modbender Pest & Disease Tracker
Track and manage garden pests and diseases with treatment tracking.
Quick Start
Add a pest or disease
pest_tracker.py add --type "pest" --name "aphids" --plants "tomatoes,peppers"
Record treatment
pest_tracker.py treat "<id>" --method "<method>" --product "<product>" --notes "<notes>"
List all issues
pest_tracker.py list
Show problem details
pest_tracker.py show "<id>"
Search issues
pest_tracker.py search "<query>"
Get treatment recommendations
pest_tracker.py recommend "<problem>"
Export data
pest_tracker.py export "<output_file>"
Usage Patterns
For pest identification and tracking
# Add pest sightings
pest_tracker.py add --type "pest" --name "aphids" --plants "tomatoes" --severity "moderate"
pest_tracker.py add --type "pest" --name "slugs" --plants "lettuce,hostas" --severity "high"
# Get treatment recommendations
pest_tracker.py recommend "aphids"
# Output: Neem oil, insecticidal soap, ladybugs
# Record treatments
pest_tracker.py treat <id> --method "spray" --product "neem oil" --notes "Apply in evening, reapply in 7 days"
pest_tracker.py treat <id> --method "natural" --product "ladybugs" --notes "Released 100 ladybugs"
For disease management
# Add diseases
pest_tracker.py add --type "disease" --name "early blight" --plants "tomatoes" --severity "critical"
pest_tracker.py add --type "disease" --name "powdery mildew" --plants "squash" --severity "moderate"
# Get treatment options
pest_tracker.py recommend "early blight"
# Output: Copper fungicide, remove affected leaves, improve air circulation
# Track treatment effectiveness
pest_tracker.py treat <id> --method "remove" --product "fungicide" --status "effective"
For preventive planning
# Document common issues in your garden
pest_tracker.py add --type "pest" --name "cucumber beetles" --plants "cucumbers,melons" --severity "low" --notes "Prevent with row covers"
# Set up prevention schedule
pest_tracker.py recommend "cucumber beetles"
# Output: Row covers, beneficial nematodes, crop rotation
Problem Types
Common Pests
- Aphids - Small sap-suckers, distort new growth
- Slugs - Eat leaves, leave slime trails
- Caterpillars - Eat foliage and fruit
- Cucumber Beetles - Chew leaves, spread wilt disease
- Japanese Beetles - Skeletonize leaves
- Squash Bugs - Pierce stems, cause wilting
- Spider Mites - Webbing, yellow stippling
- Thrips - Scarring, distorted growth
- Whiteflies - Yellow leaves, sticky honeydew
Common Diseases
- Early Blight - Dark spots on tomatoes
- Late Blight - White fuzzy growth
- Powdery Mildew - White powdery coating
- Downy Mildew - Yellow patches, purple growth
- Blossom End Rot - Blossoms fall off
- Verticillium Wilt - Plants wilt and die
- Bacterial Spot - Water-soaked spots
- Anthracnose - Sunken lesions
Treatment Recommendations
Organic/Natural Treatments
- Neem Oil - Broad-spectrum insecticide, safe for beneficials
- Insecticidal Soap - Kills soft-bodied insects on contact
- Diatomaceous Earth - Mechanical insect control
- Bacillus thuringiensis - Bt for caterpillars
- Copper Fungicide - Organic disease control
- Sulfur Fungicide - Powdery mildew control
- Compost Tea - Boosts plant immunity
- Beneficial Insects - Ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps
- Barriers - Row covers, collars, netting
Chemical Treatments
- Pyrethrin - Synthetic insecticide
- Imidacloprid - Systemic insecticide
- Chlorothalonil - Broad-spectrum fungicide
- Mancozeb - Multi-site fungicide
- Captan - Seed treatment and fungicide
Always follow label directions and safety precautions.
Severity Levels
| Level | Description | Action Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| low | Minor annoyance, limited damage | Treat within 7 days |
| moderate | Noticeable damage, spreading | Treat within 3-5 days |
| high | Significant damage, severe impact | Treat within 1-2 days |
| critical | Plant death or total crop loss | Treat immediately |
Examples
Aphid outbreak on tomatoes
# Add the problem
pest_tracker.py add --type "pest" --name "aphids" --plants "tomatoes" --severity "high" \
--notes "Found on new growth, honeydew present"
# Get treatment options
pest_tracker.py recommend "aphids"
# Output: Neem oil, insecticidal soap, ladybugs, strong water spray
# Apply treatment
pest_tracker.py treat <id> --method "spray" --product "neem oil" \
--notes "Spray every 2-3 days for 2 weeks, apply in evening"
Early blight on tomatoes
# Add disease
pest_tracker.py add --type "disease" --name "early blight" --plants "tomatoes" --severity "critical" \
--notes "Found on lower leaves, rainy weather, needs immediate action"
# Get recommendations
pest_tracker.py recommend "early blight"
# Output: Copper fungicide, remove affected leaves, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering
# Apply treatment
pest_tracker.py treat <id> --method "remove" --product "copper fungicide" \
--notes "Applied fungicide, removed worst leaves, spaced plants for airflow"
Slug problem on lettuce
# Add pest
pest_tracker.py add --type "pest" --name "slugs" --plants "lettuce,hostas" --severity "moderate" \
--notes "Slime trails visible, holes in leaves"
# Get options
pest_tracker.py recommend "slugs"
# Output: Beer traps, diatomaceous earth, copper tape, beneficial nematodes
# Set up traps
pest_tracker.py treat <id> --method "traps" --product "beer traps" \
--notes "Set up 5 beer traps around bed, check daily"
Search Features
- Search by problem name
- Filter by type (pest/disease)
- Search by affected plants
- View treatment history
- Track treatment effectiveness
Security
Path Validation
The export function validates output paths to prevent malicious writes:
- ✅ Allowed:
~/.openclaw/workspace/,/tmp/, and home directory - ❌ Blocked: System paths (
/etc/,/usr/,/var/, etc.) - ❌ Blocked: Sensitive dotfiles (
~/.bashrc,~/.ssh, etc.)
Data Storage
- Pest data stored in:
~/.openclaw/workspace/pest_tracker_db.json - Each problem tracks: type, name, affected plants, severity, treatments, status
- Treatment history includes: method, product, date, effectiveness, notes
- JSON format makes it easy to backup or migrate
Best Practices
- Identify early - Treat problems before they spread
- Monitor regularly - Check plants daily during growing season
- Use IPM - Integrated Pest Management combines methods for best results
- Document treatments - Track what worked and what didn't
- Prevent first - Barriers and beneficials reduce need for treatments
- Rotate treatments - Prevent pest resistance
- Follow labels - Chemical treatments need proper application
- Improve conditions - Many problems thrive in stressed plants
Prevention Tips
Prevent Pests
- Crop rotation - Breaks pest life cycles
- Barriers - Row covers, netting, collars
- Beneficial insects - Ladybugs, lacewings, praying mantises
- Clean garden - Remove debris that harbors pests
- Companion planting - Repel pests with specific plants
Prevent Diseases
- Water correctly - Avoid wetting foliage
- Improve airflow - Space plants properly, prune regularly
- Clean tools - Disinfect between plants
- Use disease-resistant varieties - When available
- Sanitize soil - Solarization, crop rotation
Related Skills
- plant-tracker - Track individual plants and care schedules
- seasonal-planting-guide - What to plant when, by zone
- garden-layout-planner - Design gardens with companion planting
Use together for complete garden management!