Pest ID & Management

Friend or foe? Its not always easy to tell when it comes to the garden. Use this page to visually identify problem pests, then follow the image links for further information on how to manage them.

Pest prevention

Avoid mono-cultures. Use companion planting strategies or simply plant a wide range of plants to encourage predatory insects to help keep problem pests naturally in check. Rotating crops to different beds from season to season can help prevent a build up of pests and disease in one area.

Sucking pests

Sometimes so small you cant see them, these pests suck the goodness from the plants.

	White fly Hide on the underside of plant leaves Fly up in a white cloud when plant is disturbed
	Mites Red spider (pictured) Leaves have a speckled appearance
	Scale Many colours, shapes & sizes Appear motionless Presence of ants can indicate scale Leaves maybe covered in black, sticky soot Leaves yellow & fall
	Thrips Suck the goodness from leaves Difficult to see without a magnifying glass Leaves have a mottled appearance
	Bronze Orange Bug/stink bugs Start off green, maturing to orange then black Feed on new growth which wilts & dies Citrus trees particularly affected Most common Spring to late summer
	Aphids

Chewing pests

These pests chew on plant parts be it leaves, stems, fruit or roots.

	Snails & slugs Eats seedlings & greens Most prevalent after rain
	Leaf miners Leaves a silvery trail in young leaves Citrus leaf miner affect citrus only
	Rats & Mice Feed at night Eats anything in the garden
	Curl grubs Larvae of African Black Beetle Eat plant roots & organic matter in the soil Wilted &/or stunted plants despite adequate care
	QLD Fruit fly Serious pest located QLD down to VIC Lay eggs in fruit and vegetables Larvae rot the fruit from the inside QLD: all year NSW/VIC: Spring to late summer
	Beetle & Weevils
	Caterpillars
	Butterflies & moths Includes Cabbage White Butterfly

Big pests

Cockatoos, possums