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Plant Pests

Leafhoppers: Tiny Pests with a Big Impact on Your Garden

by Gregory October 5, 2025

written by Gregory 3 minutes read

Leafhoppers: Tiny Pests with a Big Impact

Leafhoppers are tiny insects that can cause significant damage to plants in your garden or lawn. They have an insatiable appetite for plant sap, and their feeding can lead to a variety of problems, including stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and even death.

Identifying Leafhoppers

Leafhoppers are typically 3 to 15 mm in size and have wings that are positioned like a roof over their backs. They also have small spines on both hind legs. Leafhoppers can be green, brownish, or yellow in color, and they are often found on the underside of leaves.

Common Host Plants

Leafhoppers feed on a wide variety of plants, including maple, apple, cottonwood, dogwood, oak, poplar, willow, and ornamental plants. They are particularly fond of young, succulent leaves.

Damage Caused by Leafhoppers

Leafhoppers damage plants by sucking the sap from their leaves. This can cause the leaves to turn white or stippled, and it can also lead to stunted growth. In severe cases, leafhoppers can even kill plants.

Bacterial Transport

Some leafhoppers can also carry bacteria from plant to plant. This can lead to a variety of diseases, including leaf scorch, which can cause the leaves to turn brown and die.

Controlling Leafhoppers

There are a number of ways to control leafhoppers in your garden or lawn. These include:

Removing damaged plants: If you see any plants that are showing signs of leafhopper damage, remove them from your garden immediately to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Insecticidal soaps: Insecticidal soaps can be used to kill leafhoppers on contact. They are most effective when the leafhoppers are young.
Systemic sprays: Systemic sprays are absorbed by the plant and then distributed throughout its tissues. This makes them effective against leafhoppers that are hiding on the underside of leaves.
Chemical treatments: Chemical treatments can also be used to control leafhoppers. However, it is important to use these products carefully, as they can be harmful to beneficial insects.

Monitoring and Prevention

The best way to control leafhoppers is to monitor your plants regularly for signs of damage. If you see any leafhoppers, take steps to remove them immediately. You can also help to prevent leafhopper infestations by:

Avoiding over-fertilizing your plants: Over-fertilizing can make your plants more attractive to leafhoppers.
Keeping your garden clean: Remove any dead leaves or other debris from your garden, as this can provide a hiding place for leafhoppers.
Using companion planting: Planting certain plants together can help to deter leafhoppers. For example, planting garlic or onions near your tomatoes can help to keep leafhoppers away.

By following these tips, you can help to protect your plants from leafhoppers and keep your garden looking its best.

Plant Protection

Two-Spotted Spider Mites: A Comprehensive Guide to Identification, Damage, and Control

by Gregory September 5, 2024

written by Gregory 4 minutes read

Two-Spotted Spider Mites: A Comprehensive Guide for Plant Protection

Introduction

Two-spotted spider mites are tiny pests that can cause significant damage to plants. They are common in gardens and can infest a wide variety of plant species, including deciduous trees, evergreen trees, garden ornamentals, and even vegetables.

What are Two-Spotted Spider Mites?

Two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) are mites that are so small that they are barely visible to the naked eye. They have two dark spots on their backs, which is how they got their name.

Spider mites live on the underside of plant leaves, where they feed on the plant’s sap. This can cause the leaves to turn yellow or mottled, and can eventually lead to the plant’s death.

Two-Spotted Spider Mite Life Cycle

Two-spotted spider mites have a complex life cycle that involves several stages.

Egg: The female spider mite lays eggs on the underside of plant leaves. The eggs hatch in about a week.
Larva: The larvae are tiny and have six legs. They feed on the plant’s sap for about a week before molting.
Nymph: The nymph is larger than the larva and has eight legs. It feeds on the plant’s sap for about two weeks before molting.
Adult: The adult spider mite is fully mature and can lay eggs. It continues to feed on the plant’s sap until it dies.

Two-Spotted Spider Mite Damage

Two-spotted spider mites can cause a variety of damage to plants, including:

Yellowing or mottled leaves
Leaf drop
Stunted growth
Reduced yields

In severe cases, two-spotted spider mites can kill plants.

How to Identify Two-Spotted Spider Mites

Two-spotted spider mites are difficult to see because they are so small. However, there are a few signs that can help you identify them:

Stippled leaves: Two-spotted spider mites feed on the plant’s sap, which causes the leaves to develop a stippled appearance.
Fine, silken threads: Two-spotted spider mites produce fine, silken threads that can be seen on the surface of leaves.
Tiny, moving spots: If you hold a piece of white paper under a stippled leaf and tap it, you may see tiny, moving spots. These are the spider mites.

How to Control Two-Spotted Spider Mites

There are a number of ways to control two-spotted spider mites, including:

Biological control: Natural predators, such as ladybugs and lacewings, can help to control spider mite populations.
Cultural control: Good garden hygiene, such as removing fallen leaves and weeds, can help to reduce spider mite infestations.
Chemical control: Miticide is a type of pesticide that is specifically designed to kill spider mites.

How to Apply Miticide

If you decide to use miticide to control spider mites, be sure to follow the instructions on the product label carefully.

Apply the miticide to the underside of leaves, where the spider mites live.
Apply the miticide every seven days or so, until the spider mite infestation is under control.
Switch to a different type of miticide after three applications, to prevent the spider mites from developing resistance.

Conclusion

Two-spotted spider mites are a common pest that can cause significant damage to plants. By following the tips in this article, you can help to protect your plants from these pests.

Plant Care

Soft Scale: A Common Plant Pest and How to Get Rid of It

by Donna April 22, 2024

written by Donna 4 minutes read

Soft Scale: A Common Plant Pest

Soft scale insects are tiny, sap-sucking insects that can infest a wide variety of plants. They are named for their soft, scale-like bodies, which are covered in a protective waxy coating. Soft scale insects can be a serious problem for plants, as they can cause leaves to yellow and drop, and can even kill the plant if left untreated.

Symptoms of Soft Scale Infestation

The most common symptom of a soft scale infestation is the presence of small, brown or white bumps on the leaves, stems, or branches of plants. These bumps are the scale insects themselves. Other symptoms of a soft scale infestation include:

Yellowing leaves
Dropping leaves
Sticky leaves
Black mold on leaves (sooty mold)
Ants crawling on plants

How to Get Rid of Soft Scale

There are a number of different ways to get rid of soft scale insects. One common method is to use a horticultural oil spray. Horticultural oils are made from natural oils, such as neem oil, and they work by suffocating the scale insects. Another method is to use a systemic insecticide. Systemic insecticides are absorbed by the plant and then circulate throughout the plant’s tissues, killing the scale insects.

How to Prevent Soft Scale Infestation

There are a number of things you can do to prevent soft scale infestations on your plants. These include:

Inspecting plants regularly for signs of scale insects
Removing any infested leaves or stems
Keeping plants healthy and well-watered
Avoiding over-fertilizing plants
Using insecticidal soap or neem oil as a preventative measure

Life Cycle of Soft Scale Insects

Soft scale insects have a complex life cycle that involves several different stages. The first stage is the egg stage. Eggs are laid by adult female scale insects on the leaves or stems of plants. The eggs hatch into nymphs, which are small, crawler-like insects. Nymphs feed on the sap of plants and grow into adult scale insects. Adult female scale insects lay eggs, and the cycle repeats.

Natural Predators of Soft Scale Insects

There are a number of natural predators that feed on soft scale insects. These predators include ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps. Encouraging these predators to live in your garden can help to control soft scale infestations.

How to Use Neem Oil to Control Soft Scale

Neem oil is a natural oil that is effective in controlling soft scale insects. Neem oil works by suffocating the scale insects and by disrupting their hormones. To use neem oil to control soft scale, mix 1 ounce of neem oil with 1 gallon of water. Spray the mixture on the leaves and stems of infested plants. Be sure to spray the undersides of the leaves, as this is where scale insects are most likely to be found.

How to Use Horticultural Oil to Control Soft Scale

Horticultural oils are also effective in controlling soft scale insects. Horticultural oils work by suffocating the scale insects. To use horticultural oil to control soft scale, mix 1 ounce of horticultural oil with 1 gallon of water. Spray the mixture on the leaves and stems of infested plants. Be sure to spray the undersides of the leaves, as this is where scale insects are most likely to be found.

Additional Tips for Controlling Soft Scale

In addition to the methods described above, there are a number of other things you can do to control soft scale on your plants. These include:

Using a strong stream of water to knock the scale insects off of plants.
Pruning infested branches and stems.
Applying a dormant oil spray to plants in the fall or winter.
Using insecticidal soap or neem oil as a preventative measure.

By following these tips, you can help to prevent and control soft scale infestations on your plants.

Vegetable Gardening

Wheat Curl Mites: A Comprehensive Guide for Young Gardeners

by Gregory December 6, 2022

written by Gregory 4 minutes read

Wheat Curl Mites: A Guide for Young Gardeners

Wheat curl mites are tiny creatures that can cause big problems for your onion and garlic plants. They’re so small that you can’t even see them with your naked eye, but they can do a lot of damage.

What are Wheat Curl Mites?

Wheat curl mites are plant-feeding mites that love to eat wheat, onions, and garlic. They have two pairs of legs near their head and a cigar-shaped body.

How to Identify Wheat Curl Mite Damage

The most common sign of wheat curl mite damage is twisted, yellow streaked leaves. The mites can also cause onions and garlic to desiccate, or dry out.

What are the Different Types of Wheat Curl Mites?

There are several different types of wheat curl mites, but the most common one is Aceria tulipae. This type of mite is found all over the world and can cause serious damage to wheat, onion, and garlic crops.

How Do Wheat Curl Mites Reproduce?

Wheat curl mites reproduce by laying eggs. The eggs are laid in rows along leaf veins. Under optimal conditions, a new generation of mites can be produced in just 10 days.

How Long Do Wheat Curl Mites Live?

Wheat curl mites can live for several days at temperatures below 0 degrees F. (-17 C.) and for several months at near freezing temperatures. This means that they can be present in your garden for an extended period of time.

How to Prevent Wheat Curl Mites

There are a few things you can do to prevent wheat curl mites from infesting your garden:

Choose resistant varieties of wheat, onion, and garlic.
Plant your crops at the right time of year. Wheat curl mites are most active in the spring and summer.
Keep your garden clean of weeds. Weeds can provide a hiding place for wheat curl mites.
Inspect your plants regularly for signs of infestation. If you see any twisted, yellow streaked leaves, take action immediately.

How to Treat Wheat Curl Mites

There are a few different ways to treat wheat curl mites:

Hot water treatment: This is the most effective way to control wheat curl mites. Soak your onion or garlic bulbs in hot water (130-140 degrees F.) for 10-15 minutes.
Bleach solution: You can also use a bleach solution to kill wheat curl mites. Mix 1 part bleach with 9 parts water and soak your bulbs for 10 minutes.
Neem oil: Neem oil is a natural pesticide that can be used to control wheat curl mites. Apply neem oil to your plants according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

How to Get Rid of Wheat Curl Mites on Onions and Garlic

If you have a wheat curl mite infestation on your onions or garlic, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them:

Remove and destroy infested plants. This is the best way to prevent the mites from spreading to other plants.
Treat your remaining plants with a miticide. There are a number of different miticides available at your local garden center.
Keep your garden clean of weeds. Weeds can provide a hiding place for wheat curl mites.

Additional Tips

Don’t plant successive onion or garlic crops. This will help to prevent the mites from reproducing and spreading.
Use clean seed. Wheat curl mites can be transmitted through infected seed.
Inspect your plants regularly. Early detection is key to controlling wheat curl mites.