Pest Identification & Control
- Aphids
- Thrips
- Spider Mites
Fungus Gnats
- Beneficial nematodes are a predatory round worm that seeks out the larvae to use as a host.
Caterpillars
Caterpillars are a huge problem in Alberta! They can defoliate trees and destroy your garden in a matter of days. Even though you may not see the caterpillars themselves, evidence can be found in the form of droppings and foliar damage.
Cabbage worms are green and like to hide on the underside of leaves. They especially like to prey on leafy greens like lettuce, kale and cabbage, and have been known to destroy young cauliflower plants before they have a chance to flower. It is important that you identify a cabbage worm infestation immediately.
There are two main varieties of tent caterpillar currently found in Alberta:
Forest tent caterpillars, the blue variety of tent caterpillar, defoliated 4.8 million hectares of Canadian forest in 2015.
If you find an actual tent in a tree, that tent is most likely to belong to the Eastern tent caterpillar, which are black and orange. These caterpillars cause less damage than the forest tent caterpillar, but are unsightly.
LDD gypsy moths are often confused with tent caterpillars. They are considered an invasive species and a very serious pest and steps should be taken to eliminate them as soon as they're spotted.
- Root Aphids
- Mealybugs
- Scale
- Powdery Mildew