There are two types of insect pests. Here’s what you’ll want to remember

5 things to do in the garden this week: 

1. There are two types of insect pests, chewing and sucking. With the exception of grasshoppers, katydids, and crickets, which are chewing insects, most of the insect pests we see suck sap from plants. These are five sucking insect pests that are widely seen: scale, white fly, aphid, thrips, and mealybug, the first letter of each conveniently found in SWATM, a handy acronym by which to remember them. The other pest we commonly see is spider mite, which is not an insect but an arachnid.