
Many bird species will eat the moths and larvae, helping to control the infestations. Adult moths will migrate to warm climates in the winter and return to Northern areas in the spring to lay their eggs once again. They will feed on a variety of grasses and vegetable crops, damaging both the fruits and the leaves of the plant.

GENERAL INFO: Armyworms are the destructive larvae of gray moths. Biological insecticides approved for organic gardening like bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki (Bt-k) and spinosad also work well to eliminate these insects. Organic gardening insecticides like insecticidal soap and neem oil will kill armyworms.
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HOW TO TREAT: Natural predators include birds, lady beetles, parasitic wasps, minute pirate bugs, lacewings and beneficial nematodes. They can also eat through corn kernels, and damage grass in lawns.

As they feed, aphids secrete a sticky substance called honeydew that will attract ants and promote the growth of a black sooty mold on the plant.įOUND: Armyworms feed of the foliage and fruit of many plants and grasses including corn, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, barley, peppers and beans.ĮFFECTS ON CROPS: Armyworms eat through the leaves of many plants causing them to look skeletonized. If populations are high, some can grow wings in order to move to other plants. They can be green, red, black, brown or yellow in color. Aphids are small, pear-shaped, wingless insects that feed in colonies on the new growth of virtually any plant they come across. GENERAL INFO: There are over 4,000 aphid species found throughout the world.

Organic gardening insecticides like insecticidal soap and neem oil will kill aphids. HOW TO TREAT: Natural predators include lady beetles, parasitic wasps, crab spiders, and lacewings. Aphids secrete honeydew as they feed, which attracts ants and causes a black sooty mold to grow on the leaves. They feed on juices from the plant's stems and leaves.ĮFFECTS ON CROPS: Large numbers of aphids can cause leaves to curl and plant growth to become stunted. FOUND: Aphids are found on many plants including fruits, vegetables, trees and shrubs.
