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appear in summer on the upper surface of lime tree leaves. These growths, or galls, may be yellowish green or red. lime treesn/aMore common garden pests affecting fruit treesApple sawflyCurrant blister aphidsPear leaf blister miteAphids

Of the black, red and yellow ants that are commonly seen in the garden, only the red ones (from the Myrmica species) sting. Other than that, ants are more of a nuisance than a pest. They feed mostly on insects, including other ants, and honeydew

Pears ripening on the tree are damaged by wasps excavating holes into the soft, juicy flesh. The holes are initially created by hungry birds, then wasps are attracted by the juice and move in.Pears that are still on the tree display hollowed out cavities, often with wasps still i...

is not a problem, but in excess the plants will suffer and could even die.Smudges of white, waxy deposits appear at the base of phormium leaves, deposited by sap-feeding insects. The mealybug can cause loss of vigour in the plant and, in extreme cases

The horse chestnut scale insect was first found in the UK in the late 1960s, having come over from southern Europe. It is now widespread and common in the south of the UK and Ireland, and is spreading northwards. Mature, adult horse chestnut scale

When apple trees are in flower, the sawfly, Hoplocampa testudinea, lays its eggs in the developing fruit. In June, the larvae tunnel their way under the skin of the fruit and into the core, causing the apples to fall. When they're ready, they tunnel out of the apples, creating a ...

Creamy-yellow larvae hatch from the white eggs of the carrot fly, Psila rosae, and tunnel into the roots of carrots and other related plants, such as parsnips and celery. The damage creates brown scarring on the exterior of the taproots. Damaged roots are then susceptible to seco...

and can be collected in the morning. Encourage natural predators, such as spiders and garden birds, especially starlings. Use the biological control Steinernema feltiae, which should be applied while the ground is still moist and warm in late

The problem looks worse than it is. Miniscule mites secrete chemicals that cause blistering or blotches on the new leaves, which gradually turn blackish-brown. Although the mites breed prolifically, producing several generations over summer, the productivity of the tree isn't usu...

can be eliminated by calling in professional pest control companies, or if the nest is small enough, by using a proprietory product from any hardware store.fruit trees and busheslate-summer to autumnMore common garden pestsSlugsAphidsEarwigsMealybugs