Step 3
Assessment of Plant Damage

At this step, assessment of plant damage is in order. It is easy to overreact to garden or orchard insect pest attack. Especially if you have spent months or even years, giving these crops a lot of care. Before quickly initiating eradicating measures, careful assessment of the damage is important.

Observation is the Key

It is important to observe the damage to see exactly what and where the damage is. If it's the leaves, look at both the outer, underside and edges of the leaf to see if where the damage is occurring. Often an insect will leave behind digested waste or residue, which gives you a clue to what type of insect it is.

Insect Damage Areas

• Leaves - Check everything about the leaf. Check all sides and edges. Is it a cutting (outer edges) or Chewing (inside) insect?
• Stems – What are the visible marks on the stems? What do they look like?
• Main Stalks or Trunk – Is this pest attacking the lower stalk?

On the other hand, Mites and Borers may escape serious notice, and may require thorough examination of subterranean parts of the plants. In this case, you will need to pull the plant out and check the roots.

Step 4 - Select insect control tactic once assessment of the plant damage is complete