Aphids are small, delicate, pear-shaped insects with long legs and antennae. They vary in color from green to brown to red or black. Aphids may be winged or wingless, but wingless forms are more common. They have piercing-sucking mouthparts that suck sap from plant tissue. Aphids stunt plant growth, deform leaves, and causes plant galls and black sooty mold.
Scale – Tiny six-legged crawlers emerge from the female egg and move to the new growth of the plant. They insert their mouthpiece and begin feeding on the plant. A waxy, scale-like covering then forms over each individual crawler. This covering actually protects the scale from other insects and insecticides. The best way to control scale is when the crawlers are present. These tiny pests do not have protective covering and can usually be controlled with one application. If they are not controlled they will build up large enough to cause severe damage or death to plants and trees.
Mites – Spider mites are very vigorous in hot weather. Mite damage can be detected by tiny white or yellow spots on leaves. If the mites are not controlled, the spots will begin to merge and cause the whole leaf to turn color. If enough leaves are damaged, the plant will defoliate and die.
