Controlling Those Nasty Garden Pests

Mites more closely resemble spiders and ticks in that they have eight legs. Be on the lookout for these pests during warm, dry weather. Mites are extremely small and vary in color from light green to reddish brown or orange. Mites are often a major plant pest and cause damage by sucking plant sap from leaves and tender stems. One of the evidences of mite infestations is the minute webbing spun by many mite species on the undersides of leaves. This webbing collects dust, causing the plant to appear dusty. The webbing also serves as a protection to eggs of the mite. If you lightly rub the leaf between your thumb and forefinger it feels gritty.

To check plants for mites you will need some magnification or keen eyesight. Briskly shake plant foliage over a white piece of paper. Place the paper in full sun and watch it for about one minute. If suddenly what looks like small dust particles begin to crawl around, you have mites. Gardeners often report mite damage on beans, cucumbers, junipers and apples. On apples the leaves often look russet or burnt. Diaginon or Kelthane are generally recommended for chemical control. Follow label directions for application rates and specific waiting periods. More than one application may be required for adequate control.

Snails and slugs are increasingly becoming a problem in many gardens. Snails bear coil-like shells on their backs. Slugs, on the other hand, lack shells. These creatures have no legs but travel in a slimy secretion which dries behind them leaving a shiny trail. They feed on plant foliage at night and hide during the daytime in protected shady places such as garden debris, old boards and other objects. Thick ground covers often harbor these pests. There are various commercially prepared slug and snail baits on the market. Baits containing Mesurol or Zectran are recommended for ornamental gardens but should not be used around edible plants.

Baits containing Methaldehyde can be used in vegetable gardens. Carefully check product label for uses and restrictions. Stale beer has been used as an organic control. Place shallow pans of beer, buried to soil level to attract snails. Sow bugs, pill bugs or rolly pollies are land dwelling crustaceans. They survive in moist placed high in organic material. They feed mainly in decaying vegetation, but they often feed on tender roots and on ripening fruits and vegetables. Strawberries are a favorite. These greyish, soft-shelled, segmented animals have many legs. They curl up into a ball when disturbed. It is difficult to eliminate these pests. Contact sprays such as Diazinon help curb their numbers.

Our Southwestern life style has been conducive to the development of a high number of black widow spiders. Our cinder block walls and wood fences surrounding each yard and the use of rocks and old railroad ties in landscaping are excellent breeding grounds for black widow spiders. The female spider contains a dangerous venon that is described as being more potent than rattlesnake venon. The female is a glossy black color and has a characteristic orange hour-glass design on the underside of her abdomen. It is said that the female often kills and eats her mate after mating, hence the name "widow."

During the summer the female lays eggs enclosed in greyish silken egg balls attached to a very unevenly constructed web. Each ball contains hundreds of eggs, however, being cannibalistic, only a very few survive from each egg case. Outside gardeners can spray for black widows with Diazinon. Spray around wood and rock piles, along walls, in storage areas and around outbuildings. Inside, apply household preparations containing Baygon, Vapona, Diazinon and Ronnel.

Nasty Garden Pests, Garden Pests & Diseases by Sunset Books.