Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 174 6/5/17 3:08 PM
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 175 6/5/17 3:08 PM

174 chapter 4

Lacewing larva are one of many beneficial insect

species that help gardeners control aphids.

Common Container-

Garden Pests

Below you’ll find identification information

and ecologically safe management techniques

for twenty of the pests you’re most likely to

encounter in your container garden.

Aphids (many species)

North American geographical range: All

Identification: Aphids are tiny, pear-shaped, soft-

bodied insects up to^1 ⁄ 8 in. long. They can be green,

yellow, brown, red, gray, or black. Some species

have winged forms, others do not. At the hind end

of each aphid are two small, tube-like structures

called cornicles.

Plants affected: Highly susceptible plants include

nasturtiums, roses, milkweed, mums, tomatoes,

lettuce, peppers, geraniums, and members of the

cabbage family. But since there are numerous

species of aphids, there are many other potential

host plants. Feeding habits and damage: Aphids feed

by using a piercing-sucking mouthpart to

penetrate plant tissue and suck out sap. They

feed in groups on new plant growth or on leaf

undersides, and cause stem tips, new leaves, and

buds to be curled and distorted.

Physical controls: Removing aphids with a sharp

stream of water from the hose knocks them off

plants onto the ground where they quickly perish.

Hand-crushing is also effective, but predatory

beneficial insects usually bring aphid populations

under control naturally.

Product controls: Horticultural oil, insecticidal

soap, and neem-based insecticides.

Aphids are prolific, sap-sucking pests often found in

large numbers on leaf undersides and shoot tips. Here,

they’re lined up along a flowering stem.

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Troubleshooting 175

Cabbageworm (Artogeia rapae)

North American geographical range: All

Identification: Cabbageworm caterpillars are light

green with a faint yellow stripe down the back.

They measure about 1 in. long. Adult butterflies

have a 1-to-2 in. wingspan and are white to

yellowish-white with up to four black spots on

the wings.

Plants affected: All members of the cabbage

family, including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower,

Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, radish, and turnip.

Feeding habits and damage: Caterpillars chew

ragged holes in leaves. They may also leave round

holes through flower clusters of broccoli and

cauliflower. Young cabbageworms are difficult

to spot. Carefully examine leaf undersides and

midribs for their presence.

Physical controls: Cover their favorite plants

with floating row cover to keep the female

butterflies from laying eggs on the plants.

None of the susceptible vegetables needs to be

pollinated before harvest, so row covers can stay

in place until harvest. Handpick and crush any

caterpillars you find. Many insectivorous birds find

cabbageworms to be a real treat.

Product controls: Bacillus thuringiensis (B. t.),

spinosad, botanical oils, citrus oils.

Cabbageworm caterpillars feed on all members of the

cabbage family and can quickly skeletonize leaves.

Covering susceptible plants with floating row cover

prevents adult cabbageworm butterflies like this one

from laying eggs on the foliage.

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