Organic GardeningInsect Glossary M-P
Organic gardening Insectipedia insect glossary M-P is a free resource of garden insects, insect terms, and helpful information.
A maggot is a soft-bodied grub that is
the larva
of a dipterous
insect, such as a housefly.
The importance of magnesium is
understood when we realize that, without it, photosynthesis could not
take place, and thus life on earth as we know it could not exist.
Magnesium is the only metallic component of chlorophyll. Magnesium is
essential in virtually every plant process requiring phosphorus, which
functions as the energy currency for plant cell growth and development.
These are the insect's jaws and are responsible for chewing
the food into small fragments.
This micronutrient is necessary to the process of
photosynthesis and the formation of chlorophyll. It is likely to be
unavailable in soils with a pH above 6.8. It is required in sufficient
quantity by most all vegetable crops and grains. Manganese deficiencies
are primarily noted in the spring under cool soil temperatures when
plant availability is greatly reduced. A high soil pH can also create
or compound deficiency symptoms. If your soil pH is high, it is
recommended that foliar application of manganese chelate to your
transplants in the spring, particularly if your soil temperatures are
relatively cool.
Manure
is refuse from stables and barnyards consisting of livestock excreta.
One of a pair of mouthparts behind the mandibles and before
the labium. The maxillae (plural) directs the food to the mouth, holds
it in place while the mandibles chew the food into small fragments.
A mealybug is a scale insect that has a white powdery covering
and is destructive pests to fruit trees.
See: Citrus
Mealybug, Comstock
Mealybug, Longtailed
Mealybug, Mealybug
Destroyer
The middle of the thorax segments.
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The last of the thorax segments.
To migrate is to move from one region or climate to another
for feeding and/or breeding.
Much like Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt), Milky Spore Disease (Bacillus popilliae)
is a bacterium and is used to control the Japanese Beetle grub.
Unlike Bt, one application of Milky Spore Disease should
continue to provide protection for at least three years. Milky Spore
Disease is good for controlling grubs in
lawns.
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Oil from a mineral origin. A mineral is an inorganic
substance, such as stone, coal, salt, sulfur, sand, petroleum, water,
or natural gas. It is neither animal nor vegetable.
Mites are very small to minute arachnids
that infest plants and animals, and are capable of transmitting
disease. They vary in color from yellow, orange, cream, greenish, or
red. some are so small, 1/100 of an inch; they can only be seen under a
microscope. Their feeding can also cause plant galls or
blisters.
Mites produce several generations each year and a single
female can lay from 100 to 300 eggs in her one-month life span.
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Some insects are active (larva stage)
or abundant for a relatively brief period of the growing season.
Learning the insect's life
cycle allows you to plant or harvest so that the crop is not
available to the pest. In addition, you can use this knowledge to
disrupt the insect pest's life cycle, whereby significantly controlling
populations in your organic garden.
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Molting is to shed hair, feathers, shell, horns, or an outer
layer periodically.
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Mosaic is a virus disease of plants characterized by a mottled
yellow or streaked appearance of the foliage.
The disease can be spread by Aphids or Leafhoppers,
as well as, gardening tools, hands and clothing.
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A net or screen with a weave tight enough to keep out
mosquitoes.
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The most vital organs are organs that are necessary to sustain
life.
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Mottling is to mark with spots or blotches of different color
or shades of color as if stained.
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Mulch is a straw material or any other material, such as
leaves, spread on the surface of the ground to protect roots, moderate
soil temperature, prevent water loss, and control weeds and in some
instances control insect pests.
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A plain woven sheer to coarse cotton fabric.
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Mycoplasma is minute microorganisms that have no cell walls
and are intermediate in some respects between viruses and bacteria.
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Nasturtiums are herbs with showy spurred flowers and pungent
seeds. Some organic gardeners have had great success repelling aphids
by planting nasturtiums between vegetable rows or around fruit trees.
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Nectar is a sweet liquid that is secreted by the nectaries of
a plant and is the chief raw material of honey.
Honeydew is a saccharine deposit secreted on the leaves by aphids, scale insects,
or sometimes by a fungus.
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Nectar is a sweet liquid that is secreted by the nectaries of
a plant and is the chief raw material of honey.
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Nocturnal means to be active at night.
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A nodule is a small abnormal knobby bodily mass of rounded or
irregular shape. Nodules are common on the roots of leguminous
plants.
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Nosema locustae is a naturally occurring disease of
grasshoppers. Commercial products containing the spores of this disease
are available.
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A virus that dissolves the tissues of the insect larva.
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Almond Pecan
Walnut
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Insect pests can't penetrate the covers of nylon netting.
Nylon netting can be placed directly on the plant, because of its
lightweight. Made of soft polypropylene fibers, it transmits 85% to 95%
of sunlight. This netting can be obtained from garden centers or garden
catalogs. Do not use if temperatures are consistently over 80 degrees.
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view picture of nymphs
a nymph is an immature insect, such as a larva, that
has not completed metamorphosis or development.
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In most adults and immature insects, a small set of visual
organs, the ocelli are present. There may be as many as three ocelli,
which do not perceive images but are sensitive to small changes in
light intensity.
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Open-pollinated
Open-pollinated (heirloom) plants are varieties that have
constant characteristics from generation to generation. Open pollinated
plants are similar to one another but may not be as uniform as hybrids.
The advantage of Open-pollinated varieties is seed collection
from year to year and you can be assured of constant variety traits.
Hybrid varieties on the other hand will not provide the same
constant variety traits if grown the following year.
Nut
Almond Pecan
Walnut
Fruit
Apple Apricot
Avocado Banana
Cherry Citrus
Date Fig
Peach/Nectarine Pear
Plum Quince
Berries and Grapes
Blackberry Blueberry
Boysenberry Currant
Gooseberry Grape
Raspberry Strawberry
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Overwinter pertains to something that occurs during the period
spanning the winter, such as hibernation.
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The ovipositor is the egg-laying organ of the female - the
external genitalia.
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Oxidation is the process of removing electrons from a molecule
and the combining of the molecule with oxygen.
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Organisms that complete their development on or in another
organism, but may not necessarily kill it.
Of the parasites that are commercially available, one of many beneficial insects,
the Trichogramma Wasp
is the most prominent. They are used to attack eggs of pest in
orchards, fields, and gardens.
They are used to attack the eggs of pests in orchards, fields,
and gardens. Good organic gardening practices should be used to beneficial insects
of this sort.
Good organic gardening practices should be used to beneficial
insects of this sort.
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The process by which an insect parasite
has deposited its eggs on or in the bodies of host insects.
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Harmless to humans and animals. Parasitic wasps deposit their
eggs on the bodies of host insects. Because these insects have a high
reproductive rate and destroy many garden pests, they are extremely
valuable beneficial
insects. Potter Wasp,
Braconid Wasp, Ichneumon Wasp, Trichogramma Wasp, Encarsia formosa, and
Digger Wasp are
important members of this group.
The adults feed on the nectar from the flowers of weeds and
flowers of the daisy (Chrysanthemum) and carrot (Umbellifers)
families. Plant these in your organic gardens and orchards and you will
encourage these mighty insects to stay.
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Peat is a carbonaceous substance formed by partial
decomposition in water of various humus materials and plants,
especially sphagnum. It is used as mulch or
soil amendments. Peat is high in Acid (low pH)
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The second, usually small, segment of the antenna. This is the
narrow 'waist' at the front of the abdomen of the ant.
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The acidity or alkalinity of a soil is measured in terms of
pH. A scale is used with 1.0 to 6.9 being acid in increasing amounts;
7.0 is neither acid or alkaline but neutral; and 7.1 to 9 is alkaline
in increasing amounts.
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Common plant: Pennyroyal Scientific name: Mentha pulegium
Creeping plant that grows 2" - 3" tall, with 1" circular 1"
leaves. The lavender flowers are bloom in tight, short whorls.
Strong mint flavor and fragrance. This plant can poisonous in
large quantities, but may used as a flavoring. Plant in cool moist
area, with shade in the hot areas.
Pennyroyal repels ants. Fresh Pennyroyal leaves rubbed on the
skin repels mosquitoes. The American pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides)
yields commercial oil that is used in medicines and soaps repels gnats
and mosquitoes. Fresh or dried Pennyroyal has long been used as a flea
repellent.
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(those plants that grow back year after year for three or more years)
Asparagus Artichoke
Horseradish Mint
Rhubarb
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A rapidly vaporizing, glandular substance released by an
insect that causes a specific response in others of the same species
such as sex attractants, alarm substances, and territorial markings.
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Petiole
In botany, the petiole is the small stalk
attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same
internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of
the petiole are called stipules.
-Wikipedia
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Plant your organic vegetable garden away from beds of ivy and
other dense ground cover from which these pests can be expected to
migrate.
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VIRUS
Leaf roll is a virus disease that attacks potato plants when
transmitted by Aphids
(or seed borne) and is characterized by an upward rolling of the leaf
margins. The leaves may also be red or purplish on the underside and
thick and leathery. Plants are stunted
and production of tubers is very low.
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Predator (adj. predaceous) Insect: An insect that kills and
feeds on another, the prey, and is usually larger and/or stronger than
the prey.
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See Predatory
Mite
Predatory Mites can be obtained
commercial.
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A fleshy, unjointed "false leg," occurring on the underside of
the abdomen
of Caterpillars
and other insect larvae.
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The top surface of the prothorax, that acts as a shield or
cover (see body
segments).
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The top surface of the prothorax, that acts as a shield or
cover.
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The front of the thorax segments.
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Predaceous,
mainly in debris
and crevices. No major importance to the organic gardener.
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This is a tea made out of wormwood.
A plant long known for its insect repelling qualities.
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Pupae
view picture of pupae
pupa (pl. pupae) is the nonfeeding and usually inactive stage
between the larval
and adult stage in holometebolous
insects.)
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To enter upon or undergo the pupal
condition.
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Pyrethrum is a well know natural insecticide. It is made from
the pyrethrum flower (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium). Pyrethrum is
harmless to warm-blooded animals, but is quite lethal to many insects,
including Caterpillars,
Beetles, Aphids, Mites, Leafhoppers,
Thrips, Moths, and others. Fortunately, pyrethrum is relatively
nontoxic to Honey Bees and Lady Beetles,
but they can be affected at higher rates of application. Pyrethrum
should only be used with caution and as a last resort, because it will
kill both the pests and beneficial
insects.
Pyrethrum has a very short residual action, breaking down
rapidly in sunlight. It should be stored in closed containers and
should retain it s effectiveness up to three years. Pyrethrum is most
effective as a spray, and is more useful in controlling adult pests. Intercropping
with pyrethrum is ineffective. To make your own pyrethrum spray, grind
up a few flower heads of the plant Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium and
mix with water.
Pyrethrum can be obtained commercially, but make sure it does
not contain the chemical piperonyl butoxide that manufactures mix in to
increase it s effectiveness. Piperonyl butoxide is toxic to
warm-blooded animal's liver.
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