The commercial soap preparations are highly effective as are the botanical synthetic insecticides available for aphid control. Caterpillars can do great damage to the garden but there is hope. B.T. or Bacillus thuringiensis , has proven very effective on feeding caterpillars. It is a bacteria that, once eaten, paralyzes the caterpillar's stomach and causes starvation. B.T. has no negative effect on people, birds, pets and other living things.
Mites can be a problem in our climate.
If you catch an outbreak early, you may be able to control with a strong spray of water repeated several times over the period of a week. Commercial soap products labeled for mites also should be effective. If necessary, you can use an insecticide or miticide. Bugs and other pests will be busy throughout the season. They are all just trying to make a living and get by.