Pests
Ants
Various Formica, Lasius and Myrmica species
Ants rarely do any direct damage to plants, but their mining can kill roots, and their effects are secondary. But their anthills are a nuisance in lawns and borders.Symptoms
Ants crawling over structures and plants – either individually or in large numbers
Anthills – mainly in lawns
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Asparagus beetle
(Crioceris asparagi)
Asparagus beetle is the most serious pest of asparagus. Heavy attacks by this distinctive beetle weaken the plants and reduces crops in the following year.Symptoms
Black beetles with six yellowish blotches on plants
Greyish-black, six-legged larvae on plants
Foliage eaten away
Foliage dries up and turns brown
What is ...
Beetles
(Numerous species)
You’ll find numerous different beetles rummaging around in your garden. Some are serious plant pests, devouring plants, while some are harmless or even beneficial.Symptoms
Irregularly shaped holes in leaves, stems and flowers
Grubs (larvae) on leaves
Adult beetles on plants or on the ground
What are beetles?There are ...
Cabbage root fly
(Delia radicum)
Cabbage root fly maggots eat the roots of brassicas, and can kill seedlings and young plants. They cause more mature plants to wilt and even die.Symptoms
Young brassica plants wilt and die
More established plants make poor and stunted growth, then wilt and probably eventually die
Small, white maggots found feeding on the roots
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Capsid bugs
(several species, including Lygocoris pabulinus and Lygus rugulipennis)
Capsid bugs are common pests on a wide range of plants. They produce small holes in leaves, which enlarge to produce ragged growth, and flowers fail or abort.Symptoms
Small, brown-edged holes on young leaves, which enlarge as the leaves grow
Misshapen, distorted and ...
Carrot fly
(Psila rosae)
Carrot fly is the most serious problem of carrots and some other crops. The maggots tunnel through the roots, making much of the roots inedible.Symptoms
External scars ring the roots
Brown tunnels, turning black, in the roots
Small, creamy maggots found feeding in the roots
Foliage turns a bronzy colour
Young plants may wilt
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Cats
(Felis catus)
Although regarded by their owners as cute and cuddly, garden owners see cats as a total nuisance. They dig up young plants and seedlings when doing their “business”.Symptoms
Squashed young plants and seedlings
Dug over and disturbed soil – especially dry soil and seedbeds
Scent-marked plants
What are cats?Cats ...
Caterpillars
(numerous butterfly and moth species)
The caterpillars of numerous species of butterflies and moths attack and eat the leaves and stems of a wide range of garden plants, often causing extensive damage.Symptoms
Caterpillars on leaves, stems and flowers – sometimes individually, sometimes in large numbers
Large areas of leaves eaten away ...
Deer
(Muntiacus reevesi, Capreolus capreolus and others)
Deer, even the smaller muntjac, are large animals that cause severe damage in the garden. They strip plants bare of leaves, stems and flowers, and can strip tree bark.Symptoms
Trampled plants
Leaves, stems and flowers stripped from plants, often overnight Stems ripped off plants
Stems ...
Foxes
(Vulpes vulpes)
Foxes are common visitors to both rural and urban gardens, where they can become a nuisance. They trample on plants and dig holes in the ground in search of food.Symptoms
Trampled plants
Holes dug in borders and in the lawn
Plastic items chewed through
What are foxes?The European red fox is now a common visitor to both rural ...
Fuchsia gall mite
(Aculops fuchsiae)
Fuchsia gall mite is a serious pest of fuchsias. It is a microscopic, sap-sucking mite that causes extensive distortion and galling on fuchsia shoots, leaves and flowers.Symptoms
Shoot tips swollen and distorted, often with a reddish or yellowy-green discolouration
Flowers deformed or fail to develop
What is fuchsia gall ...
Greenfly, blackfly and aphids
(Numerous species)
Aphids are small, sap-sucking insects that attack a wide range of plants and can cause stunted, curled, twisted, distorted and discoloured growth.Symptoms
Small, soft-bodied insects on leaves, stems and flowers
Winged insects on plants and flying around
White cast, shed skins
Sticky substance (honeydew) on all above ground ...
Grey squirrels
(Sciurus carolinensis)
Grey squirrels are fascinating mammals, often delighting us with their quirky antics. However, they can cause severe disruption and damage in the garden.Symptoms
Dug up, damaged and eaten bulbs and corms
Scratched, dug up lawns, young plants and seedlings
Eaten flower buds, seeds, vegetables and ripening fruit and nuts
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Hemerocallis gall midge
(Contarinia quinquenotata)
Hemerocallis gall midge is one of the few pests that attack hemerocallis (daylilies). It causes large, swollen flower buds that fail to open – meaning no flowers.Symptoms
Affected flower buds are swollen – shorter and fatter than normal
Affected flower buds fail to open – either rotting or drying up
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Leatherjackets and chafer grubs
(Several species of Tipula, Phyllopertha horticola and Hoplia philanthus)
Leatherjackets and chafer grubs eat the roots of plants, mainly lawn grasses, causing them to die. These large grubs can be found feeding in the soil.Symptoms
Yellow or brown patches of grass – mainly between autumn and spring
Large dark or creamy-white grubs in the ...
Lily beetle
(Lilioceris lilii) Lily beetle is a serious pest of lilies and fritillaries. Both the brightly coloured adult beetles and the ugly larvae (grubs) eat, leaves, stems and flower buds.Symptoms
Bright red beetles on leaves, stems and flowers
Dirty grubs (larvae) on leaves, stems and flowers
Groups of orange or red eggs on the underside of leaves
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Mealybug
(Several Planococcus and Pseudococcus and other species) Mealybugs are small, sap-sucking insects that attack and damage plants. They cover themselves in a white, mealy, fluffy, wax coating – hence the name.Symptoms
Small, soft-bodied insects on leaves, stems and fruit, hidden under a white, waxy, woolly-looking covering
Sticky substance ...
Moles
(Talpa europaea) Moles are cute, furry mammals – until they set up home in your garden! Here they can seriously ruin your lawn, thanks to their tunnelling activities and molehills.Symptoms
Large piles of soil – molehills – appear throughout the garden, but especially on lawns
You may see evidence of the underground tunnels ...
Plum moth – pink plum maggot
(Grapholita funebrana) Pink plum maggots – actually the caterpillar larvae of the plum moth – live in and eat the fruit of plums and related damsons and gages, causing “maggoty fruit”.Symptoms
When affected fruit is cut open, you can see the feeding damage, together with the caterpillar’s excrement, commonly referred ...
Rabbits
(Oryctolagus cuniculus) Rabbits feed on a wide range of plants in the garden. They may just nibble away at the top of the growth – or cause considerably more damage, killing small plants.Symptoms
Leaves, stems and flowers stripped from plants, often overnight
Scratched and dug up lawns, young plants and seedlings
Eaten flower buds, ...
Red spider mite
(Tetranychus urticae) Red spider mites are miniscule sap suckers, which attack and damage a wide range of plants, mainly indoors. They are very difficult to see with the naked eye.Symptoms
Miniscule, orange, red, yellow, green or brown mites, which are difficult to see, on leaves, stems and fruit
Silky webbing on and around affected plant parts
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Rosemary beetle
(Chrysolina americana) Rosemary beetle is a reasonably recent pest in the UK. It attacks the leaves and flowers of rosemary, and lavender, sage and thyme, causing extensive damage.Symptoms
Metallic purple and green adult beetles on plants
Striped greyish-white grubs (larvae) on plants
Plants stripped of leaves
Greyish-brown discolouration of ...
Sawflies
(Several different species) The caterpillar-like larvae of several sawfly species eat the leaves of several garden plants, often completely defoliating the plant – almost overnight. Symptoms
Caterpillar-like larvae on leaves – sometimes in large numbers
Large areas of leaves eaten away, often total defoliation
Dark droppings on ...
Slugs and snails
(Numerous species) Slugs and snails are probably the most recognised and most destructive pests of garden plants. They will eat and damage just about any plant they come across.Symptoms
Slugs: slimy, soft-bodied animals on the ground, walls and fences and on leaves, stems and flowers
Snails: soft-bodied animals that retract within their ...
Scale insects
(Several species) Scale insects are sap-sucking insects that look like limpets or barnacles on the stems and leaves. They attack and feed on a wide range of plants.Symptoms
Scale-like “limpets” on stems and on the leaves, mainly the underside
Poor growth
Fluffy, cotton-wool-like substance
Sticky substance (honeydew) on all above ...
Viburnum beetle
(Pyrrhalta viburni) Viburnum beetle is a serious pest of several species of viburnum. The larvae attack the leaves, causing severe defoliation of plants. Adult beetles also eat the leaves.Symptoms
Holes in the leaves, giving the appearance of lace doilies
Brown, dried-up edges to the holes and the leaves
Creamy-yellow grubs (larvae) with black ...
Vine Weevil
(Otiorhynchus sulcatus) Vine weevils are beetles that attack a wide range of plants. The adults eat the leaves, but the more devastating grubs, or larvae, eat the roots and kill plants.Symptoms
Dark brown or black beetles with yellow markings found on leaves and flowers
Creamy-white, C-shaped, legless grubs with brown heads in soil or compost
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Wasps
(Various Dolichovespula, Vespa and Vespula species) Wasps rarely do any direct damage to plants, but they can damage ripening fruit. But they have an annoying habit of flying around you, especially when you’re eating.Symptoms
Wasps flying in the air or crawling over structures and plants
Wasp nests are usually in places where you can see a ...
Whitefly
(Aleurotuba jelinekii, Aleyrodes proletella, Trialeurodes vaporariorum) Whitefly, as their name suggests, are small white flies that attack a wide range of plants. These sap-sucking insects can build up in large numbers and weaken plants.Symptoms
Small, white flies on leaves (mainly the lower surface) and stems
Clouds of them erupt when you touch ...
Woolly Aphid
(Eriosoma lanigerum) Like other aphids, woolly aphids are small, sap-sucking insects that attack and damage plants. They cover themselves in a “woolly” covering for protection.Symptoms
Small, soft-bodied insects on stems and leaves, hidden under a white, waxy, woolly-looking covering
Lumpy, often irregular, swellings on the bark
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Protect your plants
Gardening is a rewarding and relaxing hobby, but it comes with its own set of challenges. One of the most common and frustrating obstacles gardeners face are pests; particularly slugs, snails, and other unwanted visitors. Fortunately, there are many natural and effective ways to keep your garden free from pests and keep it flourishing.
Here are ...