Organic Problem Solver

  NOTE:  Before treating any insect identify it. In the insect world only 5% are damaging; the other 95% are either beneficial or benign. Since most damaging pests will be controlled by healthy numbers of naturally occurring beneficial insects before they become a problem for you, it is very important for you to do your part to protect their populations. If treatment is necessary, spray only the affected plants and use the least toxic products available. Remember that even the use of natural pesticides and chemical fertilizers will diminish the populations of beneficials.

Strive to protect your beneficials.  They will help keep your landscape insect-free and will add color and life to your environment.

It is important to learn to identify insects and to control damaging populations only when necessary and with the least toxic product available.  By doing so you will protect helpful beneficials such as ladybugs and all of the beautiful but fragile creatures such as butterflies that live in our gardens. 

Harmful Insects:

fireant Fireants
Products: Greenlight Fireant Control with Conserve, beneficial nematodes, DE, orange oil products
cutants Cut Ants
Products:  Beneficial nematodes, liquid Spinosad, wettable sulfur
aphid Aphids
NOTE: Aphids, in limited numbers, are essential in the garden because they attract valuable beneficial insects. Spraying pesticides kills more beneficials than pests, and therefore is not usually recommended.  It is preferrable to control aphids by washing them off with a strong stream of water and releasing additional beneficial insects such as ladybugs, praying mantis, and lacewings.  NOTE:Aphids may or may not have wings.  Products:  Neem Oil, Insecticidal Soap  
beetle Beetles, all types
Products: Liquid spinosad, garlic sprays (repellent), Neem Oil  NOTE:  Some beetles are beneficial so they should be identified before treatment.
borer Borers
Products:  Beneficial nematodes in soil around trunk of tree to control larvae, mulch heavily around tree, liquid Spinosad on trunk
caterpillars Caterpillars
NOTE:  Since caterpillars are the larval forms of butterflies they should be identified before treating.  Products:  Trichogramma wasps are the preferred control (wasps must be released when caterpillars are in the egg stage, Bt (use sparingly to prevent damage to butterfly populations), liquid Spinosad
chigger Chiggers
Products:  Liquid Spinosad, dusting sulfur
flea Fleas
Products:  Beneficial nematodes, DE
foresttent Forest tent caterpillars
Products:  Trichogramma wasps (begin releasing in early February), liquid Spinosad for clusters of caterpillars on the trucks of trees
grub Grubworms
Products:  Beneficial nematodes applied when June bugs are observed
mealybug Mealybug
Products:  Neem Oil, liquid Spinosad, release beneficial insects such as ladybugs, cryptolemus, and lacewings
nutcase Nutcase bearer (picture shows damage to pecans)
Products:  Trichogramma wasps (several releases from mid-March thru May)
PILLBUG Pill Bugs
Products:  Sluggo Plus, liquid Spinosad sprayed on the soil under foliage, DE
scale Soft Brown Scale
   NOTE:  There are many forms of scale insect.   Products: Neem Oil, release beneficial insects
SNAIL Slugs & Snails
  NOTE:  Identify snails before treating since decollate snails are beneficial and actually help control other snails.  Products:  Sluggo, DE, beer traps
SPIDERMITES Spidermites (picture shows damage)
Products:  Liquid seaweed (most effective when mixed with liquid molasses)--regular spraying prevents and/or controls spidermites
stink Stinkbugs
Products:  DE, garlic sprays (repellent)
THRIPS Thrips
Products:  Beneficial nematodes (applied January or February), Dr. T's and garlic sprays (repellents)
TICK Ticks
Products:  Beneficial nematodes (applied January or February), DE
WEBWORM Webworms
Products: Trichogramma wasps (release several times from May to August), Bt (To prevent damage to butterfly larvae do not spray on windy days) NOTE: Do not destroy the nests of paper wasps as these insects are effective natural controls for webworms.
whitefly Whitefly
Products:  Insecticidal Soap, garlic sprays (repellent)
 
     
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