diff --git a/config.yml b/config.yml
index 7f3e559c..5caeb6a4 100644
--- a/config.yml
+++ b/config.yml
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ realistic_biomes:
    # the relative z-level at which to start looking for soil blocks, in this example the column will start
    # 2 blocks below the crop block, ie beneath both itself and the farmland block
    soil_layer_offset: 2
+   pest_probability: 0.001
 
   # wheat
   CROPS:
diff --git a/src/com/untamedears/realisticbiomes/GrowthConfig.java b/src/com/untamedears/realisticbiomes/GrowthConfig.java
index dd8a5af9..2ced3415 100644
--- a/src/com/untamedears/realisticbiomes/GrowthConfig.java
+++ b/src/com/untamedears/realisticbiomes/GrowthConfig.java
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Random;
 import java.util.logging.Logger;
 
 import org.bukkit.Material;
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@ public class GrowthConfig extends BaseConfig {
 	private double soilBonusPerLevel;
 	// the z levels below the actual growth event location in which to start looking for the correct soil
 	private int soilLayerOffset;
+	
+	private double pestProbability;
 
 	// conversion used for persistence calculations
 	private static final int SEC_PER_HOUR = 60 * 60;
@@ -97,6 +100,8 @@ public static GrowthConfig get(ConfigurationSection conf, GrowthConfig parent, M
 		soilMaxLayers = 0;
 		soilBonusPerLevel = 0.0;
 		soilLayerOffset = 1;
+		
+		pestProbability = 0.0;
 	}
 	
 	// make a copy of the given configuration
@@ -154,6 +159,9 @@ public static GrowthConfig get(ConfigurationSection conf, GrowthConfig parent, M
 		if (config.isSet("soil_layer_offset"))
 			soilLayerOffset = config.getInt("soil_layer_offset");
 		
+		if (config.isSet("pest_probability"))
+			pestProbability = config.getDouble("pest_probability");
+		
 		if (config.isSet("biomes"))
 			loadBiomes(config.getConfigurationSection("biomes"), biomeAliases);
 	}
@@ -273,4 +281,9 @@ public double getRate(Block block) {
 		
 		return rate;
 	}
+	
+	public boolean testPest() {
+		Random gen = new Random();
+		return gen.nextDouble() < pestProbability;
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/com/untamedears/realisticbiomes/RealisticBiomes.java b/src/com/untamedears/realisticbiomes/RealisticBiomes.java
index b8cbc112..4c6761ad 100644
--- a/src/com/untamedears/realisticbiomes/RealisticBiomes.java
+++ b/src/com/untamedears/realisticbiomes/RealisticBiomes.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 import org.bukkit.plugin.PluginManager;
 import org.bukkit.plugin.java.JavaPlugin;
 
+import com.untamedears.realisticbiomes.listener.FieldPestListener;
 import com.untamedears.realisticbiomes.listener.GrowListener;
 import com.untamedears.realisticbiomes.listener.PlayerListener;
 import com.untamedears.realisticbiomes.listener.SpawnListener;
@@ -344,6 +345,7 @@ private void registerEvents() {
 			pm.registerEvents(new GrowListener(this, materialGrowth), this);
 			pm.registerEvents(new SpawnListener(materialGrowth, fishDrops), this);
 			pm.registerEvents(new PlayerListener(this, materialGrowth), this);
+			pm.registerEvents(new FieldPestListener(this, materialGrowth), this);
 		}
 		catch(Exception e)
 		{
diff --git a/src/com/untamedears/realisticbiomes/listener/FieldPestListener.java b/src/com/untamedears/realisticbiomes/listener/FieldPestListener.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..49ddb183
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/com/untamedears/realisticbiomes/listener/FieldPestListener.java
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+package com.untamedears.realisticbiomes.listener;
+
+import java.util.Map;
+
+import org.bukkit.Material;
+import org.bukkit.block.Block;
+import org.bukkit.entity.Entity;
+import org.bukkit.entity.EntityType;
+import org.bukkit.entity.Silverfish;
+import org.bukkit.event.EventHandler;
+import org.bukkit.event.Listener;
+import org.bukkit.event.block.BlockBreakEvent;
+import org.bukkit.potion.PotionEffectType;
+
+import com.untamedears.realisticbiomes.GrowthConfig;
+import com.untamedears.realisticbiomes.RealisticBiomes;
+
+public class FieldPestListener implements Listener {
+	private RealisticBiomes plugin;
+	private Map<Object, GrowthConfig> growthConfigs;
+	
+	public FieldPestListener(RealisticBiomes plugin, Map<Object, GrowthConfig> growthConfigs) {
+		this.plugin = plugin;
+		this.growthConfigs = growthConfigs;
+	}
+	
+	@EventHandler
+	public void onBlockBreak(BlockBreakEvent event) {
+		// right click on a growing crop with a stick: get information about that crop
+		Block block = event.getBlock();
+		Material material = block.getType();
+		
+		GrowthConfig growthConfig = growthConfigs.get(material);
+		if (growthConfig != null && growthConfig.testPest()) {
+			// Spawn a relatively harmless field pest
+			
+			Silverfish pest = (Silverfish) event.getBlock().getWorld().spawnEntity(block.getLocation(), EntityType.SILVERFISH);
+			pest.setHealth(1.0);
+			pest.addPotionEffect(PotionEffectType.SLOW.createEffect(20 * 60 * 15, 1));
+			pest.addPotionEffect(PotionEffectType.WEAKNESS.createEffect(20 * 60 * 15, 1));
+			if (event.getPlayer() != null) {
+				pest.setTarget(event.getPlayer());
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}