Something eating my veggies - Ask Extension
I am a month into my vegetable garden and have something feasting on the leaves. Attached are k pictures of beans and peppers. Please let me know what...
Knowledgebase
Something eating my veggies #873667
Asked June 18, 2024, 4:43 PM EDT
I am a month into my vegetable garden and have something feasting on the leaves. Attached are k pictures of beans and peppers. Please let me know what you think it is and how to control it. I usually try to be organic but lost a good deal of produce last year to pests so I may choose a non organic solution.
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Polly,
It might be earwigs? Especially if you're not seeing anything munching. They tend to feed at night.
What you can do is a couple things: 1) wet down and roll up some newspaper and put it in the garden overnight. The next morning, unroll the newspaper and see what you find. Earwigs are attracted to dark, moist areas. 2) use a small cup of oil (any type, any flavor) and bury it so just the lip is sticking up over the edge of the soil - the earwigs will find the oil and drown. This is like a beer trap for slugs.
Insecticides are generally not needed. Consider using some mulch around your plants - like lawn clippings - this may help deter some insect damage and also promote soil moisture and less weeds.
It might be earwigs? Especially if you're not seeing anything munching. They tend to feed at night.
What you can do is a couple things: 1) wet down and roll up some newspaper and put it in the garden overnight. The next morning, unroll the newspaper and see what you find. Earwigs are attracted to dark, moist areas. 2) use a small cup of oil (any type, any flavor) and bury it so just the lip is sticking up over the edge of the soil - the earwigs will find the oil and drown. This is like a beer trap for slugs.
Insecticides are generally not needed. Consider using some mulch around your plants - like lawn clippings - this may help deter some insect damage and also promote soil moisture and less weeds.
I didn’t find earwigs. It’s now affecting my roses and my huge raspberry patch, I’m afraid I will loose everything. I have attached more photos. The only insect I see are grasshoppers. Please help, I am frantic. Is there someone that could come out and look at things for a fee. I am willing to treat with a heavy duty insecticide if you think that would help. Thank you.
On 06/19/2024 7:29 AM MDT Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Hi Polly,
I believe there are a couple insects. The first is grasshoppers - and we're seeing them all over Larimer County. There is not much you can do at this point. Using insecticides isn't the best solution because grasshoppers are so mobile and they need to actually come in contact with the insects - as such, you could harm/kill beneficial pollinators because so much is flowering in the landscape.
For grasshoppers, cover/net desirable plants. This can include your raspberries and veggies. You can do row netting to prevent feeding. However, understanding there will be some damage is important - it's not practical to cover everything in the landscape.
The roses look like they were chewed by rose slugs/rose sawfly. These insects have come and gone, so control isn't warranted. You can prune off the most affected leaves. They are also chlorotic, so this is a sign of over or underwatering.
For all plants, clear the grass and weeds below them and add mulch - perhaps grass or leave mulch in the garden and wood mulch in the landscape.
I believe there are a couple insects. The first is grasshoppers - and we're seeing them all over Larimer County. There is not much you can do at this point. Using insecticides isn't the best solution because grasshoppers are so mobile and they need to actually come in contact with the insects - as such, you could harm/kill beneficial pollinators because so much is flowering in the landscape.
For grasshoppers, cover/net desirable plants. This can include your raspberries and veggies. You can do row netting to prevent feeding. However, understanding there will be some damage is important - it's not practical to cover everything in the landscape.
The roses look like they were chewed by rose slugs/rose sawfly. These insects have come and gone, so control isn't warranted. You can prune off the most affected leaves. They are also chlorotic, so this is a sign of over or underwatering.
For all plants, clear the grass and weeds below them and add mulch - perhaps grass or leave mulch in the garden and wood mulch in the landscape.
Thank you!
On 06/28/2024 7:35 AM MDT Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
