Your landscaping can benefit from some bugs and insects. For instance, the earthworm can dig holes in the ground to help in proper root growth. But it’s a different story for some species of these multi-legged critters. Some insects can ravage your property’s landscape in no time. Knowing these tiny yet annoying enemies is going to be the first part of the battle. So here are five uncommon bugs and insects that may destroy your home’s landscaping.
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Jerusalem Cricket
Also called potato bugs, Jerusalem crickets have similar anatomical structures as the ladybugs. But this pest doesn’t go after the sweet nectar of flora. Instead, it feeds on tubers and roots of plants.
Although Jerusalem crickets eat tiny insects, these critters can sink their teeth into the most abundant food source available on your lawn. So, if your landscaping doesn’t have small insects for potato bugs to munch on, they’ll soon turn to your plants’ tubers and roots.
Don’t aggravate the potato bugs problem as these creatures can and will bite you. But if you leave these insects alone, they’ll stick to feasting in and on your garden. Consider calling professional pest control services to eliminate this infestation from your property effectively and safely.
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Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
If you see small and moving white spots on your hemlock trees, your landscaping is now the home of the hemlock woolly adelgid.
This insect is a sap-sucking one. Although it’s related to aphids, it’s less common. Eastern US regions may see more of this pest than other areas in the country. But this tiny critter has a voracious appetite and can clear kilometers of hemlock forests in days.
Homeowners may use conventional insecticides to eliminate hemlock woolly adelgid infestations from their properties. But these pesticides may contain harmful chemicals that can damage the environment. Having the natural predators of these invasive insects, such as the Sasajiscymnus tsugae and Scymnus sinuanodulus, can significantly reduce the adelgid population.
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Planthoppers
Planthoppers tend to look uncommon as these insects can look like your standard leaf. But a planthopper is smaller than a conventional leaf. Nonetheless, many planthopper species are green, making them difficult to track in a landscape that has numerous green plants.
Although planthoppers can gorge on plant cells rapidly, these pests are among the easiest to eliminate. Take advantage of several non-chemical techniques to remove planthoppers. These include:
- Strong blasts of water from a garden hose
- Non-toxic insect killers
- Insecticidal soap
- Sticky insect traps
A few planthoppers on your lawn might not be a significant cause for concern. But a swarm of these insects may require you to take drastic measures immediately.
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False Chinch Bug
You can find false cinch bugs in places like pastures, foothills, and tall grass. These pests tend to feast on landscaping during spring as the bug migrates to different locations to feed.
You’ll know if you’ve got a false chinch bug infestation when you see a grayish-brown, slender critter crawling about your garden. But don’t confuse this bug with other insects, mainly if you see other multi-legged creatures having similar color.
Nonetheless, false chinch bugs tend to feast on seedlings. This crawlies can also eat some plants, but they make your plants wilt. The damage increases if swarms infest your landscaping.
Waves of these bugs can engulf garden plants. You may even see your lawn “moving” once false chinch bugs decide to consider your landscape as their buffet area.
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Mole Crickets
It’s common to hear chirping sounds when you’re in your yard. But if you don’t see birds in the vicinity, the chances are that you are listening to mole crickets.
Mole crickets can burrow their short and stout legs in the ground. These brown insects tend to lay their eggs in landscapes around spring. After two to four weeks, the eggs hatch, and it’s the time to protect your garden from these newborns.
Both young and adult mole crickets feed on grass. Furthermore, the tunneling ability of these insects damages the soil underneath your plants, preventing healthy growth. Mole crickets that burrow also loosen the ground, causing the earth in your property to dry quickly.
If left unchecked, mole crickets can ravage gardens completely, leaving nothing but bare ground.
Conclusion
Don’t underestimate the feeding frenzy of some uncommon bugs and insects. Pests like potato bugs, hemlock woolly adelgid, planthoppers, mole crickets, and false chinch bugs can decimate your beautiful landscaping completely. Once you see these critters, take the correct precautionary measures to ensure they won’t call for reinforcements. Failure to act fast may lead to the destruction of your landscape. Follow the tips in this article to keep your landscaping beautiful and healthy.
