Mexican Bean Beetle

Given its size and spots, you might mistake this pest for a ladybug. Though related to ladybugs, Mexican bean beetles are far from beneficial. Their distinctive bronze background color gives away their identity.

Parasitic Wasps

Several tiny wasps are parasites of garden pests. Most common are the Ichneumon wasps, Braconid wasps (pictured at left), and Chalcid wasps. You're much more likely to see the work of these tiny parasitic wasps than the insects themselves.

Root Maggot

Root maggots are the larvae of flies that lay their white eggs in the soil at the base of host plants. Adults are gray and nondescript, and about the size of a housefly.

Squash Vine Borer

Squash vine borers are pests of crops east of the Rockies. The adult is a moth that lays its eggs on the stems near the base of the plant in late spring to early summer.

Tarnished Plant Bug

This bug gets its name from its coppery-brown color. It is a major pest, especially for commercial growers. The list of favorite hosts reads like a catalog of major crops: apples and cotton to flowers and vegetables.

Sharpening Tools

Even top-of-the-line tools need regular cleaning and sharpening to perform their best. Sharp pruning tools make cleaner cuts, allowing plants to heal faster, and sharp digging tools save you time and energy.

Preparing Perennials for Winter

After a season of enjoying the blooms from your perennial flower garden, late fall is the time in cold-winter regions (USDA Climate Hardiness Zones 8 and colder) to prepare the beds for winter. Taking good care of beds in fall will help them thrive next spring and summer.

Slugs and Snails

These mollusks are found throughout North America, particularly in moist, temperate climates. Snails require calcium for their shells, so are less common in areas where this mineral is lacking.

Thrips

Unless you have a magnifying glass, you probably won't see these tiny pests on your plants, but you may notice signs of their presence, including black, shiny speckles (droppings), silvery stippling (masses of tiny discolored scars on plant parts), or, in severe cases, deformed growth.

Anthracnose

This fungus occurs worldwide. In North America it is especially troublesome in the humid eastern part of the continent. Beans develop round, black, sunken spots on pods and stems. Veins on leaf undersides turn black.

Downy Mildew

Various types of downy mildew fungi cause disease in a number of crops across North America. Irregular brown or yellow spots develop on the upper leaf surface; the lower leaf surface beneath these spots is covered with a hairy white or purple mold during humid weather.

Late Blight

Late blight strikes tomatoes and potatoes all over North America at any stage of growth. Irregular gray spots form on leaves. White mold grows on the undersides of these spots.

Nematodes

Various species of these microscopic worms are found all over North America, but they are a more severe problem in the South. They feed on the roots of a wide variety of plants, including tomatoes, celery, beans, and spinach.

Birds

Many birds are friends to the gardener, as they feast on harmful insects and weed seeds. But when they feast on our crops, we categorize them as pests.

Chipmunks & Squirrels

These furry rodents are regulars at many backyard birdfeeders and will also attack a variety of garden targets such as young seedlings, berries, fruits, and vegetables. They even have been known to decapitate flowers such as tulips -- seemingly just for fun.

Raccoons

Raccoons are nocturnal animals that are thriving thanks to increased human contact, as anyone with an unsecured dumpster or trash can will attest. Wild populations prefer areas with trees and water nearby.

Opossums

Let's face it, opossums aren't pretty. They have up to 50 needle-like teeth and ooze offensive fluids from both ends of their body. But like most of the creatures we've profiled here, they learn fast.

Mice, Voles, & Rats

From the smallest house mouse to the largest Norway rat, these rodents live wherever humans do. Rats and mice are active at night, while voles can be seen scurrying about day or night.

Cats & Dogs

Man's best friends can also be your garden's worst enemy. An untrained dog can maul plants or dig up freshly planted bulbs, flowers, or your lawn. Cats won't do as much digging and damage in general, but they love to lie on freshly turned earth where your vegetable seeds were just planted.

Gophers

Found mostly west of the Mississippi River, these burrowing animals range from 6 to 12 inches long and sometimes are confused with ground squirrels. However, these furry creatures with strong digging claws and sharp teeth can cause lots more damage to lawns and gardens than a squirrel.