Top 4 Bugs Invading Your Garden
Cassie Homan, Horticulture Agent
By the end of July our gardens are usually thriving and we are in harvest mode. Our veggies are full grown and putting on delicious fruits for us to enjoy. Unfortunately, we aren’t the only ones that love this season. Insects are out in full force in our gardens and landscape. Here are the top four pests you will likely see in your landscape and how to deal with them.
Squash Bugs
Squash bugs are the grey, shield-shaped bugs that feed mainly on squash and pumpkin plants. If you have ever had these pests in your garden, you know they are almost impossible to control when fully mature. This is because squash bugs have a hard body that an insecticide has difficulty penetrating.
When controlling squash bugs, use a general-use insecticide such as permethrin (Bug-B-Gon Multi-Purpose Garden Dust; Bug-No-More Yard and Garden Insect Spray; Lawn & Garden Insect Killer).
Spider Mites
If you are growing tomato plants in your garden, you will most likely have spider mites. Most spider mites like hot and dry weather and we are seeing populations start to explode. Check your plants for stippling on the upper surface of the leaves as well as some fine webbing on the underside of the leaves
Spider mite control can be challenging. A strong jet of water can be used to remove the mites but may not be as easy as it sounds. A high-pressure directed spray is needed to dislodge the mites. Since spider mites feed on the underside of the leaves, the spray is most effective if it comes from below. Some gardeners use a water wand hooked to a shut-off valve. The water breaker is then replaced by a brass nozzle. Make sure to spray your plants multiple times.
Horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps (Safers, for example) can also be helpful. Spray early in the morning when temperatures are cooler and plants have rehydrated.
Green June Bugs
Green June bugs have been out and about this season. The adults are about an inch in length, and velvety-green, tinged with yellow-brown coloration.
The green June beetle has a one-year life cycle, and overwinters as a grub in grass. Adults emerge in late-June and are active during the day, resting at night on plants or in thatch. The adults sound like a loud bumble bee. Adults will feed on ripening fruits and may occasionally feed on plant leaves. The larvae, grub stage, feed primarily on organic matter including thatch and grass-clippings; preferring soils that are excessively moist. Luckily, these beetles won’t cause much trouble to our garden, but they do make their presence known.
Grasshoppers
Last but not least is everyone’s favorite garden pest, the grasshopper. Grasshoppers may be one of the most difficult insects to control in our gardens. They are manageable if treated when they are young. Try a chemical such as permethrin, it is a good choice for vegetable crops because it is labeled for a wide variety of vegetables. However, keep in mind that hoppers can re-infest an area relatively quickly. Carbaryl (Sevin) can also be used for grasshopper control, remember you may need to treat more than once.
If you are interested in organic controls, try a product such as Semaspore, NOLO Bait, HopperStopper, and Grasshopper Attack. These products are selective and will affect only grasshoppers. They are most effective against the immature stages rather than adult grasshoppers. Also some grasshopper species are less susceptible than others. They can take 3 to 6 weeks to kill the grasshoppers after ingestion.
Gardening in Kansas will always be a challenge with our spontaneous weather and the amount of insects we have to deal with. Incorporating a few tips and tricks into your garden maintenance will insure a bountiful harvest. If you have any questions, please call your local Extension office.
By the end of July our gardens are usually thriving and we are in harvest mode. Our veggies are full grown and putting on delicious fruits for us to enjoy. Unfortunately, we aren’t the only ones that love this season. Insects are out in full force in our gardens and landscape. Here are the top four pests you will likely see in your landscape and how to deal with them.
Squash BugsSquash bugs are the grey, shield-shaped bugs that feed mainly on squash and pumpkin plants. If you have ever had these pests in your garden, you know they are almost impossible to control when fully mature. This is because squash bugs have a hard body that an insecticide has difficulty penetrating.
When controlling squash bugs, use a general-use insecticide such as permethrin (Bug-B-Gon Multi-Purpose Garden Dust; Bug-No-More Yard and Garden Insect Spray; Lawn & Garden Insect Killer).
Spider Mites
If you are growing tomato plants in your garden, you will most likely have spider mites. Most spider mites like hot and dry weather and we are seeing populations start to explode. Check your plants for stippling on the upper surface of the leaves as well as some fine webbing on the underside of the leavesSpider mite control can be challenging. A strong jet of water can be used to remove the mites but may not be as easy as it sounds. A high-pressure directed spray is needed to dislodge the mites. Since spider mites feed on the underside of the leaves, the spray is most effective if it comes from below. Some gardeners use a water wand hooked to a shut-off valve. The water breaker is then replaced by a brass nozzle. Make sure to spray your plants multiple times.
Horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps (Safers, for example) can also be helpful. Spray early in the morning when temperatures are cooler and plants have rehydrated.
Green June Bugs
Green June bugs have been out and about this season. The adults are about an inch in length, and velvety-green, tinged with yellow-brown coloration.
The green June beetle has a one-year life cycle, and overwinters as a grub in grass. Adults emerge in late-June and are active during the day, resting at night on plants or in thatch. The adults sound like a loud bumble bee. Adults will feed on ripening fruits and may occasionally feed on plant leaves. The larvae, grub stage, feed primarily on organic matter including thatch and grass-clippings; preferring soils that are excessively moist. Luckily, these beetles won’t cause much trouble to our garden, but they do make their presence known.Grasshoppers
Last but not least is everyone’s favorite garden pest, the grasshopper. Grasshoppers may be one of the most difficult insects to control in our gardens. They are manageable if treated when they are young. Try a chemical such as permethrin, it is a good choice for vegetable crops because it is labeled for a wide variety of vegetables. However, keep in mind that hoppers can re-infest an area relatively quickly. Carbaryl (Sevin) can also be used for grasshopper control, remember you may need to treat more than once. If you are interested in organic controls, try a product such as Semaspore, NOLO Bait, HopperStopper, and Grasshopper Attack. These products are selective and will affect only grasshoppers. They are most effective against the immature stages rather than adult grasshoppers. Also some grasshopper species are less susceptible than others. They can take 3 to 6 weeks to kill the grasshoppers after ingestion.
Gardening in Kansas will always be a challenge with our spontaneous weather and the amount of insects we have to deal with. Incorporating a few tips and tricks into your garden maintenance will insure a bountiful harvest. If you have any questions, please call your local Extension office.
