Box tree caterpillars are quite distinctive with black stripes and white dots on a green caterpillar. Nematodes are a natural pest control safe for pets and children.
Viburnum beetles will damage and defoliate a wide range of Viburnum plant species. Most of the damage, however, is caused by the Viburnum larvae. The larvae are creamy yellow with black markings, around 8mm long, and will quickly shred leaves of Viburnums.
Asparagus Beetle is a serious pest of Asparagus plants. The larval stages and the adult beetles both feed on the plants, damaging the stems and foliage. The larvae are greyish-black in colour.
Caterpillars can damage plants by feeding on their leaves and flowers and can defoliate a plant and reduce its vigour. They also carry several pests with them when they migrate from the larval stage to the adult stage.
The Fungus Fly can cause severe damage to many plants including house plants and plants being propagated. They feed on roots and can spread soil-borne diseases.
Cutworms are moth larvae that feed on the stems of young plants, often cutting them down. They can vary in colour from brown to grey to black as well as green and pink, and some species may have stripes or spots.
Affects plums, damsons and greengages. The moths mate and lay eggs on the plum tree’s leaves and young shoots. The caterpillars hatch, tunnel into the fruits and feed on the flesh.
A major pest of agricultural crops and can cause significant damage if not controlled, feeding on fruits such as apples, pears, and walnuts. The larvae are often called "apple worms" because they bore into the fruit and make it ripen prematurely and become inedible. The adults are grey and have mottled wings that blend with the tree bark.
Chafer grubs are the larvae of the cock chafer, garden chafer and Welsh chafer. They live underground in the soil and feed on plant roots, which can become a major problem, especially in lawns. All three species of chafer grubs look the same but differ in size: creamy coloured, around 15mm in length, and have distinct legs.
They are the larvae of crane flies, which damage lawns, small plants, and vegetable plots by eating roots, causing lawns to develop patches where the grass turns yellowish brown. Leatherjackets have long tubular bodies, up to 30mm long, and are greyish brown. They have no legs or obvious head.
Vine weevils are destructive garden beetles that feed on plants during both stages of their life cycles. The adults are black in colour with a yellow mark on their wings. They cause damage by feeding on and notching the foliage of plants. The larvae feed on the roots and can cause severe damage, potentially leading to the death of the plant.
They are small, black-bodied flies that resemble common houseflies, about 1/4 inch long, with yellowish legs, wings, and heads. They are most active during summer and lay their eggs in the soil near root vegetables like carrots, celery, and parsnips. The fly larvae tunnel into the main root of the vegetable causing it to rot. The larvae are creamy yellow, tapering maggots, up to 9mm long and mainly found in tunnels in roots.