Cannabis plants are susceptible to a wide range of pests, including aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and thrips, which can damage the plant's leaves, stems, and buds. To protect your cannabis crop, it's important to identify the pests and understand what they feed on. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at some of the most common bugs that eat cannabis leaves and how to control them.
Aphids:
Aphids are tiny, pear-shaped insects that feed on the sap of the cannabis plant. They can cause yellowing, curling, and distortion of the leaves, and can also spread plant diseases.
Spider Mites:
Spider mites are tiny, eight-legged pests that feed on the chlorophyll of the cannabis plant, causing yellow speckling and webbing on the leaves.
Whiteflies:
Whiteflies are tiny, white insects that feed on the sap of the cannabis plant. They can cause yellowing, curling, and stunting of the leaves, and can also spread plant diseases.
Thrips:
Thrips are tiny, slender insects that feed on the sap and tissue of the cannabis plant, causing silvering and scarring on the leaves.
To control any of the above, you can use natural remedies like Plant Bodyguard. However, if you are in the last 2 weeks of flower we don't recommend sprays - instead you can introduce beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, lacewings, or predatory mites which feed on these pests.
In conclusion, by understanding what bugs eat cannabis leaves, you can take steps to protect your cannabis crop and prevent damage from pests. By using natural remedies and beneficial insects, you can minimize the use of synthetic pesticides, reduce the risk of pest resistance, and protect the environment and human health.
References:
Shirley, L. (2019). Natural Pesticides: Safe and Effective Alternatives to Synthetic Chemicals. Mother Earth News, pp. 44-49.
Koul, O. (2018). Essential Oils as Antifungal Agents. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 82(3), pp. e00045-17.