Pest attacks are common in both indoor and outdoor plants. If you allow them to get out of hand, serious damage can result. Many insects feed on plants, although there is a great difference in the extent to which different plants are attacked by pests.
Always make sure when you get a new plant, you inspect it properly before placing it with your other plants. While some plants can easily be affected by pests from another infected plant some plant diseases can be transmitted by air.
Here are some of the most common pests and insects to look for:-
*Aphids (greenfly) – are small, sap-sucking insects and can multiply at an alarming rate if left unattended. They attack the young tips of all plants with soft tissues. Besides being green, they can also be black, grey or orange in colour. An attack of aphids will distort the growth and weaken the whole plant as they devour vast amounts of sap. Ladybirds can be used as a form of natural control to help deal with an infestation.
*Leaf-eaters – are grasshoppers, locusts, beetles and caterpillars. These leaf-eating insects eat leaves at an alarming rate. The type of damage done to the leaf often gives a clue as to the perpetrator.
*Leaf-miners – are tunnelling insects that get between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves of many plants, leaving a white trail behind.
While in some cases we can use natural controls, in most cases where there is a heavy infestation, insecticides can be used to effectively control these pests and insects along with good environmental conditions. When you purchase an insecticide make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations carefully.
Make sure all insecticides are securely locked away for safety.
(To be continued)
Until next week, happy gardening!
