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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 insects are up to 5mm long and c...

Hungry, voracious caterpillars can be found in a wide variety of colours and sizes. Some feed on fruits, roots and stems, but the likes of the cabbage white butterfly, hawk moth and winter moth feed on leaves. Although they may at first seem

The word used for the larvae of many species of moth. Usually green, brown or yellow soft-bodied caterpillars, often with stripes running their length, cutworms are voracious feeders of leaf, bud and stem and can destroy entire plants.

A grub, the larva of small flies and some moths, which tunnels into the leaves of plants. Damage to the leaves takes the form of a pattern of semi-transparent lines or pale, blistered patches.

Hang pheromone traps in fruit trees to control moth pests, such as codling moth larvae, which eat applesThin out congested fruit crops on peaches and nectarines, spacing fruits about 10cm apartWatch out for signs of powdery mildew or disease

by leek moth. More and more gardeners have been asking about this small but potentially devastating pest at recordings of Gardeners’ Question Time, and at talks I have given.The caterpillars of the moth cause horrible, discoloured patches on the leek

Applied to fruit trees to protect them from the wingless females of some moths, which would climb trees to lay eggs among young shoots. A sticky substance, such as fruit tree grease, is applied to the bole of the tree in a 10cm band, 3ft above

to attract moths. In turn, the moths pollinate the plants. I know a number of people who won't grow night-scented plants because they can't abide moths, and the thought of attracting them in is unthinkable. But I'd say give them a try, because in my

Last year I wrote a blog about cuckoo spit, in which I documented the fauna that had appeared in my garden after I had transformed it from a paved courtyard. I celebrated the arrival of butterflies, birds, froghopper nymphs and moths, but was less

. Insects you'll attract to your garden include buff-tailed and common carder bumblebees, honeybees, hoverflies, comma, painted lady, small tortoishell, speckled wood butterflies and the angel shades, dart and brimstone moths. Some will still be found