1. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 1 Plant Pests

2. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 2 Plant Pests Plant pests can be described as those creatures that harm / cause damage to garden and cultivated plants and, if left unchecked, can quickly cause a great deal of damage.

3. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 3 Recognising Pests It is important to accurately identify a pest that is attacking plants so the appropriate action can be taken. Some pests e.g. slugs, snails and rabbits are well known, however small invertebrates such as mites, eelworms, woodlice and millipedes that are less evident.

4. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 4 Recognising Pests The biggest group are insects. Damage may be to part of the plant or destruction of the whole plant. Insects feed in various ways: –Sap sucking –Leaf mining –Defoliating –Tunnelling through stems, roots or fruits

5. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 5 Recognising Pests Sometimes they cause abnormal growths known as galls. Some pests spread viral or fungal diseases. Others coat plants with sugary excrement that encourages sooty moulds.

6. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 6 Peach Potato Aphid (Greenfly) Myzus persicae

7. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 7 Chrysanthemum Leaf miner Phytomyza syngenesiae

8. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 8 Solomon’s Seal Sawfly Phymatocera aterrima

9. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 9 Acorn Gall Wasp Andricus quercuscalicis

10. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 10 Pests Spread Viral or Fungal Diseases Peach Potato Aphid (Greenfly) Myzus persicae Narcissus Virus Colour breaking

11. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 11 Sooty moulds Soft scale Coccus hesperidum Peach Potato Aphid (Greenfly) Myzus persicae

12. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 12 Insect Life Cycles See Oaklearn for information on: pest life cycles complete metamorphosis incomplete metamorphosis

13. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 13 Insect Life Cycles Complete Metamorphosis The immature stages in the life cycle may be very different in appearance to the adult e.g. cabbage white butterfly. 1.Egg - most insects reproduce by laying eggs 2.Larvae of which are caterpillars that feed on brassica leaves 3.The larval stage is followed by a non-feeding resting stage called a pupa 4.The adult butterfly emerges to suck nectar from various flowers

14. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 14 Insect Life Cycles Complete Metamorphosis Lacewings Moths Flies Beetles Ants Bees Wasps Sawflies

15. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 15 Insect Life Cycles Incomplete Metamorphosis The immature stages in the life cycle are rather similar in appearance to the adult form. The length of the life cycle may be as little as two to three weeks for aphids breeding under warm conditions.

16. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 16 Insect Life Cycles Incomplete Metamorphosis Earwigs Aphids Scale Mealybugs Whiteflies Capsid bugs Thrips

17. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 17 Sources of Information Buczacki, S. and Harris, K. (2005) Pests, Diseases & Disorders of Garden Plants. Harper Collins, London. Greenwood, P. and Halstead, A. (1997) The Royal Horticultural Society, Pests & Diseases: the Complete Guide to Preventing, Identifying & Treating Plant Problems. Dorling Kindersley, London.

18. Tuesday 4th April 2010RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture 18 Sources of Information The Royal Horticultural Society Top 10 Garden Pests http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/News/Top-10-pests Garden How Tos – Get Rid of Common Garden Pests http://www.channel4.com/4homes/design-style/design- byspace/garden/garden-how-tos/common-garden-pests-control- identification-10-02-09_p_1.html Health and Safety Executive – Using Pesticides in the Garden http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/garden_home.asp Bayer Garden http://www.bayergarden.co.uk/