Sometimes green and soft, sometimes black and crunchy; They fly, crawl, burrow, walk, and feed on our garden plants! Garden pests, such as insects and other animals, interfere with the growth of healthy garden plants and include insects and vermin, mollusks, birds, and mammals. They are not welcome guests!
Insects and creepy crawling creatures are definitely the most abundant pest. They cause damage by chewing, sucking, and piercing the plant. Often this type of pest gets its name from the plant it attacks. For example, the corn earworm or bollworm feeds on corn, while carrot weevil larvae feed on the outside of the carrot and then burrow into the top of the carrot. There are cabbage loggers, tomato hornworm, squash vine borers, and Colorado potato beetles, all named for the plant they attack. Of course, some of these pests are not named after the plant they attack. Among these are blister beetles, aphids, wireworms, and ants. Insects and bed bugs are among the most difficult pests to control. They can feed on foliage, ripe fruits and vegetables, and even roots.
Mollusks can be a pest in the garden. Two molluscs that attack plants are snails and slugs. They feed mainly on cabbage and lettuce plants.
Birds, our white feathered friends, can be helpful when they eat insects, but can often be a pest. Having to replant crops is a lot of work. Crows, starlings, blackbirds, and even farmer’s chickens can eat the seeds and seedlings shortly after planting. Ducks and geese can also damage plants when they trap through foraging, not to mention they’re pretty messy as they leave droppings everywhere.
Mammals can also be quite a nuisance. Small rodents like mice and rats can tunnel into the garden area. They can also chew the vegetables when they ripen. It is not very pleasant to find a large, ripe juice tomato with imprints of teeth or without a bite. Other small animal pests include rabbits, squirrels, groundhogs, chipmunks, and opossums. Cats and dogs can also be considered garden pests when they choose to walk, run, or roll around on your plants. Larger animals, such as deer and coyotes, are pests in some areas and will come into the garden to eat the fruits of the gardener’s labor.
The garden is a source of food, pride, and hard work that you surely don’t want to ruin by some unwanted and uninvited guests. Let the pests go!