Fall webworms are caterpillars that form colonies inside of spiderweb-like sacks. These sacks can be feet across and are generally found on the ends of branches. The caterpillars appear on trees in the fall and defoliate the branches inside of…
Have your petunias, geraniums or million bells stopped blooming? Inspect the buds. If there are holes, budworms are the likely cause. Budworms are small caterpillars that are generally green but can be red or brown depending on the color of…
Aphids are small, soft insects with sucking mouthparts. They come in a variety of colors and can attack a wide variety of plants as well. They are generally found under leaves and on tender new stems, often in colonies. The…
Spider mites are very small so they can't be seen with the naked eye but they can cause a lot of damage. The first sign of their presence is pale, dirty looking patches of foliage. The simplest way to confirm…
Bagworms are one of the most damaging pests to evergreens in Kansas. Bagworms are easily recognized by the bags they sew together from needles or leaves off of their host plant. In large numbers, they can defoliate and kill juniper,…
Euonymus scale is one of the most damaging scales in our area. It can cause defoliation and even death of many varieties of Euonymus. These scales can also affect a groundcover called Pachysandra. Euonymus scales are a small (1/8th inch)…
In bird, butterfly, and organic vegetable gardens, chemicals are often not an option if a pest problem arises. One solution is to attract or buy beneficial or predatory insects. These insects can naturally reduce pest populations. The most common example…
While ants are a natural part of the environment and can even help loosen soils and make them more fertile, often they are huge pests that can get into our houses or move aphids around on our garden plants. Ants…
Whiteflies are tiny insects that feed on the undersides of the leaves of many plants including houseplants, tropicals, and even vegetables. Hibiscus are especially prone to whitefly. Whiteflies are a sucking insect that can damage the leaves by removing too…
Mosquitos are not just pests but can be quite dangerous since some species vector diseases such as West Nile Virus. While most are only nuisances, control is often desired so our landscapes and gardens can be fully enjoyed in the…