Many are beneficial by eating or parasitizing the bad guys. Pesticides are not the only answer in pest control. Pesticides can provide benefits, but if used improperly they can harm people, pets, and plants. If applied at the wrong time, they may be useless. The first step in an effective pest management program is proper identification.
Many problems resemble pest damage but are caused by other factors.
For instance, holes in leaves may be caused by late frost damage, or diseases, not by chewing insects. If it is a pest problem, identification of the pest is key to controlling it. Fortunately, many resources are available for help with identification. You can purchase some great laminated cards suitable for use in the garden. The three sets include landscape pests, vegetable pests and beneficial insects.