📌 Quick Reference

🔎 Master Pest Table

(Filter by Type, Location, or Status in your Notion database view — set "Pest Name" as title, all others as select/multi-select properties)

Pest Name Type Status Appearance Common Damage Plants Affected Location on Plant Active Season
Aphids Insect Harmful Small green, black or brown, soft-bodied Curled leaves, sticky honeydew Roses, vegetables, fruit trees Leaves, stems, buds Spring–Autumn
Whiteflies Insect Harmful Tiny white flying insects Yellow leaves, honeydew Tomatoes, herbs, ornamentals Leaf undersides Warm months
Scale insects Insect Harmful Small waxy/shell-like bumps Weak growth, yellowing Citrus, shrubs Stems, leaf undersides Year-round
Spider mites Mite Harmful Tiny red or yellow mites Fine webbing, speckled leaves Indoor and outdoor plants Leaf undersides Hot, dry periods
Mealybugs Insect Harmful White cotton-like clusters Sticky residue, poor growth Indoor plants, succulents Leaf joints, stems Year-round (indoors)
Caterpillars Larva Harmful Soft-bodied, varied colour Large irregular holes Vegetables, flowers Leaves Warmer months
Snails Mollusc Harmful Shelled, slow-moving Ragged leaf damage, slime trails Seedlings, leafy vegetables Leaves, stems After rain, cool/damp
Slugs Mollusc Harmful Shell-less, slow-moving Large holes, slime trails Herbs and vegetables Leaves, soil surface After rain, cool/damp
Thrips Insect Harmful Tiny, slender, dark Silvering, distorted growth Ornamentals, vegetables Flowers, leaves Warm months
Earwigs Insect Mixed Elongated, pincers at rear Ragged holes, seedling damage Seedlings, soft fruit Leaves, buds Night-active
Grasshoppers Insect Harmful Large jumping insect Chewed leaf edges Vegetables, ornamentals Leaves Summer
Leaf miners Larva Harmful Larvae inside leaf tissue Winding pale trails in leaves Citrus, leafy vegetables Inside leaf Spring–Autumn
Fungus gnats Insect Harmful (larvae) Small dark flies Weak growth, root damage Indoor plants (overwatered soil) Soil surface, roots Year-round (indoors)
Root-feeding grubs Larva Harmful Curled, pale larvae Wilting, poor growth Lawns, vegetables Roots (below soil) Spring–Summer
Wireworms Larva Harmful Thin, shiny, orange-brown Root and tuber damage Vegetables, root crops Roots (below soil) Spring
Root mealybugs Insect Harmful White cottony, on roots Poor growth, wilting Potted plants, succulents Roots (below soil) Year-round
Root aphids Insect Harmful Small pale insects on roots Stunted growth Vegetables, potted plants Roots (below soil) Warm months
Cabbage white caterpillars Larva Harmful Green, velvety larvae Large holes in brassica leaves Cabbage, broccoli, kale Leaves Spring–Autumn
Tomato fruitworms Larva Harmful Green/brown boring larvae Holes bored into fruit Tomatoes, corn Fruit Summer
Cutworms Larva Harmful Grey/brown, curl when disturbed Seedlings cut at soil line Seedlings, young vegetables Stem base Spring
Ladybirds Insect Beneficial Round, red/orange with spots None — preys on aphids N/A (predator) Leaves, stems Spring–Autumn
Lacewings Insect Beneficial Pale green, delicate wings None — preys on aphids, mites N/A (predator) Leaves Spring–Autumn
Hoverflies Insect Beneficial Bee-mimic, hovers in place None — larvae eat aphids N/A (predator/pollinator) Flowers, leaves Spring–Autumn
Native bees Insect Beneficial Small, varied colouring None — pollinator N/A (pollinator) Flowers Spring–Autumn
Predatory wasps Insect Beneficial Slender, varied colouring None — parasitises pest larvae N/A (predator) Leaves, stems Spring–Autumn

🍃 Damage-Pattern Lookup

Use this when you can see the damage but haven't spotted the pest yet.

Damage Seen Most Likely Cause(s)
Large irregular holes Caterpillars
Smooth semicircular bites Leafcutter bees (beneficial)
Ragged edges appearing overnight Snails, slugs
Tiny pinholes Flea beetles
Skeletonised leaves (veins only) Beetle larvae
Curled or distorted leaves Aphids, psyllids
Sticky residue / black sooty mould Aphids, scale, mealybugs, whiteflies (honeydew)
Fine webbing Spider mites
Winding pale trails inside leaf Leaf miners
Silvering on leaves/flowers Thrips
Wilting despite normal watering Root-feeding pests (grubs, wireworms, root aphids)
Seedling cut off at soil line Cutworms

🌱 By Growing Environment

Environment Pests Most Likely
Indoor plants Spider mites, mealybugs, scale, fungus gnats, root mealybugs
Vegetable garden Aphids, whiteflies, leaf miners, cabbage white caterpillars, tomato fruitworms, cutworms, slugs, snails
Citrus / shrubs Scale insects, leaf miners
Lawns / soil Root grubs, wireworms
Roses / ornamentals Aphids, thrips, caterpillars

❓ FAQ / Troubleshooting

My plant has yellow leaves and sticky residue — what is it? Almost certainly a sap-sucking pest — check for aphids, scale, mealybugs, or whiteflies first, since all four produce honeydew.

How do I tell a beneficial insect from a pest? Beneficial insects (ladybirds, lacewings, hoverflies, native bees, predatory wasps) don't cause visible feeding damage — they're either predators or pollinators. If you see damage, the culprit is elsewhere.

Wilting despite regular watering — is it a pest? Check the roots. Root-feeding grubs, wireworms, root mealybugs, and root aphids all cause wilting that mimics underwatering.

What's active after rain? Snails and slugs become most active in cool, damp conditions following rainfall.

Which pests affect fruit directly, not just leaves? Tomato fruitworms bore into fruit; most other listed pests target foliage, stems, or roots.