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Insects

Armyworms

 Active at night and on overcast days, armyworms get their name from their habit of marching in troops, devouring vegetation in their path. Several species of these hairless caterpillars cause...

Asian Longhorn Beetle

In their larval stage, numerous types of beetles and some clear wing moths tunnel beneath bark or bore into live wood. Some borers tunnel deep into a branch, making it...

Bagworms

The dangling silken bags, reaching a length of 2 inches, are more noticeable than the small brown caterpillars—each of which weaves its own bag and drags it along as it...

Blister Beetles

Although markings vary greatly depending on the species, blister beetles are easily identified by their physique: the middle section of the body is noticeably smaller than the head or abdomen....

Cabbage Loopers

Green with pale stripes, this caterpillar has legs at the front and back, but more in the middle―a peculiarity that gives it a characteristic humpback or looping crawl. Fully grown,...

Cankerworms

Also called inchworms for their looping motion, these 1 inch long pests are found in all but the southernmost parts of the country. Spring cankerworm moths show up in spring,...

Cicadas

These 1 to 2 inch long aphid relatives have a black or mottled body, prominent reddish eyes, short antennae, and transparent wings, Periodical cicadas appear in late spring or early...

Corn Earworms

Also known as the tomato fruitworm and cotton bollworm, this caterpillar changes appearance markedly as it grows. Young Corn Earworms are tiny and white, with black heads; older ones are...

Crane Flies

Crane flies, though similar in appearance to a giant mosquito, are not a type of mosquito and do not bite. They are actually classified as a family of flies called...

Crickets

Crickets, are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets. They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of...

Cutworms

So named because they chew seedlings off at ground level, cutworms are the larvae of various moths. Up to 2 inches long and of diverse color, the hairless caterpillars feed...

Fall Webworms

About an inch long, this leaf-feeding pest is a long-haired, pale green or yellow caterpillar with a black stripe down its back. It feeds from inside the silken, web-like nests...

Geranium Budworms

Also known as tobacco budworms, these close relatives of the corn earworm burrow into buds and feed from the inside; they also chew fully opened flowers. The striped, 1/4 inch...

Grasshoppers

Also called locusts, the dozens of grasshopper species differ in size, color, and markings- but all flourish in areas with long, hot, dry summers. Target: All plants, especially grasses and...

Gypsy Moths

Since its accidental release in Massachusetts in 1869, this pest has defoliated millions of acres of trees in the East. A notorious hitchhiker (hence the name "gypsy"), it's gradually moving...

Imported Cabbageworms

These velvety, light green caterpillars are similar to cabbage loopers (see page 26) in size, but more conventional in gait. Older caterpillars have faint yellow stripes. Target: Primarily cole crops....

Millipedes

Although their name suggests otherwise, these nocturnal, hard-shelled, worm-like creatures don't have a thousand legs, but only up to a mere 400. Slow moving and ranging from 1/2 to 2...

Mole Crickets

Mole crickets are thick-bodied insects about 1 - 2 in long, with large beady eyes and shovel-like forelimbs made for burrowing and swimming. They can also fly: the adult mole...

Parsleyworms

This elusive, 2 inch long, brilliantly colored caterpillar, which protrudes a pair of orange horns when disturbed, is rarely seen in gardens. Although technically a pest, it's so pretty you...

Rose Chafers

Unlike most insects named after particular plants, the rose chafer doesn't limit itself to one target. It's a general pest. The 2 1/2 inch long adults, slender, long legged, and...