Aphids
Description:
They are very small with light colored bodies. They leave a sticky
residue on the leaves.
Treatment: Remove damaged leaves, wash plant
leaves with warm water for a week then spray an insecticidal soap onto
leaves.
Caterpillars
Description:
Most kinds of caterpillar are considered plant pests and will eat the
leaves.
Treatment: Pick off by hand.
Cockroaches
Description:
Small dark colored insects with beetle like bodies.
Treatment: Pick off by hand if you can catch
them. Remove any organic debris from the base of the plant. Set out
roach traps.
Cutworms
Description:
Small worm type insects that curl up into a ring shape. They eat through
plant roots and topple the plant.
Treatment: Not too common in hydroponics - if
found, spray with insecticide.
European Corn Borers
Description:
Small, 1 inch long caterpillars who bore into plant stems and eat them
from the inside out.
Treatment: Spray with insecticide.
Fungus Gnats
Description:
The hatched offspring of tiny black flies. The maggot offspring attack
plant roots.
Treatment: Discard any damaged plants, spray with
insecticide. Not too common in a hydroponics garden.
Leaf Hoppers
Description:
Small, 1/8 inch long, wedge shaped insects that suck the sap through the
plant leaves.
Treatment: Pick off by hand and apply insecticide
if needed.
Mealybugs
Description:
Small bugs create white, powdery masses on leaf stem joints.
Treatment: Scrape off and spray with insecticide.
Root Maggots
Description:
Fly larvae that hatch at the base of the plants and eat the roots.
Treatment: Not too common in hydroponics gardens.
If found, spray with insecticide.
Scale
Description:
Tiny waxy growths on the underside of leaves and on stems.
Treatment: Scrape off and isolate plant, if
possible. Wash leaves with warm soapy water and apply insecticide if
needed.
Striped Cucumber Beetle
Description:
Small, very destructive, striped back beetles 1/4 inch long. As adults,
these plant pests eat leaves, and as larvae eat roots.
Treatment: Use insecticidal soap.
Tarnished Plant Bugs
Description:
Small beetles about 1/4 inch long with tarnish-like markings on it's
back. They inject plants with a substance that deforms leaf tips and
stem joining.
Treatment: Clean off all nearby organic debris
and spray with insecticide.
White Flies
Description:
Tiny, white flying bugs
Treatment: Very resilient. Spray with insecticide
or something stronger. Also spray all surrounding plants.
Colorado Potato Beetle
Description:
Inch long striped beetles and their larvae will eat everything on a
plant.
Treatment: Pick off by hand and optionally, spray
with insecticide.
Earwigs
Description:
Small dark brown centipede-like insects with a pincer tail.
Treatment: Pick off by hand (they usually come
out at night).
Imported Cabbage Worm
Description:
Small velvety green caterpillars that eat plant leaves.
Treatment: Spray with insecticidal soap.
Mexican Bean Beetle
Description:
Small, 1/2 inch beetles will eat roots and leaves, leaving only the
veins.
Treatment: Wash with soap.
Spider Mites
Description:
Red, yellow or green microscopic bugs forming cobwebs.
Treatment: Isolate plant if you can, wash leaves
with warm, soapy water and spray with insecticide.
Thrips
Description:
Very small and slender bugs leaving dark blobs on the leaves.
Treatment: Remove bugs by hand, wash leaves with
water and spray insecticide.