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Lawn Armyworm (Pests)
Description: It is the caterpillar of the Lawn Armyworm that causes the damage to lawns during the night. A lawn that looked great the previous evening may have developed areas of dieback overnight.
The caterpillars feed in groups, chewing the leaf blades all the way to the stem and scalping the lawn. The numbers tend to build up over summer and cause the most damage in autumn.
Affects: lawns
Solution: Place a blanket across area at night and take up in the morning , remove and destroy all caterpillars hiding under blanket.
Spray the unaffected healthy grass with Dipel. This biological control, once ingested it will kill all hairless caterpillars. It is safe for all beneficial insects and mammals. It is only active for a few days so several applications may be necessary.
Chemical spray options: Cyfluthrin based product like Yates Baythroid.
Note: Many chemicals sold can be harmful to other insects as well as some animals and in some cases, humans.
Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Leaf Hoppers (Pests)
Description:
The term leaf hoppers covers many different species that vary in size (3 to 15mm) and in colour (grey to green to yellow) Both nymphs and adults jump and the adults also fly. They are sucking insects and feed on the sap of plant
Affects:
They affect a wide range of plants however some hoppers are species specific ie The rose leafhopper; the potato leafhopper ; the aster or six-spotted leafhopper spreads the aster yellow virus to woody plants like periwinke and Thunbergia species
Solution:
There is usually no need to control these as the damage tends to be slight.
In cases of severe infestation and damage the non chemical option would be Success Naturalyte Insect Control(derived from naturally occurring beneficial soil bacteria. Pyrethrum based insecticides can also be used.
Note: Many chemicals sold can be harmful to other insects as well as some animals and in some cases, humans.
Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Leaf Miners (Pests)
Description: Leaf miner is the term to describe the larvae of insects that burrow into the leaf and feed from within it.
The adults may be beetles, wasps, sawflies, moths and flies.
The tunnels can be seen on the surface of the leaves as lighter colour trails. Leaf miners are classified by which layer of the leaves they mine, this will also depend where the damage is visible. Full depth mining can be seen on both sides, upper or lower cell damage can only be seen from the appropriate side.
There are many types of leaf miner and each is specific to a species of plant.
Affects: Affects Citrus, azalea, camellia, rhododendron, cineraria, dahlia, marigold and some veggies.
Solution: Leaf miner are difficult to control because the larvae tunnel within the leaf and are protected from contact insectides.
In many cases the plants are not severely affected, keep the plant healthy, water well and fertilise and remove any infected leaves.
There is a commercially available parasitic wasp that will kill leaf miner in the mine.
Note: Many chemicals sold can be harmful to other insects as well as some animals and in some cases, humans.
Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Lily Caterpillar (Pests)
Description:
The lily caterpillar is a common pest along the east coast of Australia. It is quite easy to recognise with its black, grey and yellow stripes and brown head.(the yellow stripes are more prominent as the caterpillar matures) The young caterpillars skeletonise the leaves. Adult caterpillars to strip the leaves and eat the crown, decimating the plant, leaving a slimy and unsightly mess. Severe infestations will lead to the death of the plant.
Affects:
Crinum, Clivea, hippeastrum and as the name suggests plants any plant in the lily family.
Solution:
When treating caterpillars it is best to spray in the early morning or evening as caterpillars tend to feed at night.
Ecological controls - Spray with Eco-neem to kill caterpillars or if there are only a few remove by hand.
Biological Controls -Dipel
Chemical controls - Baythroid Advanced Killer for Gardens.
Note: Many chemicals sold can be harmful to other insects as well as some animals and in some cases, humans.
Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Longicorn Beetle (Pests)
Description: It is the larvae of the Longicorn Beetle that causes the damage. The creamy coloured larvae is a borer and feeds on the sapwood inside the tree and can remain inside the tree for up to 7 years.
The borer tends to affect stressed or old trees.
It tunnels into the trunks and stems of woody plants and can internally Ringbark the tree (Cut the movement of water and nutrients up the tree and sugars down the tree) leading to death.
The tree that was already stressed may become more stressed and there will be more dieback, more leaf drop, yellowing of leaves. The exit holes are quite distinctive, they are oval in shape and there may be some Fras ( exceta) around the hole.
Affects: Older and stressed trees
Solution: If the tree does not look too unwell then try to improve the tree's health.
If the tree looks very sick the only option will be to remove it.
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Loopers (Pests)
Description:
These group of caterpillars are so named because of the loop they make with their bodies as they crawl across the leaf. They feed on the underneath side of the leaves and leave a layer of top cells intact; this give a window pane look on the leaves.
Affects:
All broad leaved plants including many vegetables including cabbages, cauliflowers, tomatoes; also some natives banksias and wattles.
Solution:
If the damage is slight remove the caterpillars by hand. If more severe then spray with Dipel
(biological insecticide that damages the gut cells of the larvae to stops them feeding)
Trichogramma pretiosum is a minute parasite wasp the parasitises the eggs. It is available commercially.
Note: Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Magnesium Deficiency (Disease)
Description: Magnesium is a key component of chlorophyll (green of leaves). Lack of Magnesium shows the older leaves. The Magnesium the older leaves moves (translocates) to the growing tips to help the plant produce new leaves. The sides of the leaf turn yellow and spread towards the tip leaving an inverted arrow of green at the base of the leaf.
Chlorophyll is necessary in plant's production of Sugars (photosynthesis). Lacking in Magnesium leads to a loss of vigour in the plant.
Plants take up Magnesium and other nutrients from the soil. The less Magnesium available in the soil the less the plant can take up through its roots. The uptake of nutrients can be affected the pH, water content and temperature. There are times when there may be nitrogen in the soil but plant is unable to use it because the temperature is too cool, there is too much or too little water and/or the soil pH is too acid or too alkali.
Affects: All green plants
Solution: Before adding Magnesium in the form of a Epsom Salts check that the soil is not too dry/wet, the pH is neutral.
In early spring the soil may still be cold by comparison with air temp, this can lead to the upper parts of the plant using more nutrients that the roots in the cold soil are able to take up. If this may be the case you will just have to wait until the soil warms up.
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Mealy Bug (Pests)
Description:
Flat, oval insects around 6mm long that are covered in a powdery wax and have a fringe of filaments around the edge.
They are suck sapping insects and produce a honeydew on which a sooty mould grows. They are however difficult to kill as the hide in crevices on the plant, around buds and even below ground around the roots.
Affects:
Wide range of plants including trees and shrubs, succulents, palms, ferns and indoor plants.
Solution:
Remove bugs by hand. Prune away infected branches, if a pot plant is too badly infected it may be better to just throw it away.
Control the ants to allow natural predators to eat the bugs. Green Lacewing are good at controlling Mealybugs. Cryptolaemus are Australian native ladybird beetles. They are very efficient natural enemies of mealybugs.
Can use Pest Oil or an Omethoate based insecticide like Folimat.
Note: Many chemicals sold can be harmful to other insects as well as some animals and in some cases, humans.
Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Milk or Sow Thistle (Weeds)
Description: Milk Thistle (Sonchus oleraceaus) is a member of the Asteraceae family, it is an annual and produces huge numbers of seeds. It is an erect plant with deeply toothed leaves that grow in a spiral formation around the hollow stem. The flowers are yellow and thistle-like, each stem has more than one flower head. The seeds are attached to fluffy cypsela and dispersed by wind, water and soil.
Affects: Common in garden beds. Aphids, leaf miners and other pests of ornamental plants live on these whilst there primary hosts are dormant.
Solution: As these are annuals it is important to remove the plants before they have time to produce seeds. The seeds can last for up to 8 years so they are harder to control after the seeds have been dispersed. When taking out the plants ensure all the tap root is removed. Chemicals can be used on neglected areas but in the garden setting hand removal should be adequate.
Note: Many chemicals sold can be harmful to insects as well as some animals and in some cases, humans.
Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Millipede (Pests)
Description:
The adults have a segmented hard shell and many legs, when threatened they coil up. They feed mainly on decaying organic matter but they will eat the fleshy roots of plants and rotting fruit.
Affects:
Ornamental plants
Solution:
Remove by Hand. Clear up any damp areas with rotting organic material.
Methiocarb based pesticide (Baysol) has been shown to be effective against millipedes.
Note: Many chemicals sold can be harmful to other insects as well as some animals and in some cases, humans.
Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Mole Crickets (Pests)
Description: Mole crickets tend not to be a major problem in domestic gardens. They have chewing mouthparts but it is not these that cause the damage to the lawn. They have spend most of their time underground in deep tunnels and the damage is caused as they tunnel under the lawn and break the roots from the shoots.
The key indicators that you have Mole Crickets will be wiggly lines or patches of yellow grass across the lawn and the presence of holes in the lawn.
Affects: Turf
Vegetable and flower crops
Solution: They tend not to be a huge problem.
Remove by hand
There is a commercially available contact insecticide, this is very toxic and not recommended.
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Mouse-eared Chickweed (Weeds)
Description:
Cerastium glomeratumThis is a weed commonly seen in flower beds and vegetable patches. The clusters of white flowers produce lots of seeds which are dispersed by the wind and during any cultivation activities. It has bright green slightly hairy leaves and white terminal flowers in clusters.
Affects:
Solution:
Removal by hand before the plant has a chance to produce any seeds. It may take a while but persistence will pay off and you will see a considerable reduction in weeds.
If you are clearing a large heavily infested area then a Selective Broad-leafed Herbicide can be used.
Note: Many chemicals sold can be harmful to insects as well as some animals and in some cases, humans.
Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Mullumbimby Couch (Weeds)
Description: Cyperus brevifolius: These are very difficult weeds to remove from you lawn. They are a narrow leafed weed which means it is unaffected by broad-leafed herbicides. They are a perennial clumping sedge (family Cyperaceae) with shiny green leaves and triangular shaped stems which produce clusters of tiny flowers with, most commonly, three green bracts. They reproduce by seed and their rhizome roots.
Affects:
Solution: Keep lawn healthy and well fed during the warmer months.
Remove by hand, taking care to remove all the roots as new plants will grow from pieces of root left in the ground
Use a selective herbicide for Cyperaceae on lawns.
Note: Many chemicals sold can be harmful to insects as well as some animals and in some cases, humans.
Always read the manufacturers instructions and warnings before you begin and use as directed.
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Myrtle Rust (Disease)
Description:
Myrtle rust is a serious fungal disease which was first detected in Queensland in 2010.
First signs of myrtle rust infection are tiny raised spots or pustules on infected leaves. After a few days these pustules turn a distinctive egg-yolk yellow colour. The rust poses no threat to human or animal health.
Affects:
Myrtle Rust affects plants belonging to the Myrtaceae family including
Australian natives like Callistemon, Tea Trees, Melaleuca, Corymbia and Eucalypts. Popular garden plants like Austromyrtus inophloia syn.Gossia inophloia are also susceptible.
Solution:
Do not move the infected plant material to avoid spreading the disease, and report all suspect plants immediately to your local state exotic pest hotline - 1800 084 881.
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Nitrogen Deficiency (Disease)
Description: Nitrogen is a key component of chlorophyll (green of leaves). Lack of nitrogen shows up in all leaves, they become paler and the lower leaves turn yellow.
Chlorophyll is necessary in plant's production of Sugars (photosynthesis). Plants that are lacking nitrogen not only have pale leaves but also a reduced the vigour.
Plants take up nitrogen and other nutrients from the soil. The less nitrogen available in the soil the less the plant can take up through its roots. The uptake of nutrients can be affected the pH, water content and temperature. There are times when there may be nitrogen in the soil but plant is unable to use it because the temperature is too cool, there is too much or too little water and/or the soil pH is too acid or too alkali.
Affects: All green plants.
Solution: Before adding nitrogen in the form of a nitrogenous fertiliser check that the soil is not too dry/wet, the pH is neutral.
In early spring the soil may still be cold by comparison with air temp, this can lead to the upper parts of the plant using more nutrients that the roots in the cold soil are able to take up. If this may be the case you will just have to wait until the soil warms up.
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Nutgrass (Weeds)
Description:
Nutgrass (Cyperus esculentus) is a member of the Sedge family (Mulumbimby Couch) and is named after the small, nut-like tuber that is part of its rhizomatous roots. It has lighter green, thinner and taller leaves than the rest of your lawn grass so is relatively easy to identify. The stems are also triangular while lawn grasses tend to have circular stems.
Affects:
This is a noxious weed as it is quite difficult to eradicate completely.
Solution:
Digging it out is a possible remedy but you have to be diligent to remove all signs of its roots which will leave the lawn looking rather messy for a while as it recovers. the best way is to use a selective weed killer - Amgrow make two - 'SedgeHammer' and 'Paspalum, Nutgrass & Clover'.
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Author: Bob Saunders.