There are two common garden pests every gardener eventually will encounter. There are the insects that chew holes in a plant leaf. Beatles, earwigs, grasshoppers, slugs and caterpillars fall into this group. Then there are garden pests that feed on plants by sucking the juices out of it, much like a spider does with its prey. These insects include white flies, aphids, leaf miners and garden mites.

Plant leaves that are twisted from their natural form are likely the cause of a hungry caterpillar. There are caterpillars that will roll up plants leaves, and can only be seen when unfolding the rolled portion.

Looking at the underside of a leaf can identify the presence of aphids. Aphids are a common garden bugs that has a large abdomen, an almost transparent body, and six legs. Identifying these garden bugs is much easier if you have a magnifying glass handy.

If you see a transparent trail underneath the surface of a leave, you may have a leaf miner problem. This garden pest feeds on plant leaves by burrowing beneath the surface. Remove a leaf, hold up to a bright light, and you'll see how the insect got its name. If you see trails on the leaf surface, garden slugs are likely to blame.

Garden pests can be found underneath or on the surface of leaves, flowers or other plant parts. To protect your plants frequently inspect them for signs of insect's damage. The presence of insects is not always easy to identify due to their size and ability to blend into their surroundings. Having a powerful magnifying glass can help detect the smallest of bugs. If you're not sure the damage to your plant has been caused from insects, bring that plant part to a gardening center for advice

If you want healthy crops and plants you need to recognize common garden pests as soon as possible. Identifying a problem early on can save months of hard work from going down the drain.