🐛 Pest ID Guide
What's eating your plant (and how to stop it)
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Want the short list? Here's the minimal kit that covers most indoor pest problems:
Pest Control Starter Kit →
Quick Identification Chart
| Pest | Size | Look for | Where they hide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fungus gnats | 2-3mm | Small black flies near soil | Soil surface |
| Spider mites | Microscopic | Fine webbing, stippled leaves | Leaf undersides |
| Mealybugs | 2-4mm | White cottony masses | Leaf joints, stems |
| Aphids | 1-3mm | Clusters of soft-bodied bugs | New growth |
| Scale | 2-5mm | Brown/tan bumps on stems | Stems, leaf veins |
| Thrips | 1-2mm | Silvery streaks on leaves | Inside flowers |
Fungus Gnats
🟡 Annoying but usually not fatal
What they look like
- Tiny black flies (~2mm) hovering around soil
- Larvae are white/translucent worms in soil
Treatment ladder
- Let soil dry out completely between waterings (free)
- Yellow sticky traps — catch adults immediately
Kensizer Yellow Sticky Traps → - Mosquito bits (BTI) — kills larvae in soil
Summit Mosquito Bits → - Bottom watering only for 2-3 weeks
Spider Mites
🔴 Can kill plants fast
What they look like
- Microscopic (need a loupe to see clearly)
- Fine webbing on leaf undersides
- Leaves look dusty/stippled, then yellow and drop
Treatment ladder
- Isolate immediately — they spread fast
- Shower the plant — knock them off with water
- Increase humidity around affected plants
- Insecticidal soap — apply every 3-5 days for 2-3 weeks
Safer Brand Insecticidal Soap → - Neem oil — for persistent infestations
Harris Neem Oil Concentrate →
Pro tip: Get a loupe to confirm you're dealing with spider mites before treating.
JARLINK 30X 60X Loupe →
Mealybugs
🟠 Persistent and gross
What they look like
- White, cottony masses in leaf joints
- Slow-moving, soft-bodied bugs under the fluff
- Can also infest roots
Treatment ladder
- Isolate the plant
- Manual removal — dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol on cotton swab
- Insecticidal soap — spray thoroughly, repeat weekly
Safer Brand Insecticidal Soap → - Systemic granules (ornamentals only) — for severe root infestations
Bonide Systemic Granules →
Aphids
🟡 Common and manageable
What they look like
- Small, soft-bodied bugs in clusters
- Colors: green, black, white, or pink
- Often on new growth and flower buds
- Leave sticky "honeydew" residue
Treatment ladder
- Blast with water — knock them off
- Insecticidal soap — 2-3 applications, 5 days apart
Safer Brand Insecticidal Soap → - Neem oil — preventive/ongoing
Scale
🟠 Sneaky and hard to spot
What they look like
- Brown/tan bumps that don't move
- Waxy or armored shell
- Often on stems and leaf veins
Treatment ladder
- Manual removal — scrape off with fingernail
- Alcohol swab — wipe down affected areas
- Horticultural oil — smothers them
- Systemic granules — for heavy infestations
Bonide Systemic Granules →
Thrips
🟠 Small but destructive
What they look like
- Tiny (1-2mm), slender insects
- Silver/bronze streaks on leaves
- Black dots (frass) on leaves
Treatment ladder
- Remove affected leaves/flowers
- Blue sticky traps (thrips prefer blue)
- Insecticidal soap — thorough coverage, repeat
Safer Brand Insecticidal Soap → - Systemic granules — for persistent infestations
Prevention Tips
- Quarantine new plants for 2-3 weeks
- Inspect regularly — check leaf undersides weekly
- Keep humidity appropriate — spider mites love dry air
- Don't overwater — fungus gnats breed in wet soil
- Clean your tools — don't spread pests
Products Quick Reference
| Product | Best for |
|---|---|
| Yellow sticky traps | Fungus gnats, monitoring |
| Mosquito bits (BTI) | Fungus gnat larvae |
| Insecticidal soap | Most soft-bodied pests |
| Neem oil concentrate | Prevention, persistent issues |
| Systemic granules | Heavy infestations (ornamentals only) |
| 30x/60x Loupe | Identification |