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Insect ID: Habitat
Insect ID: Insects in Vegetable Gardens
Broccoli, Cabbage and Other Brassicas:
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- Cabbage Looper
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- Cabbage Flea Beetle (Phyllotreta albionica)
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- Flea beetles (and feeding damage) on broccoli
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- Cabbage Maggot (multiple images)
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- Cabbage Maggots
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- Cabbage Maggot
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- Cabbage Maggot
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- Roots damaged by Cabbage Maggots
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- Diamondback Moth (larva and cocoon stages)
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- Diamondback Moth
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- Eggs of Imported Cabbageworm
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- Imported Cabbageworm (life stages)
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- Tarnished Plant Bug
Broccoli, Cabbage and Other Brassicas:
- Cabbage Looper
- Cabbage Maggot
- Cabbageworm/Imported Cabbageworm
- Diamondback Moth
- Flea Beetles
- Imported Cabbageworm
- If you are in the Farmington area: Swede midge (Cornell) — [serious pest of cruciferous plants]
- Tarnished Plant Bug
Beans:
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- Aphids
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- Green Peach Aphids on broccoli
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- Potato Aphid (‘Winged Rose’ stage)
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- Bean Leaf Beetle (pinned specimen)
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- Bean Leaf Beetle
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- Cabbage Looper
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- Corn Earworm larva (Helicoverpa zea)
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- Corn Rootworm Larvae
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- Southern Corn Rootworm Beetle (Spotted Cucumber Beetle)
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- Cutworms
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- European Corn Borer (collection of images)
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- European Corn Borer larvae
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- Flea beetles
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- A Red-headed Flea Beetle on a bean blossom
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- Red-headed Flea Beetle on a bean leaf
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- Red-headed Flea Beetles on a bean leaf
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- Leafhoppers (such as the Potato Leafhopper shown here)
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- Potato Leafhopper (a pest of not only potatoes, but many other crops as well)
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- A leafhopper nymph (the wing pads are absent in the nymphal stage)
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- Mexican Bean Beetle (adult, larva, and some larval feeding injury as well)
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- Mexican Bean Beetle (life stages)
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- Tarnished Plant Bug
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- Tarnished Plant Bug
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- Spider Mites (leaves with webbing are a telltale sign)
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- Wireworms (Larval stage of beetles called Click Beetles)
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- Wireworms (Click Beetle larvae)
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- Yellowstriped Armyworm caterpillar (Spodoptera ornithogalli) (Belgrade, ME; July 28th, 2021) (photo courtesy of Leilani Carlson)
Beans:
- Aphids (Green Peach Aphids and Potato Aphids)
- Bean Leaf Beetle
- Cabbage Looper
- Corn Earworm
- Corn Rootworm
- Cutworms
- European Corn Borer
- Flea Beetles
- Leafhoppers | Potato Leafhopper (part of UMaine Extension’s Potato IPM Program)
- Leafminers
- Leafminers in Home Gardens (University of Minnesota)
- Leafminers of Vegetable Crops (Utah State University)
- Vegetable Leafminer (University of Florida)
- Mexican Bean Beetle
- Redheaded Flea Beetle (part of UMaine Extension’s Cranberry IPM Program)
- Spider Mites / Two-spotted Spider Mites
- Tarnished Plant Bug
- Wireworms
- Yellowstriped Armyworm (Univ. of Florida)
Lettuce, Endive, Escarole, Spinach:
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- Cabbage Looper
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- Eggs of Imported Cabbageworm
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- Imported Cabbageworm (egg and larva)
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Imported Cabbageworm
(egg, larva, pupa and adult)
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- Potato Leafhopper (a pest of not only potatoes, but many other crops as well)
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- Leafhoppers (such as the Potato Leafhopper shown here)
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- A leafhopper nymph (the wing pads are absent in the nymphal stage)
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- Tarnished Plant Bug
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- Tarnished Plant Bug
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- Yellowstriped Armyworm caterpillar (Spodoptera ornithogalli) (Belgrade, ME; July 28th, 2021) (photo courtesy of Leilani Carlson)
Lettuce, Endive, Escarole, Spinach:
- Cabbage Looper
- Imported Cabbageworm
- Leafhoppers including Aster Leafhopper (Aster Leafhoppers are found on lettuce, celery, carrots, endive, and parsnip)
- Leafminers
- Leafminers in Home Gardens (University of Minnesota)
- Leafminers of Vegetable Crops (Utah State University)
- Vegetable Leafminer (University of Florida)
- Tarnished Plant Bug
- Yellowstriped Armyworm (Univ. of Florida)
Cucurbits (zucchini/squash, melons, pumpkins, cucumbers):
See also our Powdery Mildew of Cucurbits (Disease) Fact Sheet.
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- Potato Aphid (‘Winged Rose’ stage)
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- Green Peach Aphids on broccoli
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- Cabbage Looper
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- Cucumber Beetle (Striped Cucumber Beetle)
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- Corn Rootworm Larvae
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- Southern Corn Rootworm Beetle (Spotted Cucumber Beetle)
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- Squash Beetle adult (left) and a Squash Beetle larva (right)
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- Squash Beetle adult
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- Squash Bug (Life Stages)
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- Squash Bug
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- Squash Vine Borer (Melittia cucurbitae) (August 9th, 2021) (from a summer squash stem in Otisfield, Maine)
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- Squash Vine Borer
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- Two-spotted Spider Mites
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- Spider Mites (leaves with webbing are a telltale sign)
Cucurbits:
- Aphids (Green Peach Aphids and Potato Aphids)
- Cabbage Looper
- Corn Rootworm
- Seedcorn Maggot (Univ. of Minnesota Extension) | see also Delia platura (BugGuide.net)
- Spider Mites / Two-spotted Spider Mites
- Squash Beetles / Squash Lady Beetles
- Squash Bugs
- Squash Vine Borer (not very common in Maine) (Penn State) (adult photo via BugGuide.net)
- Striped Cucumber Beetle
- Two-spotted Spider Mites
Peppers:
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- Cabbage Looper
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- Clavate Tortoise Beetle (Helocassis clavata)
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- Pair of Corn Earworm larvae
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- Corn Earworm larva
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- Cutworms
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- European Corn Borer (collection of images)
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- European Corn Borer (adult/moth)
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- Flea beetles
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- Green Peach Aphids on broccoli
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- Collection of Hornworm Photos, including the Laurel Sphinx (USGS)
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- Hornworms
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- Potato Leafhopper (a pest of not only potatoes, but many other crops as well)
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- Leafhoppers (such as the Potato Leafhopper shown here)
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- A leafhopper nymph (the wing pads are absent in the nymphal stage)
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- Stink Bug
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- A mass of stink bug eggs
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- Adult stink bug
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- Stink Bug
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- Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (adult)
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- Clavate Tortoise Beetle (Helocassis clavata)
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- Tortoise Beetle (larva); Photo by G. Dill, staff
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- Tortoise Beetle (larva with pile of frass for protection and disguise); Photo by G. Dill, staff
Peppers:
- Cabbage Looper
- Clavate Tortoise Beetles
- Corn Earworm
- Cutworms
- European Corn Borer
- Flea Beetles
- Green Peach Aphids
- Hornworms
- Leafhoppers (especially the Potato Leafhopper (part of UMaine Extension’s Potato IPM Program)
- Leafminers
- Leafminers in Home Gardens (University of Minnesota)
- Leafminers of Vegetable Crops (Utah State University)
- Vegetable Leafminer (University of Florida)
- Stink Bugs
- Thrips
- Tortoise Beetles
Tomatoes:
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- Blister Beetles
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- Black Blister Beetle — Epicauta pennsylvanica (DeGeer)
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- Blister Beetles
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- Clavate Tortoise Beetle (Helocassis clavata)
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- Pair of Colorado Potato Beetles
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- Colorado Potato Beetle (above: larvae, and below: adults)
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- Cabbage Looper
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- Corn Earworm larva
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- Pair of Corn Earworm larvae
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- Corn Earworm larva
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- Corn Earworm
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- Moth Stage (corn earworm)
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- Cutworms
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- Tobacco Hormworm (left) and a Tomato Hornworm (right); many people in Maine and beyond encounter tobacco hornworms feasting on their tomato plants so incorrectly assume they are tomato hornworms.
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- Hornworms
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- Tobacco Hornworm feeding on a tomato (seven white lines on each side of its body)
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- Tobacco Hornworm; one can differentiate it from a tomato hornworm by virtue of its seven straight white lines on its side
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- Tarnished Plant Bug
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- Tarnished Plant Bug
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- Three-lined Potato Beetle (Lema daturaphila) (central Maine, 7/20/2021) (very common on tomatillo plants; uncommon on potato in spite of its name)
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- Thrips
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- Clavate Tortoise Beetle (Helocassis clavata)
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- Tortoise Beetle (larva with pile of frass for protection and disguise); Photo by G. Dill, staff
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- Tortoise Beetle (larva); Photo by G. Dill, staff
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- Yellowstriped Armyworm caterpillar (Spodoptera ornithogalli) (Belgrade, ME; July 28th, 2021) (photo courtesy of Leilani Carlson)
Tomatoes:
- Blister Beetles
- Colorado Potato Beetle
- Cabbage Looper
- Clavate Tortoise Beetles
- Corn Earworm (also called Tomato Fruitworm)
- Cutworms
- Hornworms
- Tarnished Plant Bug
- Three-lined Potato Beetle [pdf] (UNH) (very common on tomatillos)
- Thrips
- Tobacco Hornworm (more common in Maine than the tomato hornworm)
- Tomato Hornworm
- Tortoise Beetles
- Yellowstriped Armyworm (Univ. of Florida)
Sweet Corn:
Note: Many of the ‘worm’ pests look very similar to one another.
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- Armyworm Caterpillar
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- Corn leaves damaged by Fall Armyworm larvae
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- Common Stalk Borer
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- Corn Earworm larva
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- Pair of Corn Earworm larvae
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- Corn Earworm larva
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- Corn Earworm
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- Moth Stage (corn earworm)
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- Corn Rootworm Larvae
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- Northern Corn Rootworm Beetle
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- Southern Corn Rootworm Beetle (Spotted Cucumber Beetle)
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- Cutworms
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- European Corn Borer larvae
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- European Corn Borer (collection of images)
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- European Corn Borer (adult/moth)
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- Fall Armyworm larva (Spodoptera frugiperda) (feeding damage to corn)
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- Fall Armyworm Caterpillar (on a corn leaf)
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- A cluster of Japanese Beetles
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- Sap Beetle / Picnic Beetle (on a strawberry)
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- Sap Beetles on a strawberry
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- Wireworms (Click Beetle larvae)
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- Yellowstriped Armyworm caterpillar (Spodoptera ornithogalli) (Belgrade, ME; July 28th, 2021) (photo courtesy of Leilani Carlson)
Sweet Corn:
- Armyworms (including Fall Armyworm)
- Common Stalk Borer
- Corn Earworm
- Corn Rootworm (Northern, Western & Southern)
- Cutworms
- European Corn Borer
- Fall Armyworm
- Japanese Beetles
- Sap Beetles (Univ. of Minnesota Extension)
- Seedcorn Maggot (Univ. of Minnesota Extension) | see also Delia platura (BugGuide.net)
- Wireworms
- Yellowstriped Armyworm (Univ. of Florida)
Potatoes and Eggplant:
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- Cabbage Looper
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- Aphids
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- Potato Aphid (‘Winged Rose’ stage)
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- Green Peach Aphids on broccoli
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- Pair of mating Clavate Tortoise beetles on a potato leaf (Etna, ME; 7/16/2022)
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- Colorado Potato Beetle (above: larvae, and below: adults)
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- Pair of Colorado Potato Beetles
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- Colorado Potato Beetle
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- European Corn Borer (collection of images)
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- European Corn Borer larvae
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- Flea beetles
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- Flea beetles on potato plants
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- Flea beetle feeding damage on a potato plant
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- Potato Leafhopper (a pest of not only potatoes, but many other crops as well)
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- Leafhoppers (such as the Potato Leafhopper shown here)
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- Tarnished Plant Bug
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- Tarnished Plant Bug
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- Three-lined Potato Beetle (Lema daturaphila) (central Maine, 7/20/2021) (very common on tomatillo plants; uncommon on potato in spite of its name)
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- Clavate Tortoise beetle on a potato leaf (Etna, ME; 7/15/2022)
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- Tortoise Beetle (larva); Photo by G. Dill, staff
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- Tortoise Beetle (larva with pile of frass for protection and disguise); Photo by G. Dill, staff
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- Clavate Tortoise Beetle (Helocassis clavata)
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- Wireworms (Click Beetle larvae)
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- Wireworm (additional example)
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- Click Beetle images (larvae and adults)
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- Yellowstriped Armyworm caterpillar (Spodoptera ornithogalli) (Belgrade, ME; July 28th, 2021) (photo courtesy of Leilani Carlson)
Potatoes and Eggplant:
See also: UMaine Extension’s Potato Pest Control Guide
- Aphids (Green Peach Aphids and Potato Aphids)
- Armyworms
- Cabbage Looper
- Clavate Tortoise Beetles
- Colorado Potato Beetle
- Cutworms
- European Corn Borer
- Flea Beetles
- Leafhoppers
- Leafminers
- Leafminers in Home Gardens (University of Minnesota)
- Leafminers of Vegetable Crops (Utah State University)
- Vegetable Leafminer (University of Florida)
- Potato (and other) Aphids (part of UMaine Extension’s Potato IPM Program)
- Potato Leafhopper (part of UMaine Extension’s Potato IPM Program)
- Tarnished Plant Bug
- Three-lined Potato Beetle [pdf] (UNH) (uncommon on potato and less damaging than the Colorado Potato Beetle)
- Tortoise Beetles
- Wireworms
- Yellowstriped Armyworm (Univ. of Florida)