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title: 'Garden Pests'
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    text_block_title: 'Garden Pests'
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      Garden Pest | Target | Potential Damage | Natural Predators | Small Infestation Control Methods
      ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | -----
      **Spider Mites** | Live on the undersides of leaves of plants where they spin protective webs. | Large infestations can cause visible damage and sometimes kill young plants. | Ladybugs and lacewings. | Prune leaves and stems that have webbing and dispose of in the trash to avoid spread.
      **Codling Moth Larvae** | Bore into the center of fruits, mainly apples and pears. | Loss of fruit yield and unsightly damage to a crop. | Beneficial nematodes, wasps and birds. | Scrape loose bark from trees in early spring to disrupt the lifecycle. Use a kaolin clay-water mixture before moths arrive to prevent the larvae from feeding.
      **Scale** | Common on trees, shrubs and greenhouse plants and can be found on any part of a plant. | Large populations can result in poor growth and yellowed leaves. If left unabated, they can kill a plant. | Ladybugs and lacewings. | Prune and dispose of infested branches, twigs and leaves. Rub or pick off by hand. Orange oil/d-limonene can be effective when rubbed onto scale insects.
      **White Fly** | Live on the undersides of leaves in thick crowds. | With large infestations, plants become weak and are more susceptible to disease. | Ladybugs and lacewings. | Yellow sticky traps are helpful for monitoring and reducing adult populations. Hose off plants with a strong stream of water to reduce pest numbers.
      **Thrip** | Found on many garden plants and feed on flowers, leaves and fruits. | Spread disease among garden plants. Large infestations can weaken a plant and make it more susceptible to other issues. | Pirate bugs, ladybugs and lacewings. | Ensure crop debris is cleared after harvest and remove weeds and grass from around susceptible areas. Hose off plants with a strong stream of water to reduce pest numbers.
      **Vine Weevil Larvae** | Common on ornamental plants and damage leaves by chewing. | The larvae cause the most damge as they tunnel through the roots of a plant and can cause wilt or death. | Beneficial nematodes. | Do not over water or over mulch to avoid overly moist soil, which they prefer. Use Diatomaceous Earth on the ground near effected plants.
      **Cabbage Worm** | Feed on the leaves and stems of brassica and other cabbage-family crops. | The worm can quickly destroy an entire plant by chewing holes in the leaves. | Beetles, spiders, wasps, lacewings and birds. | Hand pick the worms as soon as you notice them. Apply Bacillus Thuringinsis to leaves where worms are seen.
      **Tomato Hornworm** | Feed on the leaves and stems of tomato, potato and pepper plants. | They can consume entire leaves rather quickly that can weaken a plant and reduce growth. | Lacewings, ladybugs and wasps. | Hand pick the worms as soon as you notice them. Apply Bacillus Thuringinsis to leaves where worms are seen.
      **Aphid** | Feed on the leaves and stems of many outdoor plants. | Low to moderate numbers are not generally harmful. Heavy infestations can cause leaf curl, wilt or stunted plant growth. | Ladybugs and lacewings. | Pinch or prune off infested parts of the plant. Hose off plants with a strong stream of water to reduce pest numbers.
      **Leafhopper** | Feed by puncturing the undersides of leaves. | Transmit a number of plant diseases that can cause leaf curl, low vigor and yellowing. | Pirate bugs, ladybugs and lacewings. | Ensure crop debris is cleared after harvest and remove weeds and grass from around susceptible areas. Floating row covers can help protect plants during critical stages.

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