mo4ch:>Top ten garden pests and diseases revealed | Mo4ch News

12 March 2020 Image copyrightArterraImage captionThe metallic blue alder leaf beetle can strip plants of foliageThe box tree caterpillar has come top of the list of gardeners' concerns for the third year in a row.The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said it was the number one pest inquiry last year, as it continues to spread across the UK.The alder leaf beetle, which feeds on the leaves of trees, entered the top 10 for only the second time.The beetle has recently become re-established in some parts of England.Honey fungus was the top concern in terms of diseases, while other types of fungi took advantage of the warm wet weather to attack fruit trees. The RHS has analysed thousands of gardener enquiries for its latest tally of top 10 diseases and pests. The charity is conducting research into controls for the box tree caterpillar, focusing on the use of nematodes.Meanwhile, a research project is under way to identify different slug species and what tempts them into gardens.Wanted - …