Recognize the 5 Types of Insect Pests that Usually Attack Plants and How to Get Rid of Them

Illustration (Andrii Lobur/Pexels)

JAKARTA - Plants that are stressed or weakened are often attacked by insect pests. To prevent this, make it a habit to check your plants regularly looking for insects and other critters under the leaves and in the soil. Trim any leaves that are yellow, dry, or otherwise damaged, so that there is no debris for the pests to eat.

Reporting from Taste of Home, Thursday, February 9, here are some insect pests that most often attack plants and how to get rid of them.

Aphids

Aphids penetrate plant tissue to suck up sap. Plants that are attacked by these insects will show the characteristics of shriveled leaves, stunted growth, and eventually die. In addition, honeydew (a sweet, sticky substance secreted by aphids) encourages the growth of sooty mold and attracts ants that are harmful to plants.

How to get rid of aphids:

Wash plants with a strong spray of water to dislodge aphids or remove and destroy infested plant parts. You can also spray horticultural oil and insecticidal soap.

Cut caterpillar

Cutworms are fat, inch-long larvae of moths that hide under leaves or in the topsoil during the day and feed on plants at night. These insects usually attack the stems of plants. If the newly grown plant seeds suddenly die, caterpillars may be the cause.

How to get rid of cutworms:

Protect the young shoots with a cover made from a plastic drinking glass or a roll of cardboard toilet paper. You can also remove caterpillars by hand. Another solution is to remove the seedlings a few weeks later, when the shoot stems are thicker to fight off the caterpillars.

Snail

Snails usually hide in the shade during the day and feed at night. They will eat almost any plant foliage and leave unsightly pit marks.

How to get rid of slugs:

You can pick up the slugs that are on your plants and throw them away. After that sprinkle salt, coarse sand, wood ash, crushed clam shells around the plant stems to prevent slugs from wriggling towards the plant.

Spider mite

These tiny pests feed on plant sap. In large numbers, they impair plant vitality by causing leaves to turn yellow, brown, or gray, and fall off. Another sign is the appearance of fine silk nets on the underside of the leaves.

How to get rid of spider mites:

Keep insects that eat spider mites, such as beetles, praying mantises, and killer bugs. Or try mixing 1/2 cup buttermilk and 4 cups flour with 15 liters of water. Spray on the top and bottom of the leaves. Repeat within 10 days to remove hatched spider mites.

Whitefly

These tiny sucking insects weaken and stunt plant growth and also leave a sticky dew that causes fungal diseases on leaves.

How to get rid of whitefly:

Blow them off the plant with a hose, then coat the tops and bottoms of the leaves with insecticidal soap. Do it in the morning or evening, when it is cooler. Instead of insecticidal soap, you can substitute lemon-scented liquid dish washing soap, 1 tablespoon for 3 liters of water.