Western Red Cedar: Medicinal Uses & Care Tips

Aphids are small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects (1/16 to 1/8 inch long) that feed by sucking nutrient-rich sap from plants. They reproduce rapidly and can quickly weaken plants, causing distorted growth and transmitting plant viruses. Aphids come in various colors including green, black, red, yellow, brown, and gray. They secrete honeydew, a sticky substance that attracts ants and encourages sooty mold growth.

Pestalotiopsis is a group of fungi (now often placed in Neopestalotiopsis and related genera) that causes leaf spots and tip blight, especially on plants that are stressed or kept too wet. It shows up most after cool, rainy weather or in crowded plantings with poor airflow. Look for tan to dark-brown spots that may have a yellow edge, or shoot tips that brown and die back from the tip inward. Tiny black pinhead-like dots often appear in the dead tissue—these are the fungus’s spore-producing bodies. It commonly affects arborvitae, juniper, cypress, yew, boxwood, many palms (including indoor palms), and can also occur on strawberry leaves and fruit.

Caterpillars are the larval stage of moths and butterflies that feed voraciously on plant foliage, stems, flowers, and fruits. Common species include cabbage loopers, tomato hornworms, armyworms, and cutworms. These pests can cause extensive damage by consuming large amounts of plant tissue in a short time. They vary in size from small (1/4 inch) to large (5 inches), with colors ranging from green to brown, often featuring stripes or spots. Caterpillars are highly mobile and can quickly spread throughout gardens, making them one of the most destructive common pests.