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Entomology

Harmful
Coreidae

Leaf-Footed Bugs

Leaf-footed Bugs get their common name from the leaf-like extension found on the hind legs of many species.

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Harmful
Aleyrodidae

Whiteflies

(Family: Aleyrodidae)
Whiteflies (Family Aleyrodidae). Despite their name, whiteflies are not actually true flies but rather closely related to aphids and mealybugs.

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Harmful
Noctuidae

Cutworms

(Family: Noctuidae)
These caterpillars are the larvae of some moths in the family Noctuidae. They get their name from their behavior of cutting small plants at the base of the stem. Since there are so many species, they come in a variety of colors and patterns, so damage is the best way to identify them.

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Harmful
Tetranychidae

Spider Mites

(Family: Tetranychidae)
Spider mites are not insects but arachnids (think spiders, scorpions, etc.) that damage plant cells by piercing them to feed. These are VERY SMALL and are often not noticed until their population has exploded.

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Harmful
Pentatomidae

Stink Bugs

(Family: Pentatomidae)
Like other pest Hemipterans, these insects feed on plant sap with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. They can greatly weaken plants especially if the population is large.

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Harmful
Aphididae

Aphids

(Family Aphididae)
This is one bug I think most people can identify immediately.

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Harmful
Noctuidae

Fruit Worms

(Species: Helicoverpa zea)
This moth species belongs to the dreaded family of moths called Noctuidae. Within this family, you can find other agricultural pests often referred to as cutworms.

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Harmful
Thysanoptera

Thrips

(Order Thysanoptera)
A thrips (no, that’s not a typo—there’s no such thing as a thrip!) is a bizarre, minute insect. They are typically less than 1 mm long with slender bodies, fringed wings and weird lopsided mouth parts.

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Harmful

Wireworms

Though the larvae are known as wireworms, adult insects in the family Elateridae are known as click beetles.

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Harmful
Diaspididae

Armored Scale

(Family: Diaspididae)
Armored scale insects are known as one of the more frustrating pests and often don’t look like insects at all. These tiny sap-suckers create protective, waterproof coverings to fend off the elements and predators.

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Harmful
Liriomyza

Leaf Miners

Leaf-mining flies
(Genus: Liriomyza)
The larva create tunnels in the mesophyll, leaving the epidermis intact. This will resemble light colored “squiggles” on the leaves.

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Harmful
Pseudococcidae

Mealybugs

(Family: Pseudococcidae)
These unarmored scale insects damage tomatoes by feeding on their plant saps and secreting a sweet concoction known as “honeydew,” which encourages the growth of sooty molds. They also are known to transmit diseases.

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Harmful

Green June Beetle

Green June beetles are well known and hated by many gardeners; their other aliases are June bugs or June beetles. Though considered pests in both larval and adult stages, the grubs are known to be more destructive in most settings.

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Harmful
Galerucinae

Flea Beetles

(Family: Chrysomelidae)
These little cuties are unfortunately a huge issue for many tomato growers.

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Harmful
Sphingidae

Hornworms

(Family: Sphingidae)
These large caterpillars often reach 5 inches in length and are most easily identified by the “horn” protruding from the tip of their abdomen.

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Harmful
Coccidae

Soft Scale

(Family: Coccidae)
Soft Scale is a very diverse family of insects so there is often exceptions in physical appearance. Though they may not look like insects, these Hemipterans are related to aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs.

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Harmful

Cabbage Looper

Loopers are easily identified in their larval stage because they crawl by arching their backs, creating a “loop.”

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Harmful
Caelifera

Grasshoppers

(Suborder: Caelifera, grasshoppers and relatives)
Grasshoopers generally have wings and large back hopping legs. You can differentiate them from crickets by looking at their antennae—cricket antennae are usually long, since they’re nocturnal insects, so they use those long “feelers” to help with walking around.

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