How to Recognize Plant Pests : Symptoms and Factors to Note to Recognize Plant Diseases Caused by Pests.
Having a beautiful and well-kept garden is not easy; nor is taking care of plants at home. Often our plants are attacked by parasites that can compromise their health.
How to recognize plant parasites
Plant parasites are dangerous and knowing how to recognize them is essential to be able to act. Not all parasites are the same and not all act in the same way. However, the plant is able to send out alarm signals to recognize parasites.
Symptoms of a Parasitic Attack
First of all, you need to look at the leaves: if they are covered with a white powder (white disease), brownish (rust) or blackish, something is wrong. The same thing happens if you notice that the plant is weakening, losing its splendor and then you even see the leaves falling.
Plant Pests
But what are the most common parasites and what damage do they cause to plants? Our list opens with:
Aphids
Aphids, insects known as plant lice that infest almost all ornamental plants, both indoor and outdoor. They feed on the sap of plants and produce a particular saliva that causes physiological alterations.
Cochineal
Cochineal, these are very small insects that attack plants and that develop particularly in hot and dry climate conditions. Responsible for slowing down the development of the plant, the cochineal creates damage to the structure to the point of causing, in extreme cases, even death. The greatest damage is caused by the females that with their stylets pierce the tissues of the plants feeding on the plant juices. This causes spots, discolorations, and deformations of the plant;
White fly
Whitefly, plants affected by whitefly tend to show yellow and dark spots. When the fly hits a plant, it tends to produce honeydew, a whitish gelatinous substance, which is deposited on the leaves: this substance attracts many other insects as well as fungi that can further attack the plant, which accelerates its deterioration process;
Bedbugs
Stink bugs, these parasites cause various damages, not only to the leaves but also to the fruits.
They infest and attack herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees and are among the major enemies of the hazelnut, causing such an alteration in the shape and flavour of the fruit that it is even impossible to market it.
Mites
Mites are not insects, but arachnids, close cousins of spiders. With their mouthparts they sting and empty the tissue cells of their contents to suck their nourishment, causing the appearance of stains, discolorations and bronzes on over a hundred garden plants.
Flies
Flies, there are different types and they attack different plants. In particular, there is the onion fly, which causes yellowing of the leaves, a slow rotting of the bulbs and a progressive deterioration of the plant.
The asparagus fly digs deep tunnels starting from the top and reaching the base of the shoot.
The galleries created by the larvae prevent the normal flow of nutrients to the plant which slowly deteriorates.
The carrot fly is responsible for a bad taste and an unhealthy odor of the carrot itself which is destined to rot if hit by the fly.
Insect larvae
Some insects, harmless in adult form, can damage the garden at certain stages of their life cycle.
The same butterflies, so beloved, in the form of a caterpillar can feed on plant matter and make holes in our salad leaves. To discover the larvae that feed on flowers, roots, leaves and vegetables, I refer you to the article: larvae harmful to the garden .
