Pests & Pesticide Facts
What are Pesticides & Pests?
Pesticides
“Pesticide” is the general term for any substance designed to eliminate undesired insects, weeds, rodents, fungi, bacteria and other organisms. Pesticides come in many forms and even include house- hold bleach and swimming pool chemicals. Pesticides can be categorized as:
- Insecticides (for insects)
- Herbicides (for weeds)
- Fungicides (for fungus diseases)
Although an individual lawn or garden may seem quite small, the combined effect of many lawns and gardens can have a significant impact on your neighbourhood and beyond. Making responsible choices to ensure the health of your small “piece-of-thepie” will not only benefit you and your family but also the greater community.
Pests
Most bugs in your yard aren't all bad – far from it. They pollinate plants, decompose waste material and prey on many of those pesky insects that you don't like. Common yard and garden pests include ants, aphids, moths, cutworms, earwigs, slugs and tent caterpillars. Many insects, parasites and small animals are not pests, but were actually doing all the work in your yard long before you got there. These beneficial creatures include spiders, honeybees, ladybugs, frogs, snakes, bats, mice and moles. Resist any initial “get-rid-of-it” response when you see things in your yard.
Fact Sheets on Common Pests
This series of info pages will help you identify common pests and present safe, alternative ways of controlling pests in your lawn and garden.
- Aphids
- Beneficial Insects
- Black Spot
- Broadleaf Weeds
- Caterpillars
- Codling Moths
- Cutworms
- Leatherjackets (Crane fly larvae)
- Root Weevils
- Slugs
- Spider Mites
- Yellowjackets
Why go pesticide free?
There may be risks associated with the use of pesticides. Read more 
Pesticide Disposal
Pesticide and pesticide containers are one type of household hazardous waste. Find out how you can safely dispose of these items to protect your family's health and the environment.
Eco-Living
The following CityGreen video clips (in Media Player format) contain additional information on pesticide reduction:
- Earwigs & Ladybugs
- Flowers & Wasps
- Root Maggots & Coddling Moths
- Slugs & Carrot Rust Fly
- Wasps and Aphids
© Image courtesy of Evan Leeson
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