In Australia, we have many garden pests. Some more common than others, all a jolly nuisance. Eating through your veggie patch, munching through crops, and contaminating our lawns. Here are just three common garden pests, how to identify them and an organic form of removal. For best results, call your local pest control service!
| Pest | Identify infestation | Control / exterminate | Fact |
| Aphid (Aphidoidea) -Cotton Aphid -Cabbage Aphid | -Pear-shaped bodies – white, green, yellow, brown, black or pink – leave sticky liquid substance called ‘honeydew’ (which attracts ants) – Black spots on leaves and branches – sooty mould. | -Crushing the insects by hand or prune affected area. -Tomato leaf or garlic spray application – horticultural oil or insecticidal soap spray on infested plant/s – Cold water sprayed (make sure to spray both sides of the leaves) | -4000 aphid species , 250 are considered pests for crops. -Reproduce rapidly |
| Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella) | -Roughly 1cm long -Grey-brown with crosslines on forewings -White larva, small black head. – Look for holes and frass on outside of fruit. -Cut fruit open as larvae can penetrate fruit from the calyx or stem. | – Preventative measure: Winter clean ups. Maintain orchard by scraping loose bark from trees. -Spray trees with white oil and water. This will help prevent eggs from hatching in warmer weather (15 degree C˚) | -Will devastate entire crop if not controlled. -feed on developing seeds. -loves apples, quinces, pears and crab apples. -Usually two to three generations per season. |
| Psyllids | -Small sap sucking insects, 4mm in size -Resemble miniature cicadas. -Similar to Aphid, they excrete honeydew, building a protective covering (known as Lerp) -Look for: Discoloured leaves, sooty mould, premature leaf dropping & dimpled leaves with pockmarks. | -Kaolin clay acts as barrier against psyllids. -Neem oil and other horticultural oils in early spring to kill any overwintering eggs. -Ensure both sides of the leaves are treated. -Insecticidal soap for larger infestations. | -Feast off potato, carrot, citrus, pear, apple, gum trees, wattles, and tomato. |
These three pests have predatory insects which would benefit the garden as they defend off targeted bug. Australia earwigs, ladybirds and lacewings, to name a few, are attracted to certain plants and are natural enemies of the three mentioned pests. By planting insectary plants (ones that attract the beneficial insects such as dill, clovers, buckwheat and mustard) you will be able to keep the pest population and infestation under control.
Keep in mind it’s hard to control any pest when neighbouring plants and trees are infected. Don’t hesitate to call a Pulse Lawn Mowing & Gardening as our friendly business owners are only too happy to assist you with eradicating your pest problem and providing you with solutions to avoid them in the future.
