Playing pest detective

Growing your own vegetables is so rewarding, to grow fresh, organic produce, right at your doorstep with zero food-mile guilt!

However, it’s disheartening to tend to your patch and witness the tell-tale signs of pest attack, holes in leaves, chewed stems or worse, complete plants disappearing overnight. Young plants are vulnerable and easily affected both by weather conditions and invisible culprits’ day or night.

So don’t hesitate to play detective! Whilst it’s hard to spot these intruders, the damage they leave behind can tell you enough.

Here is how to identify a few of the most common garden pests that are eating your seedlings at this time of year:

1. Check the leaves

The size of the damage can tell you a lot about what pest is attacking it. Check for several days in a row, paying special attention to the leaves and whether the damage is occurring during the day or night, whether it’s done over a single night or over successive nights. Small holes in the leaves that continue to grow are a sign you’re dealing with caterpillars, earwigs, grasshoppers, or other types of insects. Slugs can cause similar damage, as they devour leaves gradually. If you notice big chunks or entire leaves disappearing overnight, then an animal is most likely responsible.

2. Animal attack

Possums

Possums will eat whole leaves or rip entire plants from the ground. You will notice:

• visible nibbling on some of the leaves

• their preference is to eat tomatoes, broccoli, peas, and parsley plants.

• They will leave possum droppings nearby.

Rats & mice

Although rats and mice prefer seeds, young and juicy seedlings will also entice them.

• They will eat mainly stems, roots and bulbs, as well as fruits close by

• There will be clear signs of nibbling or scratching on the stem.

Birds

Birds are fond of young plants and consider them a tasty snack. They are usually only interested in the leaves but if the seedlings are shallow planted, they may pull up the entire seedling from the ground. Fortunately, they are interested in only the young and tender plants and will leave the more mature plants alone. Check:

• if the seedlings leaves are ripped

• only the young and vulnerable seedlings are affected and nothing else.

• there are bird droppings nearby and signs of birds nesting close to your garden.

3. Snails & slugs

These pests are persistent and often snack at night. They love moisture and often come out after rain. Common signs of a snail or slug presence are:

• strangely shaped leaf holes away from the leaf’s edge

• shiny dry trails on the leaves

• gradual but persistent damage to the seedlings during the night.

4. Caterpillars

Caterpillars are one of the most common garden pests. They cause:

• consistently growing holes all over the plant’s leaves

• possible discoloration over parts of the seedling

• leave behind very small green or blue coloured droppings.

• The most tell-tale sign is the caterpillar itself, often found on the undersides of leaves. These hungry eaters can appear out of nowhere but are planted by moths or butterflies, so check for signs of eggs on the inner side of the leaves.

5. Earwigs

The European earwig is the pest species to look out for. It leaves behind:

• specific marks in the form of destroyed leaf tips or full removal of the top of the plants.

• uneven holes on the inner leaves

• only nocturnal attacks on the seedlings and holes in fruits and flower plants too.

6. Beetles

Weevils and African black beetle are among the most common soil beetle pests in Australia. While the adult beetles of both species prefer to nibble on fresh green leaves, their larvae are drawn to the plant’s roots. Look for the following:

• Slow growth of the plants and signs of wilting

• Visible yellowing of the foliage

• Destroyed edges of leaves

• Damages of the root system of the plants

• Severe attack on potato plants, especially the stems and tubers.

There are many methods to securing plants safe growth from these troublesome invaders.

How to protect your plants

Remove pests as you see them and then put them in a bucket with salty or soapy water.

Use repellents, organic insecticides, baits, and traps. Homemade repellents using ingredients like white vinegar, dishwashing liquid, garlic, chilli mixed in a spray bottle can help keep pests like caterpillars, snails and others off your plants. When using traps, locate them close to the affected plants. Dipel, contains Bacillus thuringiensis which is an insecticide derived from beneficial bacteria found soil, on plant surfaces and in insects. It specifically targets caterpillars.

Barriers are one of the best ways to hide your seedlings from hungry pests while protecting them from harsh weather conditions. Installing row covers using hoops and polypropylene fabric provides shelter from the wind, keeps pests out and even help the plants mature faster. Using mesh netting also helps keep animals out if the sides are firmly secured so they cannot crawl underneath. A neat trick of cutting the bottom from plastic bottles and placing the cut end over the seedling, burying the cut edge into the soil will create a barrier between most pests and your vulnerable seedling.

Natural predators like birds, kookaburras and starlings, like to feed on snails and slugs. Various others prefer caterpillars or beetles. Creating a biodiverse garden with a mix of flowers over the seasons, attract beneficial insects that will assist keeping pest populations down.