Chewing Insects

• Chewing insects will eat the leaves, flowers and stems of the vegetable plants in the garden. These insects do so much damage that entire crops can be destroyed. They will attack the home garden as well as commercial crops. Beetles are included in the chewing insects. Many types of beetles attack garden vegetables including cucumber beetles, blister beetles, asparagus beetles, flea beetles and Mexican bean beetles. Most beetles are easily recognizable by their wings and hard exterior. If you notice chewing insects on your vegetable plants, remove them by hand or with a strong stream of water. Use a food-safe pesticide to prevent chewing insects from infesting the vegetable garden.
  
  

Caterpillars

• Caterpillars are the wormlike larvae of moths and butterflies. Some common caterpillars are cabbage looper, cutworm, corn earworm, hornworm and pickleworm. Moths and butterflies find a place to lay eggs where the larvae will have plenty to eat when they hatch. Sometimes this ends up being in the vegetable garden. If you notice egg clusters on the underside of the leaves, chances are you have some type of caterpillar problem. Remove the egg clusters and destroy them before they have a chance to hatch. Spray the vegetable plants early in the growing season with a food-safe or homemade pesticide to prevent moths and butterflies from laying their eggs on the plants.
  
  

Sucking Insects

• Sucking insects all have a long tongue that they use to pierce the stems of plants and suck up all the nectar or water. This prevents nutrients from getting to the growing vegetables. Look for leaves that have a yellowish color or are rather limp and wilting, even after a good watering. The sucking insects include aphids, leafhoppers and whiteflies. Spray the vegetable plants with a stream of water as soon as you notice signs of the sucking insects. Using a food-safe pesticide as soon as the seedlings begin to emerge from the ground will help prevent sucking insects from taking over the garden.
  
  

Mites

• Mites are related to the spider. Mites damage vegetable plants by sucking all sap and moisture out of them. A sign that mites are ruining the vegetable plants in your garden is leaves that turn yellow or brown. You may also notice spiderlike webs throughout the garden. A good spray of water will get rid of the mites, especially by spraying the undersides of the leaves where they tend to live. Use a food-safe pesticide to keep mites from taking up residency on the vegetable plants.