Crickets will happily eat your cannabis plants and leave small holes in your leaves. Mole crickets may be found digging around your plant roots. If you see this pest, it’s a good idea to get rid of them before they build up in numbers! That being said, crickets aren’t a common problem when it comes to cannabis plants, especially compared to grasshoppers.

Tree crickets have been known to chew on cannabis leaves

Young Cricket on Cannabis Leaf

This is a common tree cricket (Genus Oecanthus), also known as an adult snowy tree cricket, sunning itself on a hemp leaf.

Mole Cricket – these can tunnel under your cannabis plants like moles

Solution: How to Get Rid of Crickets on Cannabis​

Crickets will eat holes out of your cannabis leaves (or tunnel under your plants in the case of mole crickets), and you don’t want that! If it’s just one or two crickets you may not notice any symptoms but if your plants start getting infested with them you’ll noticed tons of spots where they have been munching on your leaves.

1.) Check regularly for signs of crickets, especially at night

The best way to prevent a cricket infestation (or any bug infestation really) is to catch them as soon as possible! They come out at night so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out in the evenings. Avoid leaving lights on at night because that attracts them (plus light at night can also mess up your cannabis light periods)! Also make sure to clean your yard and get rid of unnecessary leaf litter, mulch, etc. Crickets can also be attracted to garbage so seal your garbage can up tight!

2.) Cricket Bait & Cricket Traps

Cricket bait or traps can be used to lure crickets and capture them. Sometimes they are very effective. Although this won’t get rid of an infestation, it can really help cut down on the numbers of crickets, making your other methods more effective. One of the cool things about this is that it doesn’t have any poison or insecticide, it’s just luring crickets and trapping them.

Crickets are attracted to light, so anything that lures them can be even more effective if you combine the trap with a light source.

You may need a lot of traps if you have a lot of crickets!

3.) Spinosad

Spinosad Products (safe & organic) – Spinosad products are organic and completely harmless to pets, children, and plants. Spinosad products can be used directly to kill crickets on contact and should be sprayed liberally all over the plant. Although maybe not as strong against pests as some of the more harsh insecticides, it does work and it’s very safe for plants, animals and humans. WARNING: Commercial growers click here.

Recommended: Monterey Garden Insect Spray with Spinosad (not for commercial growers)

Spinosad is an organic insecticide made from the fermentation of a specific soil bacteria (actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa) and kills crickets via ingestion or contact by effecting the insect’s nervous system. Spinosad can be a good choice for organic and outdoor growers, because it is very toxic to grasshoppers , but is less toxic to many beneficial insects, bug predators and spiders.

Note: Most spinosad products are effective for only about 24 hours after being mixed with water, so only mix as much as you will need per application. Anything left over will be waste.

You will need a mister (also called a “One-Hand Pressure Sprayer”) to cover all the leaves evenly when spraying them with spinosad products.

4.) Insecticidal soaps

Fatty acid salts or insecticidal soaps can be a good choice against crickets. They weaken the outer shell of crickets but are safe to use on your plants and they don’t leave much of a residue which could kill beneficial bugs in your garden.

With soaps, coverage is very important as it does not stay on your plant for long, so follow-up applications may be necessary. Although this is considered safe, avoid getting any on your buds!

Natria is an effective insecticidal soap. In the case of mole crickets that are tunneling under your plant, also apply this to the ground.

5.) ​Neem Oil

Neem Oil will leave an unpleasant taste/smell on buds when used to treat flowering plants, so again, don’t let this stuff get near your buds! There’s also some evidence Neem oil may be harmful to humans so use with care! That being said, Neem oil is an all-natural remedy that is very effective against many different types of bugs and mold, including crickets. You will need a mister (also called a “One-Hand Pressure Sprayer”) to spray all the leaves evenly, since neem oil and water can separate easily.

In the case of mole crickets that are tunneling under your plant, also apply this to the ground.

6.) Essentria IC3

Essentria IC3 Insecticide is a mix of various horticultural oils that is organic and safe for humans. It is often marketed as a “bed bug killer” but it can be effective against crickets when the plants are treated regularly. Unfortunately it only stays effective on the plant for about 8 hours so you will want to either apply this daily or combine with other options. You will need a mister (also called a “One-Hand Pressure Sprayer”) to spray all the leaves evenly.

7.) Floating row covers

These may not be the best choice for all cannabis growers, but these are very cheap and effective against crickets because it physically prevents them from getting to your plants, while still letting light in to your plants. You can also water your plants through the netting. These are sometimes used to make mini “green houses” on the plants, or some grower will just drap them over the plant as they’re so light and airy they don’t really bother the plant.

However, these are much easier to use and are more effective with smaller plants, as it becomes difficult to fully cover larger plants. However, for young plants these can be great! They also protect your plant from wind and some harsh conditions.

Floating row covers look like thin netting or mesh

8.) Pyrethrin

Pyrethrin-based insecticides are not very toxic for humans and degrade quickly, which is why they’re commonly recommended for vegetable gardens. You will need a mister (also called a “One-Hand Pressure Sprayer”) to spray all the leaves evenly.

In the case of mole crickets that are tunneling under your plant, also apply this to the ground.

Pyrethrin products break down quickly, over the course of just a day or two. The major problem with them is they are very toxic to bees. Although cannabis plants generally don’t attract a lot of bees, please use this as a last resort, and also try to use it right after the sun goes down because bees sleep at night. This lets it start to break down before they wake up.

Use pyrethrin products in the evening to help prevent harm to bees.

A popular example is Bonide 857 Pyrethrin Spray Concentrate. Use 3 tablespoons of concentrate per gallon of water.

Jump to…

7-Step Cure to 99% of Marijuana Problems

Diagnose Your Sick Plants!

Marijuana Nutrients – What do I need to know?

Compare Different Cannabis Grow Lights

The post Crickets appeared first on Grow Weed Easy.

by Nebula Haze

How to Identify Grasshopper Damage (on Leaves and Stems)

Grasshoppers (and sometimes locusts, which are basically just grasshoppers with wings) happily eat your cannabis leaves, leaving holes, defoliating entire plants, and living among the branches. They can also eat through stems, killing the entire branch, or even cause entire plants to fall over from the massive damage. They leave surprisingly large brown poops (“frass”) on your plants. Grrrrr. If you see this pest, or signs of grasshopper damage, it’s a good idea to get rid of them before they build up in numbers.

Grasshoppers may look cute but they love to munch on cannabis leaves!

Many of the following pictures of grasshoppers on cannabis and grasshopper leaf damage are by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org. (They are the pictures with the black bars and white numbers in the lower right). He has taken dozens if not hundreds of pictures of various pests on marijuana plants to help with bug identification, and his work is greatly appreciated!

Example of grasshopper leaf damage

A grasshopper chilling on a cannabis leaf. Get away from there! This is a differential grasshopper (Melanoplus differentials) full of eggs.

Example of stem damage from the spur-throated grasshoppers (Melanoplus sp.)

You can sometimes see signs of healed stem damage on your branches. This cannabis stem damage from grasshoppers is often mistaken as being from a large animal like a deer.

The grasshoppers ate the stem of this cannabis leaf, so the whole leaf started drooping.

This branch was completely stripped bare by two-striped grasshoppers. One apparently got full halfway and is just dozing and enjoying the weather.

Grasshoppers leave little brown poops (“frass”) on your cannabis leaves, too! Yes, those came from a grasshopper.

Different types of grasshopper damage on cannabis plants

Here are several more pictures of grasshopper damage on cannabis and hemp leaves:

Grasshoppers eat holes and put visible bites in the leaves

Here are a lot more examples of holes in cannabis leaves caused by grasshoppers, to help you compare with the damage you’re seeing.

Grasshoppers eat through stems and can cause branches or plants to fall

Here are several examples of grasshopper stem damage and breaking branches.

Grasshoppers ate through the stem and caused the entire stem (and bud site) to fall and die. These bugs are vicious to cannabis plants!

The two-stripped grasshopper ate this cannabis stem totally bare! Check out this extensive grasshopper stem damage.

Old grasshopper stem damage on a weed plant:

Grasshoppers can eat the leaves of an entire crop of cannabis almost overnight

The two-striped grasshopper species (Melanoplus bivittatus) decimated this hemp field. Many of the hemp plants have no leaves. Some plants look like barren sticks.

Grasshoppers leave poop on the leaves

I was pretty shocked when I learned that this is what grasshopper poop looks like! It’s like a fairy pooped on your plant lol If you see these on your leaves, it’s a sign that grasshoppers have been eating a ton of plants in the nearby area.

Common grasshopper species that attack cannabis plants

Examples of different species of grasshoppers that attack hemp or marijuana plants.

This is the “Differential Grasshopper” (Melanoplus differentials). This is a common and voracious cannabis pest in North America.

The Differential Grasshopper (Melanoplus differentials) can have somewhat different colors. Grasshoppers are typically active during the day or at dawn/dusk. Here are two more as darkness falls:

This female Differential Grasshopper (Melanoplus differentials) is tan / brown in color and full of eggs.

Black Differential grasshopper (Melanoplus differentials). This species of grasshopper also has a black / melanistic form.

Lakin grasshopper (Melanoplus lakinus) is another common cannabis pest species of grasshoppers.

Another Lakin grasshopper (Melanoplus lakinus) living its best life on a hemp plant.

Example of a Migratory grasshopper (Melanoplus sanguinipes) on a cannabis plant.

Here’s an example of a bunch of bold two-striped grasshoppers (Melanoplus bivittatus) chilling on a stem they stripped bare.

This is an unknown species of cannabis grasshopper pest. Contact us if you can identify the species! (and don’t hesitate to submit any cannabis pest pictures to share!)

Thank you to Whitney Cranshaw for generously providing grasshopper pictures to the cannabis-growing community!

Solution: How to Get Rid of Grasshoppers (and Locusts) on Cannabis

Grasshoppers will eat holes out of your cannabis leaves, and you don’t want that! If it’s just one or two grasshoppers you may not notice any symptoms but if your plants start getting infested with them you’ll notice tons of spots where they have been munching on your leaves. If an infestation gets out of hand your plants can be seriously affected.

1.) Check regularly for signs of grasshoppers, especially when it’s dry

The best way to prevent a grasshopper infestation (or any bug infestation really) is to catch them as soon as possible. So make sure to look over your cannabis plants on a regular basis.

Inspect plants regularly for grasshoppers and/or grasshopper damage

2.) Make sure to keep the lawn clean, and grass mowed short

Grasshoppers love grass. They don’t just eat it but also lay their eggs on it. If you reduce the amount of grass, it may help lower their numbers.

Mow lawn weekly and keep grow area clean. Shorter grass takes away grasshopper food and a place to lay eggs.

3.) Insecticidal soaps

Fatty acid salts or insecticidal soaps can be a good choice against grasshoppers. They weaken the outer shell of grasshoppers but are safe to use on your plants and they don’t leave much of a residue which could kill beneficial bugs in your garden.

With soaps, coverage is very important as it does not stay on your plant for long, so follow-up applications may be necessary. Although this is considered safe, avoid getting any on your buds.

Get insecticidal soap with a sprayer attached.

Or save money by getting the Insecticidal soap concentrate to mix with water and use your own sprayer.

4.)  Neem Oil

Neem Oil will leave an unpleasant taste/smell on buds when used to treat flowering plants, so again, don’t let this stuff get near your buds! There’s also some evidence Neem oil may be harmful to humans so use with care. That being said, Neem oil is an all-natural remedy that is very effective against many different types of bugs and mold, including grasshoppers. You will need a mister (also called a “One-Hand Pressure Sprayer”) to spray all the leaves evenly, since neem oil and water can separate easily.

If you use a Neem Oil concentrate to mix with water, make sure to use a sprayer to evenly coat all the leaves.

5.)  Sevin – Only for vegetative stage, not for buds!

Sevin Insect Killer Spray is very effective against grasshoppers and almost immediately kills them on contact. The main ingredient is 0.35% Zeta-Cypermethrin.  However, you should not get this spray on your cannabis buds. It’s best to use in the vegetative stage, and make sure to stop as soon as you see even baby buds forming.

It’s important if you use Sevin Insect Killer Spray to make sure that you let it COMPLETELY dry before you or any pets come into contact with the plants.

Note: Sevin is not allowed in some places due to local laws.

Hook up this version of Sevin Insect Killer to a garden hose to use.

6.) Floating row covers

These may not be the best choice for all cannabis growers, but these are very cheap and effective against grasshoppers because it physically prevents them from getting to your plants, while still letting light in to your plants. You can also water your plants through the netting. These are sometimes used to make mini “green houses” on the plants, or some grower will just drap them over the plant as they’re so light and airy they don’t really bother the plant.

However, these are much easier to use and are more effective with smaller plants, as it becomes difficult to fully cover larger plants. However, for young plants these can be great! They also protect your plant from wind and some harsh conditions.

Floating row covers look like thin netting or mesh

7.) Natural predators

Anything that eats grasshoppers can’t hurt, but this is not a complete solution and should never be combined with any kind of pesticide or insecticide.

For example, I’ve seen growers allow their chickens to feed on bugs on their cannabis or hemp plants.

8.) Pyrethrin

Pyrethrin-based insecticides are not very toxic for humans and degrade quickly, which is why they’re often recommended for vegetable gardens. You will need a mister (also called a “One-Hand Pressure Sprayer”) to spray all the leaves evenly.

Pyrethrin products break down quickly, over the course of just a day or two. So you will need to re-apply often.

The major problem with them is they are very toxic to bees. Although cannabis plants generally don’t attract a lot of bees, please use this as a last resort, and also try to use it right after the sun goes down because bees sleep at night. This lets it start to break down before they wake up.

Use pyrethrin products when the sun goes down! Save the bees!

A popular example is Bonide 857 Pyrethrin Spray Concentrate. Use 3 tablespoons of concentrate per gallon of water.

9.) Spinosad (not for commercial growers) – Organic but not the best against grasshoppers

Note: Spinosad is hit or miss with grasshoppers. Some outdoor cannabis growers claim it helps, other growers say it didn’t make a difference. I thought it was worth including just in case you already had some and want to give it a ty.

Spinosad Products (safe & organic) – Spinosad products are organic and completely harmless to pets, children, and plants. Spinosad products can be used directly to kill grasshoppers on contact and should be sprayed liberally anywhere you see grasshoppers and especially under the leaves. Although maybe not as strong against pests as some of the more harsh insecticides, it does work and it’s very safe for plants, animals, and humans!

Recommended: Monterey Garden Insect Spray with Spinosad

Spinosad is an organic insecticide made from the fermentation of a specific soil bacteria (actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa) and kills grasshoppers via ingestion or contact by affecting the insect’s nervous system. Spinosad can be a good choice for organic and outdoor growers, because it is very toxic to many common cannabis pests, but is less toxic to many beneficial insects and spiders.

Note: Most spinosad products are effective for only about 24 hours after being mixed with water, so only mix as much as you will need per application. Anything left over will be waste.

Note 2: You won’t see grasshoppers die on contact. It takes a few days for Spinosad to work. Grasshoppers need to ingest it and then let it work.

WARNING: Commercial growers click here!

You will need a mister (also called a “One-Hand Pressure Sprayer”) to cover all the leaves evenly when spraying them with spinosad products.

Jump to…

7-Step Cure to 99% of Marijuana Problems

Diagnose Your Sick Plants!

Marijuana Nutrients – What do I need to know?

Compare Different Cannabis Grow Lights

The post Grasshoppers appeared first on Grow Weed Easy.

Slugs or Snails Attacking Your Cannabis Plants? Get Rid of Them Quick!

Ewwww slugs and snails are eating the leaves and buds of my cannabis plants!!!! Although not the most common cannabis pest, slugs and snails are unwelcome visitors when they do show up! Sure signs of snail or slug damage include a trail of slime on leaves, and new holes often have “scalloped” edges where the unwelcome guest has been taking bites out of your leaves with its tiny mouth (often confused with caterpillar damage). After damage has been there a while, the edges start to look more smooth. They are most likely to attack your plants at night.

Slugs almost killed this cannabis plant!

Slugs and snails like to eat the most tender leaves on your cannabis, and although one or two won’t cause a whole lot of damage, if they grow in numbers they can devastate a plant.

Slugs look like snails without a shell

Since they eat chunks out of your leaves, the holes they leaves can sometimes be confused with caterpillar damage. One difference is snails or slugs leave often leave “scalloped” edges since the pests take bites one at a time.This culprit is taking a nap at the scene of the crime!

Unfortunately, these annoying pests attack leaves AND buds, and they can do a surprising amount of damage in a short time, so you want to watch out for them and get rid of them quickly.

• Large holes in tender leaves and buds, often with “scalloped” edges
• May appear in the spring, before most other bugs start coming out
• Leave a trail of silvery slime that may look like spit. The trails will be located on damaged leaves or on the ground near your plants
• Can actually eat seedling leaves overnight, leaving just the stem 🙁

Slugs and snails leave a trail, often on the leaves they’ve munched on, and you may also see trails on the ground around your plants. If you see trails, you know it’s slugs or snails munching on your cannabis!

They often stay hidden, attacking your plants at night, so stay vigilant for slug and snail damage!

Solution to Slugs & Snails

There is no foolproof method to eradicate slugs and snails, but you can protect your plants and try to reduce their numbers in a variety of ways. Although not a cure for slugs/snails, it’s a good idea to allow toads, frogs, and beetles to stay in your garden, as they eat slugs. However, one of the best ways to deal with snails or slugs is to use barriers to physically prevent the pests from being able to get to your plant.

For example, sprinkle circles of lime, eggshells, Diatomaceous Earth, or sawdust around plants.

Diatomaceous Earth is harmless to humans but feels sharp to a slug or snail (this particular bag comes with a powder duster which makes it easier to apply)

Slugs are attracted to saucers, orange rinds, and plastic pots of milk or beer (I’ve read they may even drown themselves in beer).

Slug or snail bait will poison them

How to Make Beer Trap for Slugs and Snails: mix flour with some stale beer and use it to fill a shallow container. Place in the garden with the rim 1 or 2 cm above the ground so that slugs and snails can climb in. Substitute beer for wine, sugar water, juice, or water mixed with yeast.

If you’re not sure what container to use, these ones are specifically designed as slug beer traps

BE WARNED, the trap will fill up quickly so come back often to empty.

To be sure you’re keeping your slimy slug population under control; collect them by hand at night or on damp days. Try collecting them under a tile or wet cardboard, and squash all eggs you find while digging. Placing a saucer of salt is another method that will kill snails and slugs.

Martha Stewart recommends coiling a piece of wire around the base of your plants to give slugs a shocking experience.

More Cannabis Pests, Bugs & Viruses

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Stop Caterpillars From Attacking Your Cannabis!

Caterpillars!!! Argh!!! Sometimes the first sign of caterpillars / worms / cabbage loopers is just seeing chunks of your leaves missing. You may also see clumps of black/brown “dirt” on your leaves, which is caterpillar poop. Lastly, you may actually catch a caterpillar munching on your leaves. It can be angering to catch them in the act.

Caterpillars are one of the most common cannabis pests when growing weed outdoors. Use a BT Caterpillar spray (works best if you apply it with a mister) as a safe and effective way to eradicate them for good.

Recommended: Southern Ag Thuricide BT Caterpillar Control + a mister
(though any caterpillar BT product will work!)
      

What is a “Thuricide”? Thuricide is just a brand name for a specific company’s BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) Caterpillar insecticide. It is popular and effective, but any BT caterpillar killer works for your cannabis plants. Essentially, “Thuricide” is just a marketing term, and not a particular type of insecticide.

Zebra caterpillar on a cannabis leaf, picture by Whitney Cranshaw of Colorado State University

Saltmarsh caterpillar on cannabis leaf, picture by Whitney Cranshaw of Colorado State University

Another saltmarsh caterpillar on a marijuana leaf, picture by Whitney Cranshaw of Colorado State University (thank you!!!)

You’ll see chunks of your leaves missing from the caterpillars devouring your leaves

caterpillar leaf damage pic by molpes

Caterpillar Droppings on Leaves

You Actually See Caterpillars, Inchworms or Cabbage Loopers

caterpillar pic by Waterproof

Proven Caterpillar Remedies

Caterpillar “BT” Spray (safe biological insecticide)

This biological insecticide contains the bacillus thuringiensis (BT) bacteria which kills larva and prevents caterpillars from being able to eat. This is one of the most effective ways to kill caterpillars, and won’t hurt most beneficial insects. As a bonus, it also kills other cannabis pests like fungus gnats, worms and moths.

Apply a caterpillar BT spray as soon as you see leaf damage, caterpillars or caterpillar poop. BT sprays work best on small caterpillars that are actively eating your leaves. Repeat every week for as long as you’re still seeing caterpillars, though you can give BT more often if there’s a heavy infestation. Make sure to thoroughly mist both the tops and bottoms of leaves, and apply again after a heavy rain (since that will wash the BT away). Since BT is harmless to humans, you can use BT products up to the day of harvest! One thing to keep in mind is BT spray almost instantly stops caterpillars from being able to eat, but doesn’t kill them directly. So although you may see the caterpillars alive and apparently unharmed after spraying, the BT is still doing its dirty work.

What is a “Thuricide”? Thuricide is just a brand name for a specific company’s BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) Caterpillar insecticide. It is popular and effective, but any BT caterpillar killer works for your cannabis plants. Essentially, “Thuricide” is just a marketing term, and not a particular type of insecticide.

Recommended: Southern Ag Thuricide BT Caterpillar Control + a mister
(though any caterpillar BT product will work!)
      

Spinosad Products (safe & organic)

Although not as effective against caterpillars as a BT product, Spinosad can be a good choice, especially if your plants are also suffering from other insects like aphids, spider mites, thrips or white flies since this will attack all of them at once. Spinosad products are organic and completely harmless to pets, children, and plants. Unlike many insecticides, you can spray properly diluted spinosad heavily on leaves and roots with basically no negative effects. Spinosad products can be used directly to kill caterpillars on contact, but can also be used when watering plants to systematically kill caterpillars via the soil.Spinosad is an organic insecticide made from the fermentation of a specific soil bacteria (actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa) and kills caterpillars via ingestion or contact by effecting the insect nervous system. Spinosad can be a good choice for organic and outdoor growers, because it is very toxic to caterpillars, but is less toxic to many beneficial insects. Note: Most spinosad products are effective for only about 24 hours after being mixed with water, so only mix as much as you will need per application. Anything left over will be a waste. WARNING: Commercial growers click here!

Recommended: Monterey Garden Insect Spray with Spinosad (not for commercial growers)

Avoid butterflies and moths! Although these beautiful creatures look great resting on your cannabis plants, they lay eggs that hatch into caterpillars. Don’t let them hang around your garden.

More Cannabis Pests, Bugs & Viruses

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