Need help with pest identification?

It can be very frustrating to know that your plants are being eaten or damaged but not have any idea what the problem is.

• First of all it helps if you can catch whatever it is 'in the act'. Look carefully at the plant, including under the leaves and in the the mulch around the base of the plant. Keep in mind that some insects move quickly to vacate the premises, after all, they don't want to end up as someone's dinner and so are ready to take evasive action when the plant is disturbed. Some insects try very hard to camouflage themselves as part of the plant, running your fingers lightly along the underside of a leaf may trigger the culprit to reveal themselves. Try taking a good torch and checking the plants at night, move quietly to reduce the chances of the 'midnight muncher' making off before you spot them.

• Once you have caught the possible culprit, accurate identification is important. We recommend the book What Garden Pest or Disease is That? by Judy McMaugh,  as there is an excellent colour photograph of each pest and disease. Another very useful book is Jackie French's Natural Control of Garden Pests.

• Try to check whether there are any natural enemies present, feeding on the pest such as lizards, frogs and birds. Learning to recognise the many ‘good bugs’ is useful and interesting and prevents you from accidentally wiping them out.

• Then you need to decide what to do. When is a pest not a pest? Small numbers of pests can be useful in attracting predators and keeping them in your garden, ready to respond to any sudden pest increase. If ladybeetle larvae are present happily munching aphids, destroying the aphids will simply starve the ladybeetles. So the next step is deciding what level of damage you can tolerate and if you are going to control a pest. Our personal view is that if a pest is going to stop us harvesting a fruit or vegetable then we will do something about it but a few chewed leaves are not a problem in a home garden.

DISCLAIMER: No liability will be accepted by Green Harvest, its owners or employees as to the accuracy of any information. No responsibility will be taken for damage to property or persons due to information given about a product or technique. No responsibility will be taken for the loss of a crop or income due to information given about a product or technique.