Insect Pests on Perennials

• Ants
• Aphid
• Columbine Leafminer
  

• Delphinium Worm
• Flea Beetle
• Leafhopper
  

• Spider Mites
• Spittlebug
• Thrips
  

     For all chemical controls, READ AND FOLLOW LABEL INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY BEFORE USE

ANTS

Plants Affected

Ants are mostly beneficial, feeding on other insects however in great numbers, tunneling will cause damage to root systems of plants/lawn.  They do not feed directly on plants, but rather on plant debris, rotting wood.

Symptoms

• Will see ants scurrying along, may see tunnels in lawns/garden if population is high.
• May see them around aphid colonies—they feed on aphid’s honeydew excretions.

Controls

Cultural or Non-chemical Controls:

• Keep garden debris free (ants are feeding on debris).
• Pour boiling water down hills.
• Keep area well watered-ants don't prefer wet areas.
• Control aphid colonies.

Chemical Controls:

• Pyrethrum
• Diatomaceous earth
• Doktor Doom Residual (yellow can)

APHID

Symptoms

• Severe infestations will cause curling/twisting of foliage, flowers to wilt and drop.

Controls

Cultural or Non-chemical Controls:

• Ladybird beetles/larvae, lacewings are natural predators.
• Strong jet of water to knock aphids off plants.

Chemical Controls:

• Insecticidal soap, Doktor Doom House and Garden, and various other insecticides.

COLUMBINE LEAFMINER

Symptoms

• Symptoms appear on various species of Columbine.
• Leaves appear to have tan coloured winding trails through them.

Controls

Cultural or Non-chemical Controls:

• Hand pick affected leaves when infestations are small

Chemical Controls:

• Since insects are enclosed in leaf layers, systemic insecticides are the only effective chemical treatment; there are currently no registered systemic insecticides available.

DELPHINIUM WORM

Symptoms

• Symptoms appear on Delphinium and sometimes Monkshood.
• New growth is cupped and distorted.
• Small green worm present inside this new growth.
• Flowering is reduced or prevented; plants are stunted".

Controls

Cultural or Non-chemical Controls:

• Cut down affected stems below point of damage.
• Crush cocoons that are seen on undersides of leaves in summer.
• Cut affected plants to ground level in fall after frost.
• Dispose of all leaf debris in the fall.
• BTK

Chemical Controls:

• Doktor Doom House and Garden

FLEA BEETLE

Symptoms

• Small 'shot hole' appearance to leaves.
• Beetles will jump when disturbed.
• Roots (potatoes) will have pitted appearance and when peeled, small holes will be visible just below surface.

Controls

Cultural or Non-chemical Controls:

• Row covers for seedlings/young plants.

Chemical Controls:

• Malathion or Diazinon according to directions.
• Spray plants with Rotenone or pyrethrins when damage first note.

LEAFHOPPER

Symptoms

• Leaves of various plants have stippled appearance - damage is similar to spider mite damage
• Plants can be stunted.
• 'Clouds' of insects fly away when plants disturbed

Controls

Cultural or Non-chemical Controls:

• Strong jet of water will knock them off plants
• Ladybugs, birds feed on them.

Chemical Controls:

• Insecticidal Soap
• Permethrin (note: Doktor Doom more effective)

SPIDER MITES

Plants Affected

• Numerous

Symptoms

• Stippling - tiny dots in foliage
• Yellowing of foliage - "haze" on foliage

Controls

Cultural or Non-chemical Controls:

• Strong jet of water
• Keep plants misted
• Fall debris cleanup

Chemical Controls:

• Insecticidal Soap, miticide such as malathion, Safer's 3 in 1. Product must state: Miticide or that it treats Mites.

SPITTLEBUG

Plants Affected

• Numerous.  Insect does not damage plant, merely cosmetic.

Symptoms

• 'Spit' on plant - bug is hidden underneath.

Controls

Cultural or Non-chemical Controls:

• Spray plants with strong jet of water.

Chemical Controls:

• Not necessary

THRIPS

Plants Affected

• Numerous

Symptoms

• White blotches or streaks on foliage/blooms

Controls

Cultural or Non-chemical Controls:

• Good fall clean up of debris.

Chemical Controls:

• Apply Doktor Doom to foliage early in season (mid-June). As this product persists on foliage for a few weeks, it should help to get one the generations.
• Doktor Doom House and Garden