The most likely culprits are tiny flea beetles the size of a pinhead that jump away and hide at the slightest disturbance. Holes made by slugs are larger, with smooth edges, while those caused by diseases feature discolored patches or contrasting margins. Flea beetle holes are round, resembling tiny pits.
Is it OK to eat arugula with holes?
Fortunately, there’s good news! Greens with holes in them that were created by feeding insects or slugs should be fine to eat, if you cut away the damaged parts.
What causes tiny holes in leaves?
Chewing insects eat leaves and make holes by biting or tearing leaves and grinding them with their tooth-like mandibles. Few plants — or plant parts — are safe from damage by chewing insects. Day-feeding Japanese beetles skeletonize the leaves of hundreds of plant species.
Does arugula have bugs?
Flea beetles are a common problem encountered when growing arugula, as are slugs, some caterpillars, aphids, and even birds. Floating row covers can help reduce pest populations, as can weed management and keeping an overall tidy garden. Planting trap crops, such as radishes, can deter pests away from your arugula.
What are the tiny holes on leaves?
Slugs are the most common cause of holes in leaves, but they often remain unseen because they feed at night. Sometimes larger slugs eat leaves from the edge inward, but small slugs make irregular holes inside leaves, as shown in the chard leaf on the right in the above photo. Slug holes always have smooth green edges.
How do you treat holes in plant leaves?
For both, treat with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Sucking insects poke tiny holes in leaves and draw the juices out of them. Common sucking insects include aphids, squash bugs, and spider mites.
What does aphids look like?
Aphids are small, 1/16- to 1/8-inch-long (2-4 mm), pear-shaped, soft-bodied insects. They can range in color from green, black, red, yellow, brown or gray. Mature aphids can be wingless or can have wings. Winged aphids are similar in color but are a little darker.
How do I get rid of bugs eating my leaves?
Use 1 tablespoon of mild soap (like dish soap or castile soap) to 1 cup of vegetable oil. Mix well. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil mix to 1 quart of water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the top and bottom of each leaf where the insects are dwelling and the stems if needed.
What is eating holes in my leaves?
Flea beetles eat holes in many types of plants, including roses, hydrangeas, broccoli, cabbage, kale, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and even fragrant mint. Other small beetles, including cucumber beetles, cause similar-looking leaf holes. The longer they eat plant leaves, the more extensive the damage becomes.
What to spray on plant leaves to keep bugs away?
Once they’re gone for the moment, spray down the plants with a homemade insecticidal soap. A great recipe for a homemade bug spray for vegetable plants is to use one tablespoon of dish soap, one cup of vegetable oil, one quart of water, and one cup of rubbing alcohol.
How do you test arugula for bugs?
With your thumb, shuffle through the leaves on the newly exposed area, making sure they are clean and free of bugs. Separate all leaves and soak in water with Veggie Wash for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, rub each leaf between your fingers.
How do you protect arugula from flea beetles?
Flea beetles can be kept away from crops by planting strongly-scented plants such as catnip, sage, mint, or hyssop nearby. Nasturtium, radishes, and basil can be used as “trap crops” to take the beetles’ focus off of more valuable plants.
Do coffee grounds deter flea beetles?
Coffee grounds are a good repellent for flea beetles, but to get rid of them, the best and most effective option is diatomaceous earth, which will dehydrate the pests on contact.
Do aphids make holes in leaves?
Aphids are a sap-sucking pest that can cause tiny holes in the leaves of plants. These tiny insects are less than a quarter inch long (even as adults) and are nearly invisible to people.
How do I get rid of leaf miners?
Leaf Miner Overview
Crushing larval form in their trails is the most effective killing method. Alternatives include neem oil, Bt spray, and spinosad spray as well as beneficial insects such as beneficial nematodes and parasitic wasps. Prevention using lures, sticky traps, and floating row covers is highly effective.
How do I keep bugs from eating my plants naturally?
Spread crushed eggshells beneath the targeted plants and creepy-crawlies will move along. Make A Stink: Many aromatic herbs, like yarrow, citronella, mint, fennel, catnip, basil, and lemongrass are natural deterrents for garden pests from aphids to potato beetles.
What causes holes in plants?
Holes in flower leaves usually indicate insect pests rather than disease, which tends to cause spots on the leaves or dropping leaves. Holes are caused by insects with chewing mouthparts, such as caterpillars and beetles.
How do you identify what is eating my plants?
Look carefully under leaves for signs such as egg clusters and tiny larvae. Since many different species and sizes of caterpillars and beetles appear in gardens, look for information on the plant that’s being chewed to determine what insect pests are typically associated with it.
How do you make homemade bug spray for plants?
Oil Spray: Mix 1 cup of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of mild liquid soap. Add 2-8 teaspoons of this mixture to 1 quart of water and spray your plants as above. The oil in this spray smothers the insects so it is effective on aphids, thrips, mites, and scale.
What kills aphids instantly?
Spray with Water
The safest and fastest way to control aphids is to spray them off your plants with a strong stream of water from the garden hose. Aphids are such small, soft-bodied insects that even a good rainstorm can knock them off.
How do you tell if your plant has aphids?
Look for misshapen, curling, stunted, or yellowing leaves. Be sure to check the undersides of leaves; aphids love to hide there. If the leaves or stems are covered with a sticky substance, that is a sign that aphids may have been sipping sap.