By Rincon-Vitova Insectary Thrips Thrips cause damage that is similar to spider mites; they tend to scrape the leaf surface to extract the chlorophyll. Thrips are tiny pests, capable of limited flight. Thrips damage plants by feeding on leaf and flower tissue, leaving a silvery appearance. They also lay eggs in leaves and flower […]
Russet Mites (Aculops cannabicola) By Rincon Vitova Insectary Hemp russet mites are hard to control if they get started in the garden. Extremely high populations of mites may build in late summer which damage maturing buds/flowers and reduce yield and quality. They feed on foliage, including petioles, meristems and leaves. Russet mites feed on stigmas […]
by Rincon-Vitova Insectary Broad Mites (Polyphagotarsonemus latus) This destructive pest lives on a wide host range. Broad mites secrete and inject a toxic growth regulator into plants as they feed. The toxin causes twisted, hardened and distorted growth and terminal leaves and flower buds become malformed. The reason broad mites are such a problem is […]
by Rincon-Vitova Instectary Root Aphids (Pemphigus populivenae) Root aphids feed on the root system, sucking so much sap that the plants do not receive proper sustenance. Leaves turn yellow and little new growth occurs. They can move from plant to plant via the drainage holes in pots, or through irrigation water that drains from one […]
by Rincon-Vitova Insectary Aphids Aphids suck plant sap, which causes distortion of leaves and shoots and reduces plant vigor. As aphids feed, they produce sticky honeydew, which attracts sooty molds, and reduces photosynthetic capacity. Some species also transmit plant viruses. Identification Aphids are soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects, 1/16-1/8 inch long. Most are wingless, but some have […]
by Rincon-Vitova Insectary Whiteflies are not flies but are related to honeydew producing pests like aphids, scales, mealybugs. They have piercing, needlelike mouthparts to suck sap from plants. Large populations can cause plant distortion, discoloration, yellow or silvering of leaves, leaves to fall off plants, and serious crop losses. Some whiteflies transmit viruses […]
by Rincon-Vitova Insectary Ants There are more than 12,400 species of ants throughout the world. In California, there are about 270 species, but fewer than a dozen are important pests. Ants interfere with biological control. Honeydew-secreting pests, like aphids, supply sweet food to the ants. In turn, ants protect the pests from beneficial insects that […]
by Rincon-Vitova Insectary Earwigs Easily recognizable pests in the garden and active at night, earwigs hide in tight, dark, moist places during the day. True omnivores, they actually are important predators of aphids, insect eggs, but will eat almost all parts of flowering plants, especially soft tissue, like newly forming buds in cannabis. Identification The […]
by Rincon-Vitova Insectary Leafhoppers Leafhoppers feed on leaves and stems with piercing sucking mouthparts that extract a bit of fluid from the plant. Most have insignificant effects. A few species cause small, light flecking/stippling injury may occur at the feeding site. Black sooty mold is a secondary outbreak from their honeydew. Although some leafhoppers transmit […]
by Rincon-Vitova Insectary Grasshoppers Most grasshoppers are general feeders, but they prefer young green plants and some annual flowers. Chewing mouthparts make large, round, smooth holes in leaves. Heavy infestations can strip plants to stalks. During major outbreaks they feed on almost any green plant, and damage may occur over a considerably longer period. Identification […]