Bugs are fascinating creatures! When was the last time you took a really close look at a bug outside? I do often! (Well, it’s also my job). Perhaps a better question than “what are these bugs on my plants?” is “are these bugs hurting my plants?” or “why are these bugs on my plants?”.
Lady Bug larva (baby lady bug) on Podocarpus
Well, the latter question is easy to answer. Every creature (yes, including bugs) needs a place to live. Sometimes, bugs make your plants their home. Most people welcome butterflies and lady bugs as “acceptable” bugs – yes, they are bugs – even though they’re “cute”! Other bugs, such as beetles, wasps, and spiders, are not so welcome by most people.
Blue aphids on Podocarpus
Often, bugs aggregate on plants because the plant is a source of food. In some cases, such as Monarch caterpillars feeding on Milkweed, we welcome the bugs (a butterfly has to come from somewhere). But in most cases, we consider such bugs pest in the landscape.
It takes a trained eye to ascertain wheather bugs are beneficial or pests in the landscape. And more importantly, we must consider if pest populations are significant enough to warrant treatment. Many pests, such as certain thrips and mites, can and have developed resistance to certain insecticide types, so it’s important to use the right product on certain pests.
At EPLS, we consider your landscape plants, pests, and presence of beneficial insects as part of our treatment program. We even collaborate with researches at the University of Florida to identify new pest introductions and monitor resistance in pest populations!
