6 Pests You Don’t Want in Your Garden
The creatures that live in your garden and lawn are a balancing act. Some are actually very beneficial; insects such as ladybugs and praying mantis are voracious eaters of bugs themselves. In Tampa, even invasive species like our ever-present lizards (brown anole are originally from Latin America, the rarer green anole is a native species) offer a benefit in the incredible amount of insects they consume around your home. But, some pests can be downright destructive to your garden and lawn. Identifying these species in your garden is key to quality Tampa lawn care.
By identifying these pests, you can get on with the process of treating them. Most often this will need to involve the help of professionals. Below is a list of 6 common unwanted pests the gurus at Apex see and deal with in the Tampa area.
- Aphids: These tiny green insects are easier to spot in numbers than individually. And it’s the numbers you have to worry about; adult aphids feed on a wide variety of plants and grasses. They do so by slowly sucking the nutrients from the core of the plant, which weakens crops and causes consistent long-term damage.
- Stink Bug: They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but commonly look like a small shield from above. They will be unmistakable if mashed (the name stinkbug is given for a reason). This pest damages crops in a similar way to aphids, but has a more vegetable-based taste.
- Wireworms: These are often also called click beetles due to the distinctive clicking noise they create. They are brown in color and a voracious eater of veggies and soy plants.
- Corn Earworms: Corn earworms are easiest to identify by the very distinctive spots and markings on their wings. They are light brown in color, and although they will not completely destroy the plants in your garden, they heavily damage everything from cucumbers to tomatoes, and of course, corn, making the vegetables unpleasant to eat.
- Chinch Bugs: Chinch bugs are not a problem for your garden, but they are for your fantastic Florida lawn. A relentless eater of many types of local grass, they are identifiable by the unmistakable circular patches they leave in your backyard.
- Leafhoppers: Tiny and peculiarly shaped, these can be best described visually as a colorful moth. They jump and fly in a similar fashion as well. What separates them from moths is their ability to damage plants. They leave an easily-identifiable yellow patch on the leaves of plants they are feasting on.
Each of these garden pests will require a different approach in Tampa lawn care. This is a job best left for the experts at Apex Pest Control. Contact us anytime for a no-obligation inspection and quote, and secure your garden and lawn year round.
