Tomato: Slugs categories: Tomato Tomato Insects Vegetables revision date: 2023-01-31 12:00 Slug damage and slimePhoto by: R.S. Byther Biology Slugs are common garden pests in western Washington. They resemble snails, but lack shells. They may vary in size from as little as 1⁄4″ up to several inches in length, depending on age and species. Foliage […]
Tomato: Spider mites categories: Tomato Tomato Insects Vegetables revision date: 2023-04-04 12:00 Spider mites under microscopePhoto by: L.K. Tanigoshi Biology Spider mites are tiny, eight-legged mites which range in color from yellowish to green or red. They typically feed on the underside of leaves, causing a yellowish to bronze stippling or speckling of leaves. Severe […]
Tomato: Tomato hornworm categories: Tomato Tomato Insects Vegetables revision date: 2023-04-12 12:00 Tomato hornworm larva close-upPhoto by: W. Cranshaw, CSU Biology The tomato hornworm is the larva of a sphinx moth. The adult moth has a wingspan of up to 4″-5″. Wing color is generally mottled gray. Mature caterpillars may reach up to 5″ in […]
Spinach: Damping-off categories: Spinach Spinach Diseases Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Damping-off of cucumber seedlingsPhoto by: R.S. Byther Biology Damping-off is caused by fungi that remain in the soil for long periods of time. Infected seeds decay without germinating. Seedlings may be infected and fail to emerge from the soil. Emerged seedlings are also attacked, […]
Spinach: Aphids categories: Spinach Spinach Insects Vegetables revision date: 2023-04-04 12:00 Aphid colony on leafPhoto by: A.L. Antonelli Biology Aphids are small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects. They vary in color from yellow to light or dark green. Aphids typically feed in colonies on the leaves, often preferring the newer growth. Infested leaves turn yellow and may […]
Spinach: Loopers categories: Spinach Spinach Insects Vegetables revision date: 2023-04-12 12:00 Alfalfa looper and damagePhoto by: A.L. Antonelli Biology Loopers are green caterpillars up to about 1 1⁄2″ in length. They may have pale or dark stripes along the body. They are distinguished by their characteristic looping or “measuring-worm” movement. Loopers feed on leaves of many […]
Spinach: Spinach or beet leafminer categories: Spinach Spinach Insects Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Spinach leafminer damagePhoto by: A.L. Antonelli Biology The beet or spinach leafminer is the larva of a small (1⁄4″) gray fly with black hairs. Eggs are laid on the leaves of beets, chard, spinach, and weeds including lambsquarters. The emerging maggots […]
Radish: Cabbage maggot categories: Radish Radish Insects Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Cabbage maggots and damage on turnipPhoto by: A.L. Antonelli Biology The cabbage maggot is the larvae of a gray fly that is about 3⁄16″ long. Females lay eggs near the base of plants such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, radish, and turnip. The white […]
Potato: Bacterial soft rot and blackleg categories: Potato Potato Diseases Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Potato soft rot Photo by: R.S. Byther Biology Soft rot and blackleg are both caused by bacteria. The soft rot symptoms typically appear on tubers. The small to large circular lesions are sunken, tan or brown, water-soaked areas on the […]
Potato: Late blight categories: Potato Potato Diseases Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Potato late blight foliar symptomsPhoto by: R.S. Byther Biology Late blight of potato is caused by a fungus which also causes disease on tomato, eggplant, and other members of the potato family (Solanaceae). Gray-green, water-soaked spots appear on leaves and stems. These quickly […]
Potato: Potato leafroll mosaic (Leafroll) categories: Potato Potato Diseases Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Potato leafroll: healthy vs. diseasedPhoto by: Unknown Biology Leafroll and net necrosis symptoms are caused by a virus. The virus is transmitted by aphids and is also carried in infected tubers. Leaves of plants grown from infected seed pieces show a […]
Potato: Powdery scab categories: Potato Potato Diseases Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Potato powdery scabPhoto by: R.S. Byther Biology Powdery scab is a fungal disease affecting potato roots and tubers. Tubers develop slightly raised, purplish or brown lesions or pustules on the skin. Initially, the lesions are closed and blisterlike. They later split open to […]
Potato: Rhizoctonia canker (Black scurf) categories: Potato Potato Diseases Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Potato black scurf fungal structuresPhoto by: R.S. Byther Biology Rhizoctonia canker is caused by a fungus commonly found in the soil. On potatoes, young underground tissues may be attacked. The reddish-brown to brown lesions may result in girdling of sprouts, stolons, […]
Potato: Scab (Common) categories: Potato Potato Diseases Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Potato common scabPhoto by: R.S. Byther Biology Common scab is characterized by the development of brownish, corky or scabby spots on the surface of the tubers. The spots may be up to 1⁄4″ or more in diameter and slightly raised, or may develop […]
Potato: Verticillium wilt (Potato early dying) categories: Potato Potato Diseases Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Verticillium wilt (early dying) on potatoPhoto by: R.S. Byther Biology Verticillium wilt is caused by a fungus commonly found in the soil. Many species of plants are affected by Verticillium, but tomato and potato are favored hosts. Typically, the fungus […]
Potato: Colorado potato beetle categories: Potato Potato Insects Vegetables revision date: 2023-04-04 12:00 Colorado potato beetle adultPhoto by: Clemson University Biology The adult Colorado potato beetle is a broad (1⁄4″ wide), yellow-and-black striped beetle up to about 3⁄8″ in length. The adults overwinter in the soil, emerging in the spring. They lay clusters of yellow […]
Potato: Potato flea beetles categories: Potato Potato Insects Vegetables revision date: 2023-04-04 12:00 Potato flea beetle damagePhoto by: R.S. Byther Biology Flea beetles are small, brown to metallic black beetles with a habit of jumping like fleas when disturbed. They feed on many plants including potato, tomato, radish, spinach, and many weeds. Adults eat small […]
Potato: Slugs categories: Potato Potato Insects Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Slug damage and slimePhoto by: R.S. Byther Biology Slugs are common garden pests in western Washington. They resemble snails, but lack shells. They may vary in size from as little as 1⁄4″ up to several inches in length, depending on age and species. Foliage […]
Potato: Wireworms categories: Potato Potato Insects Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Potato wireworm damagePhoto by: Unknown Biology Wireworms are the larvae of click beetles. The adult beetles are hard-shelled, tapered, and gray-brown to black in color. When turned on their back, they flip over with a sharp “click”. The larvae live in the soil, feeding […]
Pepper, Eggplant: Curly top (Western yellow blight) categories: Pepper, Eggplant Pepper, Eggplant Diseases Vegetables revision date: 2022-12-07 12:00 Curly top virus symptoms on beanPhoto by: G.Q. Pelter Biology Curly top is caused by a virus transmitted by the beet leafhopper. Many crops are affected, including tomato, bean, squash, cucumber, and pepper. Typical symptoms of the […]