Vegetable Pests

Whiteflies Order: HemipteraFamily: Aleyrodidae Description Whiteflies are a common pest of plants, particularly greenhouse plants, and a vector of several plant diseases.  Despite their name, ...

Tomato fruitworm, Helicoverpa zea Order: LepidopteraFamily: Noctuidae Description Tomato fruitworm moths are about 1 inch long and are white or tan with irregular wing markings. These moths are ...

Thrips Order: Thysanoptera Family: Thripidae Description When fully grown, thrips are about 1-1.5 mm (0.03-0.06 inches) long and have long slender bodies with two pairs of wings that are narrow ...

Sugarbeet root maggot, Tetanops myopaeformis Order: DipteraFamily: Otitidae Description Adults of sugarbeet root maggot are 6.5 mm (0.25 inches) long with shiny, black bodies that do not have ...

Squash bugs, Anasa tristis Order: HemipteraFamily: Coreidae   Description Squash bugs are true bugs and are distinctively shiny, slightly oval and black with copper-colored markings on ...

Spider mites  Order: AcariFamily: Tetranychidae Description Spider Mites small arachnids that are difficult to see with the unaided eye. They are a common pest on many plants in yards and ...

Potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli  Order: HemipteraFamily: Triozidae Description Potato psyllid is the most damaging insect to potatoes and tomatoes in Colorado. The adult potato psyllids ...

Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Order: ColeopteraFamily: Scarabidae Description The adult Japanese beetle has an oval body and is about 15 mm (0.6 inches) in length. It is generally metallic ...

Imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae Order: LepidopteraFamily: Pieridae Description Adults of imported cabbageworm are active during the day and have a wingspan of about 5 cm (2 inches). They ...

Hornworms Order: LepidopteraFamily: Sphingidae Description Hornworms are among the largest caterpillars found in Colorado, with some species reaching lengths of up to 7.5 cm (3 inches). Many ...

Grasshoppers in vegetables Order: OrthopteraFamily: Acrididae Description The redlegged grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum) can be shades of red, brown, yellow, green, and olive green. These ...

Fungus gnats Order: DipteraFamily: Sciaridae Description Fungus gnats are small, dainty flies that resemble mosquitoes and are often found in greenhouses, homes, and offices. Adults are 3 mm ...

Flea beetles Order: ColeopteraFamily: Chrysomelidae Description Flea beetles are small insects that can jump when threatened. They are beetles, have sclerotized pair of hind wings and chewing ...

Cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni Order: LepidopteraFamily: Noctuidae Description Moths are 1.9 cm (0.75 inch) long and have grey or brown bodies. A silver “figure eight” mark in the center of ...

Armyworms Order: LepidopteraFamily: Noctuidae Description Armyworm caterpillars tend to feed in groups, a behavior that distinguishes them from other vegetable pests such as the imported ...