Garden Pests — Page 2
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 2 of 10
SpidersCan predatory mites help with spider mites?Yes. Predatory mites eat spider mites at every life stage, but they need humidity above 60% and temperatures of about 68 to 82°F to work.SpidersCan spider mites fly?No. Spider mites are wingless arachnids. They spread by crawling, hitchhiking on clothes and tools, or floating on silk strands in the wind.Other True BugsCan stink bug eggs be found in a house?Only on an outdoor plant brought inside. Stink bugs that overwinter in homes shut down reproduction and never lay eggs on walls or furniture.Other True BugsChinch bugs vs drought damage in a Florida lawn: what differs?Learn how to tell the difference between chinch bug damage and drought stress in a Florida lawn, and what steps to take next.MitesClover mites vs spider mites: how can you tell them apart?Clover mites are reddish brown with very long front legs and gather on sunny windowsills. Spider mites live on leaves and spin fine silk.Moths & ButterfliesCodling moth vs false codling moth: why does geography matter?Compare codling moth and false codling moth, understand why geography dictates management, and learn practical identification and control strategies.Beetles & WeevilsDo Asian lady beetles bite?No. Asian lady beetles do not feed on people. A light scraping feeling as one walks on your arm is just its grip. Here is what to know.Other True BugsDo boxelder bugs bite?No. Boxelder bugs have a straw-like mouth made for sipping tree sap and cannot bite people. Here is what they can do, and why they come inside.Other True BugsDo brown marmorated stink bugs bite?No. Brown marmorated stink bugs only drink plant juices. One trapped against your skin may give a sharp pinch, but it is not a bite.Beetles & WeevilsDo Japanese beetle traps solve a garden infestation?Discover why Japanese beetle traps often worsen garden infestations, how to properly identify the pests, and what methods actually work.Crickets & Mole CricketsDo mole crickets bite?No. Mole crickets have small jaws made for clipping roots that cannot break human skin. If handled they may push or give a faint pinch.SlugsDo slugs have shells?No. Garden slugs have no outer shell, at most a tiny internal remnant. That is why they dry out easily and feed at night or in rainy weather.SpidersDo spider mites live in soil?No. Spider mites live on the undersides of leaves. Adult females only go into the top of the soil to hibernate or to leave a dying plant.SpidersDo spider mites make webs?Learn why spider mites spin webs, how to identify them correctly, and what steps to take when an infestation hits your plants.Moths & ButterfliesDo tent caterpillars kill trees?Tent caterpillars rarely kill healthy trees, which grow new leaves. Defoliation two or three years in a row can weaken a tree, though.ThripsDo thrips bite people?No. Thrips feed only on plants. On warm days one may land on your skin and give a brief pinprick probe, but they do not feed on blood.ThripsDo thrips live in soil?Yes. Thrips feed on the plant, but the young drop into the top inch or two of soil to pass through resting stages before becoming adults.Moths & ButterfliesEastern vs forest tent caterpillars: do they build the same kind of tent?Discover the key behavioral and visual differences between Eastern and forest tent caterpillars, including their contrasting nest-building habits.Moths & ButterfliesFall armyworm vs sod webworm: what damage clues differ?Learn how to tell fall armyworm and sod webworm damage apart, use simple tests, and decide on the best control approach.Other True BugsFalse chinch bug vs chinch bug: what is different?Learn the key differences between false chinch bugs and true chinch bugs, from their appearance and habits to how to handle them.Moths & ButterfliesGrub damage vs sod webworm damage: what should you inspect first?A blunt and practical guide to inspecting lawns for sod webworm and white grub damage.PlanthoppersHave spotted lanternflies been found in Tennessee in 2026?Yes. Spotted lanternflies are confirmed in Tennessee, centered on Davidson County near Nashville. One stray adult does not mean an infested area.Moths & ButterfliesHow are sod webworms treated?Learn how sod webworms are treated through accurate identification, soap testing, biological options, and strict application timing.Beetles & WeevilsHow can a homeowner inspect fallen apples for insect damage?Learn how to inspect fallen apples for insect damage with a practical guide to identifying common pests and handling orchard sanitation safely.Moths & ButterfliesHow can bagworms damage arborvitae?Learn how bagworms damage arborvitae trees through defoliation and branch girdling, and discover how to identify, treat, and know when to call a professional.Beetles & WeevilsHow can cucumber beetles be monitored before a crop is damaged?Learn how to monitor, identify, and manage cucumber beetles before they devastate your garden crops with bacterial wilt.Beetles & WeevilsHow can cucumber beetles damage a young squash plant?Learn how cucumber beetles harm young squash through direct chewing and bacterial wilt, and discover practical ways to protect your garden.Moths & ButterfliesHow can sod webworm activity be distinguished from grub damage?Learn how to distinguish sod webworm damage from grub activity in your lawn through simple identification tests and proper management.Moths & ButterfliesHow can you check a squash plant stem for borer damage?Learn how to inspect your squash plants for borer damage, spot the warning signs at the base of the stem, and decide what to do next.Moths & ButterfliesHow can you inspect tomato plants for hornworm feeding?Learn how to inspect tomato plants for hornworm feeding, identify the caterpillars, and choose the right control method safely.Other True BugsHow can you keep stink bugs out of the house?Learn how to keep stink bugs out of your house using proper timing, physical exclusion, and professional perimeter treatments.ThripsHow can you monitor thrips without assuming every black insect is a thrips?Learn how to monitor thrips accurately by looking past color and using proper identification techniques to avoid confusing them with other garden insects.RaccoonsHow can you tell grub damage from drought stress in a lawn?Learn how to distinguish between lawn grub damage and drought stress with simple physical tests, timing guides, and safety warnings.WhitefliesHow can you tell whiteflies from other tiny white insects on a plant?Learn how to tell whiteflies apart from mealybugs, aphids, and other tiny white plant pests using simple identification cues.Beetles & WeevilsHow did the emerald ash borer get to America?Emerald ash borer reached America inside wooden crates and pallets in cargo. People moving infested firewood then spread it across states.PlanthoppersHow did the spotted lanternfly get to the United States?Spotted lanternflies reached the US as egg masses on stone shipments, pallets and equipment from Asia, first found in Pennsylvania in 2014.