs and stink bugs, how to identify them by their appearance and plant damage, and how to manage them.Moths & ButterfliesCabbage looper vs other green caterpillars on brassicas: what differs?Learn how to distinguish cabbage loopers from other green caterpillars on brassicas, with practical identification and management guidance.AphidsCan aphids fly?Learn whether aphids can fly, how winged aphids colonize new plants, and how to identify and manage these garden pests safely.Moths & ButterfliesCan browntail moth caterpillars cause a rash?Learn why browntail moth caterpillars cause a severe rash, how to identify the pests, and what safety steps to take.SlugsCan chickens eat slugs?Yes, chickens eat slugs they find, but they prefer insects and are active by day while slugs hide, so they rarely control slugs well.Other True BugsCan dogs eat stink bugs?A stink bug will not poison your dog, but biting one releases foul compounds that can cause drooling or vomiting. Here is when to call the vet.Scale Insects & MealybugsCan mealybugs spread between houseplants?Learn how mealybugs spread between indoor houseplants, how to identify them, and practical steps for managing infestations safely.Moths & ButterfliesCan oak processionary moth caterpillars cause a rash?Yes. Oak processionary caterpillars shed tiny hairs with an irritating protein that cause a severe rash, even without touching them.