Sow & Tell
Garden pests: how to spot and stop 159 pests
What 159 garden pests look like, the damage they do, when they show up and what to do about them, gentlest first, from university Extension sources.
Insects
- Allium leafminerPhytomyza gymnostoma
- Annual cicadas (dog-day cicadas)Neotibicen species, such as the dog-day cicada (Neotibicen canicularis), in the East; Megatibicen, Okanagana, Platypedia and other genera in the West
- AphidsMany species (family Aphididae), such as the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) and the cabbage aphid
- Apple maggotRhagoletis pomonella
- Arborvitae leafminerArgyresthia thuiella and at least three related leafminers
- Asian citrus psyllidDiaphorina citri
- Asian longhorned beetleAnoplophora glabripennis
- Asparagus beetlesCommon asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi) and spotted asparagus beetle (Crioceris duodecimpunctata)
- Bagrada bugBagrada hilaris
- BagwormThyridopteryx ephemeraeformis
- Bean leaf beetleCerotoma trifurcata
- Beet armywormSpodoptera exigua
- BillbugsBluegrass billbug (Sphenophorus parvulus), lesser billbug (S. minimus) and hunting billbug (S. venatus), plus other Sphenophorus species
- Blister beetlesMany species (family Meloidae), such as Epicauta species
- Blueberry maggotRhagoletis mendax
- Box tree mothCydalima perspectalis
- Boxelder bugsEastern boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata) and western boxelder bug (Boisea rubrolineata)
- Boxwood leafminerMonarthropalpus flavus (also listed as M. buxi)
- Boxwood psyllidPsylla buxi
- Bronze birch borerAgrilus anxius
- Cabbage looperTrichoplusia ni
- Cabbage maggotDelia radicum
- Cankerworms (fall and spring cankerworms)Fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria) and spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata)
- Carrot rust flyPsila rosae
- Carrot weevilListronotus oregonensis
- Cherry fruit flyRhagoletis cingulata (eastern cherry fruit fly), R. fausta (black cherry fruit fly) and R. indifferens (western cherry fruit fly)
- Chestnut weevilsSmall chestnut weevil and large chestnut weevil
- Chinch bugs (lawn chinch bugs)Hairy chinch bug (Blissus leucopterus hirtus) in northern lawns; southern chinch bug (Blissus insularis) in St. Augustinegrass in the South
- Citrus leafminerPhyllocnistis citrella
- Codling mothCydia pomonella
- Colorado potato beetleLeptinotarsa decemlineata
- Corn earworm (tomato fruitworm)Helicoverpa zea
- Corn rootwormsWestern corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera) and northern corn rootworm (Diabrotica barberi); the southern corn rootworm is the spotted cucumber beetle
- Cowpea curculioChalcodermus aeneus
- Crane flies (leatherjackets)European crane fly (Tipula paludosa) and marsh crane fly (Tipula oleracea), both from Europe; native crane flies are harmless
- Crapemyrtle bark scaleAcanthococcus lagerstroemiae (formerly Eriococcus lagerstroemiae)
- Cucumber beetlesStriped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum), western striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma trivittatum) and spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata)
- CutwormsCaterpillars of several night-flying moths, most often the black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon); also variegated, dingy, bronzed and army cutworms
- Diamondback mothPlutella xylostella
- Dogwood borerSynanthedon scitula
- Eastern tent caterpillarMalacosoma americanum
- Emerald ash borerAgrilus planipennis
- Euonymus scaleUnaspis euonymi
- European corn borerOstrinia nubilalis
- European earwigForficula auricularia
- Fall armywormSpodoptera frugiperda
- Fall webwormHyphantria cunea
- Flatheaded appletree borerChrysobothris femorata
- Flea beetlesSeveral species, such as the crucifer flea beetle (Phyllotreta cruciferae), western black flea beetle (Phyllotreta pusilla), potato flea beetle (Epitrix cucumeris) and palestriped flea beetle (Systena blanda)
- Four-lined plant bugPoecilocapsus lineatus
- Fungus gnatsSeveral species of small flies
- Garden antsMany species, including soil-nesting field ants, pavement ants, odorous house ants and the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile); the red imported fire ant has its own page
- Garden symphylanScutigerella immaculata
- Granulate ambrosia beetleXylosandrus crassiusculus
- Grape berry mothParalobesia viteana
- GrasshoppersMany species (family Acrididae), such as the differential grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis)
- Green June beetle (fig-eater)Cotinis nitida
- Harlequin bugMurgantia histrionica
- Hemlock woolly adelgidAdelges tsugae
- Hickory shuckwormCydia caryana
- Imported cabbagewormPieris rapae (the adult is the cabbage white butterfly)
- Imported currantwormNematus ribesii
- Iris borerMacronoctua onusta
- Japanese beetlePopillia japonica
- KatydidsFamily Tettigoniidae; in fruit, mainly the forktailed bush katydid (Scudderia furcata), plus the angularwinged katydid (Microcentrum retinerve) and broadwinged katydid (Microcentrum rhombifolium)
- Lace bugs (azalea and chrysanthemum lace bugs)Azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioides) and chrysanthemum lace bug (Corythucha marmorata); many other lace bug species feed on trees and shrubs
- Larger canna leafroller (Brazilian skipper)Calpodes ethlius
- Leaffooted bugsSeveral Leptoglossus species, such as the eastern leaffooted bug (L. phyllopus) and, in California, L. zonatus
- LeafhoppersFamily Cicadellidae (more than 2,500 species in North America), including the aster leafhopper, beet leafhopper, grape leafhoppers, rose leafhopper, sage or mint leafhopper (Eupteryx melissae) and the potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae), which has its own page
- LeafminersSpinach leafminer (Pegomya hyoscyami) and vegetable leafminer (Liriomyza sativae), among others
- Lily leaf beetleLilioceris lilii
- Magnolia scaleNeolecanium cornuparvum
- MealybugsSeveral species. Citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri) is the most common one on citrus; kin include longtailed mealybug (Pseudococcus longispinus), obscure mealybug, and on grapes the grape mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus) and vine mealybug (Planococcus ficus).
- MelonwormDiaphania hyalinata
- Mexican bean beetleEpilachna varivestis
- Mole cricketsTawny (Neoscapteriscus vicinus), southern (N. borellii) and shortwinged (N. abbreviatus) mole crickets, all introduced from South America; the native northern mole cricket (Neocurtilla hexadactyla) is not a pest
- Mosquitoes (yard and container mosquitoes)Many species; around homes mostly house mosquitoes (Culex species) and Aedes species, including the invasive yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus)
- Narcissus bulb flyMerodon equestris
- Navel orangeworm
- Oak galls (gall wasps)Many tiny gall wasps, including horned oak gall wasp (Callirhytis cornigera, also written C. quercuscornigera), gouty oak gall wasp (Callirhytis quercuspunctata) and oak bullet gall wasp (Disholcaspis quercusglobulus)
- Obliquebanded leafrollerChoristoneura rosaceana
- Onion maggotDelia antiqua
- Oriental fruit mothGrapholita molesta
- Pea weevilBruchus pisorum
- Peachtree borerSynanthedon exitiosa (a related species, the lesser peachtree borer, S. pictipes, attacks higher on the trunk and limbs)
- Pear psyllaCacopsylla pyricola
- Pear sawfly (pearslug, cherry slug)Caliroa cerasi
- Pecan nut casebearerAcrobasis nuxvorella
- Pecan weevilCurculio caryae
- Pepper maggotZonosemata electa
- Pepper weevilAnthonomus eugenii
- Periodical cicadasMagicicada species (seven species with 13- or 17-year life cycles)
- PicklewormDiaphania nitidalis
- Pine sawflies (European, introduced and redheaded pine sawflies)European pine sawfly (Neodiprion sertifer), introduced pine sawfly (Diprion similis) and related kinds such as the redheaded pine sawfly
- Plum curculioConotrachelus nenuphar
- Potato leafhopperEmpoasca fabae
- Potato psyllid (tomato psyllid)Bactericera cockerelli
- Raspberry cane borerOberea perspicillata
- Red imported fire antSolenopsis invicta
- Rose chaferMacrodactylus subspinosus
- Rose midgeDasineura rhodophaga
- Rose sawflies (roseslugs)Roseslug (Endelomyia aethiops), bristly roseslug (Cladius difformis) and curled rose sawfly (Allantus cinctus)
- Roundheaded appletree borerSaperda candida
- Sawflies (garden sawflies)Many species of plant-eating, non-stinging wasps (order Hymenoptera), such as the hibiscus sawfly, dogwood sawfly, columbine sawfly, dusky birch sawfly, scarlet oak sawfly and the pine sawflies; roseslugs, pear sawfly and imported currantworm have their own pages
- Scale insectsMany species. Armored scales such as San Jose scale (Comstockaspis perniciosa) and white peach scale (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona) live under a hard cover; soft scales are larger and make honeydew.
- Seedcorn maggotDelia platura
- Sod webworms (lawn moths)Several lawn moth species (Crambus, Parapediasia, Pediasia and related genera) in cool-season lawns; tropical sod webworm (Herpetogramma phaeopteralis) in southern warm-season lawns
- Spongy moth (formerly gypsy moth)Lymantria dispar
- Spotted lanternflyLycorma delicatula
- Spotted wing drosophilaDrosophila suzukii
- Squash beetleEpilachna borealis (squash lady beetle)
- Squash bugAnasa tristis
- Squash vine borerMelittia cucurbitae
- Stink bugsBrown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys), native green stink bug (Chinavia hilaris) and southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula)
- Strawberry clipper (strawberry bud weevil)Anthonomus signatus
- Strawberry sap beetleStelidota geminata
- Swede midgeContarinia nasturtii
- Sweetpotato weevilCylas formicarius
- Tarnished plant bugLygus lineolaris
- ThripsOnion thrips (Thrips tabaci) and western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), among others
- Tobacco budworm (geranium or petunia budworm)Chloridea virescens (formerly Heliothis virescens)
- Tomato hornwormManduca quinquemaculata (the look-alike tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, does the same damage)
- Tomato pinwormKeiferia lycopersicella
- Viburnum leaf beetlePyrrhalta viburni
- White grubsLarvae of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae), including May or June beetles (Phyllophaga species), masked chafers (Cyclocephala species) and the Japanese beetle
- WhitefliesGreenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) and silverleaf or sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), among others
- Winter mothOperophtera brumata
- WirewormsLarvae of click beetles (family Elateridae), such as Limonius and Ctenicera species
Mites
- Boxwood miteEurytetranychus buxi
- Broad mitePolyphagotarsonemus latus
- Cyclamen mitePhytonemus pallidus
- Eriophyid mites (rust, bud, blister and gall mites)Family Eriophyidae, thousands of described species worldwide, including the tomato russet mite (Aculops lycopersici)
- European red mitePanonychus ulmi
- Spruce spider miteOligonychus ununguis
- Twospotted spider miteTetranychus urticae
Slugs and snails
- Brown garden snailCornu aspersum (formerly Helix aspersa)
- SlugsGray garden slug, also called gray field slug (Deroceras reticulatum), and other species
Animals
- ChipmunksEastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) in the East; the least chipmunk and other western chipmunks in the Rocky Mountains, western Great Plains and West
- DeerWhite-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus); mule deer and black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the West
- Feral hogs (wild pigs)Sus scrofa: feral swine descended from escaped or released domestic pigs, Eurasian wild boar and their crosses
- Ground squirrelsCalifornia ground squirrels (Otospermophilus beecheyi and O. douglasii); Richardson's, Columbian, Wyoming and golden-mantled ground squirrels and other western species
- Groundhog (woodchuck)Marmota monax
- Mice (house mice and deer mice)House mouse, and deer and white-footed mice (Peromyscus species, including the deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus)
- MolesEastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus), plus hairy-tailed and star-nosed moles in the East; western moles (Scapanus species) in California and the Pacific Northwest, such as the Townsend mole and coast mole
- Nine-banded armadilloDasypus novemcinctus
- OpossumVirginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
- Pocket gophersPocket gophers (family Geomyidae), such as Botta's and northern pocket gophers (Thomomys) and plains and southeastern pocket gophers (Geomys)
- PorcupineNorth American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)
- RabbitsEastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) and other cottontails; brush rabbits and black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) in the West
- RaccoonProcyon lotor
- Roof rats and Norway ratsRoof rat (Rattus rattus) and Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus); the small Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans) also lives in Hawaii
- Striped skunkMephitis mephitis (spotted skunks, Spilogale species, are smaller relatives)
- Tree squirrelsEastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and fox squirrel (Sciurus niger); native western gray and Douglas squirrels in the West
- VolesMeadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), prairie vole (M. ochrogaster), pine or woodland vole (M. pinetorum), California vole (M. californicus) and others
Birds
- BirdsMany species, such as the American robin (Turdus migratorius), European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), house finch, scrub jays and crowned sparrows
Nematodes
- Foliar nematodesAphelenchoides species, mainly A. fragariae, A. ritzemabosi and A. besseyi
- Root-knot nematodesMeloidogyne species
Crustaceans
- Pillbugs and sowbugsPillbug (Armadillidium vulgare) and several kinds of sowbugs
Worms and others
- Jumping wormsAmynthas species (including Amynthas agrestis and A. tokioensis), invasive earthworms from East Asia; also called crazy worms, snake worms, Alabama jumpers or Jersey wrigglers