4 Garden Bugs That Are Bad for Your Plants
Many people don’t like bugs for a good reason. They’re creepy crawlies that want to bite us, eat our food, and destroy our plants. They’re not all bad or dangerous to our garden though. Many insects and bugs are integral to the environment and the health of our landscapes.
But not all of them.
There are many that are exactly how we see them. Many are considered invasive species, which means they are not native to the environment and are actively dangerous to the plants in it. If you see an invasive species, you are encouraged to get rid of it. Not all garden bugs that will hurt your garden are invasive, but many are.
If you don’t know what kind of garden bugs you should look out for, Pioneer Landscaping Centers can help.
Bad Garden Bugs to Look Out For
Garden bugs get their name because they are attracted either to the soil we use in gardens or the plants we grow in them. If they like the soil, you need to be careful and try to get rid of them if you spot them when planting the seeds in your garden and up until you’re done with your garden project. For garden bugs that are attracted to the plants, you typically don’t have to worry about them until the plant is in full bloom or you can see its produce.
Grubworms
One of the most common garden pests, grubworms are these small slugs-like bugs that grow into beetles. Beetles will lay their eggs in your soil, where the dirt is compact and typically warmer than most other spots on the ground. When they hatch, they’re in a larvae state that most people are familiar with.
These garden bugs will be in their egg state through the winter, which gives you the chance to catch them. To get rid of them, you don’t want to pick them up one by one. That would be nearly impossible. There are many different types of beetles and grubworms, which can lay any number of eggs. This can be anywhere from 40 to 200 eggs. Instead of trying to remove them one by one, rake your garden periodically, bring the eggs to the surface, and let the birds feast on them.
If you leave them, they will hatch into their larvae state and eat your plants.
Mosquitoes
There are many different types of mosquitoes, several of which are invasive species. They like to hang around your garden and eat the helpful bugs that live there. While you don’t want a surplus of helpful bugs, mosquitoes are not the way to control them. Even worse, mosquitoes are known to bite people, and who wants to be bitten when they’re gardening?
Sadly, it’s impossible to get rid of mosquitoes entirely, but you can protect yourself with bug spray and deter mosquitoes from nesting near your garden. The best and most fun way to do that is to plant flowers and herbs that mosquitoes hate, such as Basil, Rosemary, Peppermint, Marigolds, and Lemongrass. You can also use these plants once they’re done growing for other purposes.
It might be a good idea to plant just a few along with what other flowers, fruits, and/or vegetables you’re growing.
Squash Vine Borers
Don’t mistake this dangerous garden bug for a wasp, which is a bug you want hanging around your garden. These bugs have orange bodies with black spots and gray wings. Much like beetles and grubworms, they lay eggs in your garden and will eat your plants when they hatch.
They don’t lay as many eggs as beetles, but they’re far more destructive to your plants. They will burrow into them and eat them from the inside out. Your plants likely won’t survive long enough to even bloom.
So when you discover their eggs, use the water hose to get rid of them.
Tomato Hornworms
These dangerous garden bugs are likely the least damaging to your plants of the three we’ve named already. These famous green bugs will stick to the leaves of your plant and eat them. They don’t kill many plants, but if enough of the leaves are eaten, the plant's ability to photosynthesize is significantly and permanently hampered.
Check the leaves of your plants before they eat too much. You need to check and remove them by hand. They are green, which means they can blend in with the leaves they’re eating at a glance.
Protect Your Gardens from Dangerous Garden Bugs with the Help of Pioneer Landscaping Centers
If you’re worried about creepy crawlies getting into your garden, there are several products you can use to protect your plants. You can protect your plants before you even plant any seeds with the right soil, for example.
If you’re unsure of how to proceed and treat your plants, talk to our experts. We’re here to help you with your landscaping needs and have vast experience in doing so. Contact your local Pioneer Landscaping Centers today.