Anthracnose of leaf Anthracnose—also called Leaf Spot Fungus–is a catch-all name to describe several diseases caused by fungi that flourish in wet weather. Anthracnose causes small, dark spots with yellow halos to develop on leaves. The spots become sunken lesions. Lesions may also form on stems and fruits. Leaf spots grow larger, become angular, and
Late Blight on Tomato Late blight is a fungal disease that can infect tomato and potato plants. The disease spreads rapidly and will likely destroy the infected plant in a few days. Wind- and water-borne fungal spores can quickly spread to other plants—including eggplants, and peppers. Late blight commonly strikes when nights are cool and
Early blight on potato leaf Early blight is a fungal disease that targets tomatoes in particular but also hits potatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Early blight can infect plants at almost any time during the growing season. It is most prevalent in regions where there is high humidity and when temperatures are greater than 75°F. Fungal
Septoria leaf spot Septoria leaf spot is a fungal disease. It is one of the most destructive tomato plant diseases and affects a wide range of other vegetables and garden plants as well. Septoria fungal leaf spot is most severe in regions where warm, wet, humid weather extends over several days to weeks. Target Plants:
Ground beetle Ground beetles are beneficial insects. Adult ground beetles and their larvae eat asparagus beetles, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, corn ear worms, cutworms, cabbage root maggots, Gypsy moth larvae, slugs, snails, squash vine borers, and tobacco bud worms. A single ground beetle larva can eat more than 50 caterpillars. Adults hunt their prey in
Tiger beetle The tiger beetle is a mostly beneficial insect. It eats pest insects including ants, caterpillars, flies, grasshopper nymphs, and spiders. But sometimes tiger beetles eat their own and some other beneficial insects. Tiger beetles are closely related to ground beetles, also beneficial insects, but unlike the ground beetle, the head of a tiger
Rove beetle Rove beetles are beneficial insects. Adult and larvae rove beetles eat soft-bodied pest insects including the eggs and larvae of aphids, mites, and mealybugs. They also eat nematodes, cabbage maggots, caterpillars, grubs, fly maggots and pupae, and the larvae of root maggots. Rove beetles eat rotting vegetation and insects that feed on the
Big-eyed bug Big-eyed bugs are beneficial insects. Big-eyed bug adults and larvae eat many garden pests including aphids, cabbage loopers, caterpillars, chinch bugs, flea beetles, leafhoppers, Mexican bean beetles, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies and the eggs of aphids, corn earworms, and mites. Attract big-eyed bugs to the garden by planting goldenrod, pigweed, and soybeans. Big-eyed
Hover fly The hover fly is a beneficial insect. It is also called the syrphid fly and sometimes the flower fly. Adult hover flies are pollinators. They are often seen hovering like hummingbirds over flowers as they drink nectar. Adult hover flies do not feed on pest insects. Hover fly larvae do feed on pest
Chickweed flowers Chickweed is an annual plant that competes vigorously with other plants. It is edible. Description and Life Cycle: Bright green, mat forming low grower with multiple branches from central crown. Stems 1½ to 3 feet long. Leaves oval and pointed at the tip, smooth and shiny, opposite in pairs on stem. White 1½
