Identifying Pests

Scouting for pests should be part of your regular garden maintenance. Walk around your landscape a couple of times a week, examining the leaves, flowers, fruit, and stems of your plants closely. Damage to could show up as chewed edges, light-colored trails, or holes. If you find pest damage, it's vital that you identify the cause before you attempt treatment. Look for the insect that's causing the problem, making sure not to blame beneficial insects that may be there to help. Remove pests by hand, or remove and discard the infested parts of the plant. Contact your county Extension office for help identifying pests before applying any chemicals. If a pesticide is needed, always try the lowest-toxicity product first.

UF/IFAS Sites

• Featured Creatures
• Insects & Mites of Woody Ornamentals
• What's Bugging South Florida

UF/IFAS Publications

• A Guide to Scale Insect Identification
• A Guide to Soil Insect Pest Identification
• Insect Identification Service
• Insect Management in the Home Garden
• Topics: Garden Pest Insects
• Turfgrass Insects Sheet
• Vegetable Garden Insects Sheet
• Vegetable Garden Insects Sheet 2

Also on Gardening in a Minute

• Anticipating Insect Pests
• Chewing Insect Pests
• FFL Principle 6: Manage Yard Pests Responsibly
• Integrated Pest Management
• Managing Yard Insect Pests
• Monitoring Insects

Other Sites

• The Good Guys & the Bad Guys--Illinois Natural History Survey
• Insects of Ornamental Plants--Clemson (SC) Cooperative Extension (PDF)
• Insects of Ornamental Plants II--Clemson (SC) Cooperative Extension (PDF)
• Plant Pest Identification Aid--Texas A&M Department of Entemology
• Vegetable Insects--Clemson (SC) Cooperative Extension (PDF)
• Vegetable Insects II--Clemson (SC) Cooperative Extension (PDF)