Garden PEST Identification Guide: The Dirty Dozen:
If your plants are suddenly struggling, pests are often the cause.
Use the Dirty Dozen Quick Garden PEST chart and Triage section below to quickly identify common pests and take immediate action before damage gets out of hand. If you suspect diseases are the cause, see Garden DISEASE Identification Guide: The Dirty Dozen
Quick Triage (Start Here)
Aphids
Tiny green, black, or white insects clustered on new growth. Leaves curl and often feel sticky.
Spray with soapy water and check undersides of leaves regularly. Aphids → View Full Guide
Cabbage Worms
Small green caterpillars often found on brassicas. Leaves show holes and droppings.
Use row covers or apply BT if needed. Cabbage Worms → View Full Guide
Cucumber Beetles
Yellow beetles with black stripes or spots. Leaves show damage and plants weaken.
Use row covers early and remove beetles as soon as they appear. Cucumber Beetles → View Full Guide
Cutworms
Thick caterpillars in the soil that cut seedlings at ground level.
Use collars around young plants and protect stems early. Cutworms → View Full Guide
Flea Beetles
Tiny jumping beetles that leave small “shot holes” in leaves.
Protect plants with row covers and mulch heavily to reduce activity. Flea Beetles → View Full Guide
Mexican Bean Beetles
Orange beetles with black spots and spiny larvae. Leaves become skeletonized.
Handpick beetles and remove eggs as soon as they are found. Mexican Bean Beetles → View Full Guide
Slugs and Snails
Soft-bodied pests, leave slime trails and feed mostly at night. Large irregular holes appear in leaves. Handpick at dusk or use traps to reduce populations. Slugs And Snails → View Full Guide
Spider Mites
Tiny pests that create fine webbing on leaves. Leaves turn yellow and speckled.
Spray with water regularly and increase humidity around plants. Spider Mites → View Full Guide
Squash Bugs
Flat brown bugs with bronze egg clusters under leaves. Plants wilt and decline quickly.
Remove eggs early and inspect leaf undersides frequently. Squash Bugs → View Full Guide
Squash Vine Borers
Moth larvae that tunnel into stems. Plants wilt suddenly even when watered.
Remove larvae if possible or protect stems early in the season. Squash Vine Borers → View Full Guide
Tomato Hornworms
Large green caterpillars with a horn-like tail. Plants may lose leaves rapidly, often overnight.
Handpick immediately and check plants daily during peak season. Tomato Hornworms → View Full Guide
Whiteflies
Tiny white insects that fly when disturbed. Leaves yellow and often become sticky.
Use traps or spray undersides of leaves to control early infestations. Whiteflies → View Full Guide
