Is there a way to have information available on insects and plant diseases that one comes by in the garden (a small database perhaps)? If we had that, ATP would be a "one-stop shop" for me

I realize that you can search for a reference in a forum but when you are not even sure of what you are looking at, it is difficult to find the correct search terms.

For example, recently I discovered what appeared to be an 8" worm-like, striped "snake" with a triangular head in one of my pots. After searching the net, I found that it was just a shovel-head worm and that they are recent introductions to the area. It would have been great if I could have looked up the critter here, though, as this is my preferred site

Any chance at all??? (there is no begging icon or I would have attached it here )

You know, I was thinking that it might be nice to have a place in the database to list the insects and diseases common to the individual plants, but it might actually make more sense to have a bug database and list the plants it affects instead. Hmmm, except that would vary by region. But that doesn't sound like an insurmountable problem. Maybe something to consider for later?

OldGardener, did you get a photo?

I love the idea of having a place here at ATP to search for plant/garden pests.
It is all part of our gardening experience and would be another photo opportunity that could benefit our members.

woofie said: Hmmm, except that would vary by region. But that doesn't sound like an insurmountable problem.

Could that just be a data box - something like "common to:" or "commonly found in:".

Unfortunately, I did not think to take a picture. I kept it in a jar while researching. I am glad that I looked it up, though, because I read that if you step on them or otherwise cut them, the pieces will form a new individual. They eat earthworms by "whipping" their bodies around their victim and I read horror stories of them "whipping" their bodies around peoples ankles and wrists.

I have since found 3 more but they were smaller individuals. I will get a picture next time around.

And snail eggs. Have you seen snail eggs? I gardened for decades before spying those 2 years ago... Another strange internet search.

Especially something that talks about spider mites, at least that is what I think abused my garden last season. If their is one already on them, please give me a link if it isn't too much trouble. I lost 10 balloon flowers, two monkshoods, one bleeding heart before I realized what was happening. I have only had this profound interest in gardening for three years, and I'm no where near having a green thumb lol. They are nearly microscopic, white, and take no time eating my plants to death. I have lost just one bleeding heart this year so far to them, so I'm doing something right for now at least

I am so happy you found us! Are you an organic gardener or do you use chemicals? I am sorry to hear that the spider mites did so much damage.

If you type in "spider mites" in the search bar in the upper right hand corner (green search button), it'll link you to several articles on this site. I hope this helps and, again, It is always great to see a new person!

Thank you for the welcome! I actually do as much as I can to avoid using chemicals, in fact, I actually don't like even using tap water, but since I have a balcony of plants in an apartment complex, I have to do what I have to do :). Thanks OldGardener, I will do this and hopefully it will help

Welcome Pat. There is so much here to help you on your way to acquiring a very green thumb.
Desire to garden plays a big part in it.

Great to hear that, valleylynn, thank you! I really enjoy what I've been doing so far, so I'm very excited about learning more

Then you've come to the right place, Pat! And

I don't want to make a very large and expansive database of pathogens, bugs or diseases but I certainly have no problem in setting up something simple where gardeners can share information with each other.

We can make a simple forum and start the discussions. From there if we feel the need, we can design some kind of feature that fits what we want.

I think a forum would be great. At the very least, it would give people a place to post their questions or pics of damage/disease/insects etc. to get an identification or advice.

Could we have a "mini-database" within the forum using a few stickies? For example, one sticky could be "Eggs" or "Egg Identification" with just pictures of eggs (snails, praying mantis egg cases, etc.) followed by the id, perhaps another sticky entitled "Who the heck is this???" - okay, the wording needs to be changed - and it could show various critters with an id tag, etc., one titled "Who ate my plant? or something like that with pictures of damage and possible culprits, etc. ? Or perhaps the general membership doesn't want a new forum??

We can do that, for sure.

It sounds like you've got solid ideas here; want to be the moderator? Then you can lead the effort and set the threads up and all.

I am not sure what that all entails but I definitely don't mind doing work. May I send you a tree-mail with questions later today?

Certainly.

Basically being a moderator means you have the power to edit posts, lock threads, make threads sticky, and things like that, in the forum that you moderate.

We also have a private forum that the moderators have access to in which questions and answered. It's a little community of moderators that is quite helpful. As a moderator you would have access to that.

Can't wait to see this happen.