IDENTIFYING INSECTS AND PESTS
PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN REMEDY
Troubleshooting for protected cropping requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach . Often plants will show signs of suffering through different symptoms that may be a result of environmental , nutritional and / or pests and diseases . It can be difficult to precisely pinpoint a problem but if you ’ re looking for the right signs , you can narrow down the potential cause for distress .
Pest infestation can cause a range of symptoms during the different stages of the pest ’ s life cycles . Some issues are easily noticed and obvious however some can require the use of magnification and extremely regular observation . Always check your plants daily for signs such as eggs , damage to leaf or stem structure , tracks or other indicative marks .
Pest and disease infestation is usually caused by poor sanitary conditions and lazy workplace procedures in the garden . Constantly ensure to follow strict cleanliness processes to prevent contamination . It is essential to wear protective attire and always disinfect your tools .
It ’ s recommended to install sticky traps ( yellow and blue ) for simplified pest ID and to accurately monitor pest populations . A jeweller ’ s loupe , magnifier or microscope may be necessary to correctly identify a disease or pest problem .
We have included the 6 most common protected cropping pests and how to identify them before they cause too much damage .
39 WWW . HOUSE-GARDEN . COM . AU