Earwig Earwigs are reddish brown with short leathery forewings and a pair of pincers or forceps at the end of the abdomen. Earwigs are about ¾ inch long. They are mostly nocturnal. Earwigs eat seedlings and the tender tips of plants, but they also eat decaying matter and pest insects including aphids and mites. In
Spider mites on web Spider mites are nearly microscopic creatures about 1/50 inch long. They are reddish brown or pale in color with eight legs, much like a spider. The spider mite is not an insect; it is an arachnid, the class of invertebrate animals that includes spiders. Mites are the smallest creatures that you
Adult squash bug Adult squash bugs are flat-backed, shield-shaped, brownish-black insects with a triangle shape on the back. Young squash bugs are greenish grey with reddish legs. Squash bugs are ½ to ¾ inches long. Adult and young squash bugs suck the juices from leaves causing leaves to wilt, dry up, and turn brown. Squash
Adult Colorado beetles Adult Colorado potato beetles are oval with hard convex yellowish-white wing covers marked with lengthwise black stripes. Adults are about ⅓ inch long. Larvae are humpbacked grubs reddish to salmon-colored with black heads and two rows of black spots along both sides of the body. Adults and grubs chew on the leaves
Imported cabbageworms The adult imported cabbageworm is a white day-flying butterfly with one to four black spots on its wings and a wingspan of 1½ to 2 inches. The cabbageworm larvae are 1¼ inch velvety, light-green caterpillars with a fine yellow stripe down the back. Imported cabbageworm larvae chew ragged holes in the foliage of
Leafminer tunnel Adult leafminers are black bristled gray or black flies usually with yellow stripes about 1/10-inch long. Larvae leafminers are stubby, green translucent maggots about 1/8- inch long. Leafminer maggots feed between the upper and lower surfaces of leaves creating tunnels or mines that appear irregular and white or brown on the surface. Leafminer
Mexican bean beetles Adult Mexican bean beetles are oval yellowish-brown to copper-colored beetles with 16 black spots on their wing covers. They are ¼-inch long and look something like a lady bug. Bean beetle larvae are fat yellowish or orange humpbacked grubs with long branching spines 5/16-inch long. Mexican bean beetle larvae and adults feed
Spotted asparagus beetle The common asparagus beetle adult is a shiny, elongated blue-black beetle with a reddish-brown thorax and four cream-colored spots surrounded by a red border on the wing covers. The adult asparagus beetle is ¼-inch long. The larva is a greenish-gray, wrinkled, humpbacked grub with a dark head about ⅓-inch long. Common asparagus
Leafhopper Leafhoppers are wedge-shaped, slender, greenish, yellow, or brown translucent winged insects 1/10 to ½ inch long. Nymph leafhoppers are pale green wingless insects but otherwise look like adult leafoppers. Leafhoppers have piercing mouthparts and suck the sap from many leafy crops such as lettuce and endive but they also attack potatoes and tomatoes. Leafhoppers
Sowbug Sowbugs are hard shelled land-dwelling crustaceans. They are not insects. Adult sowbugs are slate gray or brown ¼ to 5/8 inch long with jointed armor segments and seven pairs of tiny legs. A sowbug resembles an tiny armadillo. Sowbugs eat decaying plant and other organic material in the garden including decaying vegetables and fruits.
