Organic Gardening
Insect Glossary U-Z

Organic gardening Insectipedia insect glossary U-Z is a free resource of garden insects, insect terms, and helpful information.


Vegetable crop

Classification of vegetables is based on use and botany

See also Growing Vegetables

Bulb

Bunching Onions
Garlic
Leeks
Onions
Shallots
Torpedo Onions

Cole

All are members of Bassisca family or related crops.
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Chinese Cabbage

Cucurbits

Crookneck Squash
Cucumbers
Melons
Patty Pan Squash
Pumpkins
Watermelon
Winter Squash
Zucchini Squash

Fleshy Fruits

Bell Peppers
Cayenne Peppers
Eggplant
Okra
Tomatoes

Grains

Sweet Corn

Perennials

Those plants that grow back year after year for three or more years.
Asparagus
Basil
Rhubarb

Legume

Bush Beans
Bush Lima Beans
Bush Peas
Pole Beans
Pole Lima Beans
Pole Peas

Roots

Fleshy taproot
Beets
Black Salsify
Burdock
Carrots
Celery
Cylindra Beets
Horseradish
Mangels
Parsnips
Radishes
Rutabagas
Salsify
Turnips

Lateral root

Irish Potatoes
Jerusalem Artichoke
Sweet Potatoes

Salad and Greens

Collard Greens
Head Lettuce
Kale
Kohlrabi
Leaf Lettuce
Mustard Greens
New Zealand Spinach
Parsley
Spinach
Swiss Chard

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Vertex

The vertex is the top of the head, between and behind the eyes.


vespid

The vespid wasps are medium to large in size, usually black and yellow or black and white. Most of the vespids are solitary wasps


Whipscorpions

Predaceous, mainly nocturnal. It can pinch, but injects no toxins.


wilting

It's important to look for signs of insect attack in your organic garden. The signs may show up as leaf or foliage damage. Types of leaf damage are:

  1. Leaves chewed from outside edge
  2. Leaves with speckles or spots and may be chewed
  3. Leaves are chewed in the inside
  4. Leaves may be wilting and discolored
  5. Leaves are curling
  6. Leaves are skeletonized
  7. Leaves have tunnel marks
  8. Leaves may be surrounded in webs

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wings

The success of insects as a terrestrial invertebrate is partly due to their flying capability. Generally, adult insects have two pairs of wings articulating with the thorax. The forewings are often hardened and are used to protect the hind wings.

In various insect groups, the wings are modified for sound production even though they are no longer used for flight.


workers

All ants are social and live in colonies, usually in the ground or in rooting wood. There are three distinct castes: workers, females, and males.

The workers enlarge and repair the nest, defend the colony against attack, forage, and care for the young and the queen. The males have only one function, to mate with the unfertilized females. The queens are distinguished by their larger bodies and huge abdomen.

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wormwood

Wormwood (Artemisa absinthium and A. cineraria) will repel Slugs and Snails, Flea Beetles and many adult months. It can be used as a tea sprayed on the leaves, ground, or planted nearby.

Wormwood should not be grown next to organic garden crops, because of its growth retarding compounds, especially in years of heavy rains. If you are going to use wormwood, plant it on the outer fringes of your organic garden.

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Wormwood spray

Wormwood sprayed on the ground in the fall and spring will discourage slugs.


Zinc (Zn)

Zinc is essential from early plant growth through maturity. Corn and other vegetables especially require it for proper enzyme function. There is a relationship between zinc, phosphorus, and nitrogen, which seems to function in the early part of the season supporting the development of strong root growth. It appears that all three of these minerals function best when a balanced supply of each exists in the soil.

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