• Cabbage moth

  until they are a brown-black or sometimes even a purple colour. They are ridged and have a light network of markings. First instar larvae of the cabbage moth [...] moth (Mamestra brassicae) is a highly polyphagous defoliator. Besides being a major cabbage pest, it feeds on 70 plants of 22 families, among them crops [...] their frass accumulates in the heart of cabbage, thereby lowering the commercial value of infested crops. Life cycle and appearance of Cabbage moth The adult

• Southern European marshland pyralid

  seen in the daytime. Eggs are laid singly or in groups of 5 to 10 eggs, overlapping in a tile-like fashion on both the upper and lower surface of leaves [...] pupate in an earthen cocoon, concealed either within the crop or in another suitable spot in the vicinity. Pupation occurs in a cocoon made of webbing [...] are 4 pairs of prolegs. Caterpillars are found in webs, preferably in damp, humid places and are thus mainly found low in the crop, often in decaying organic

• Sciarid flies

  immediate result of larvae feeding on the roots. The larvae feed mainly on decaying plant material and on algae and fungi present in the soil. They, however [...] areas in dark places, with a lot of organic material. They occur the whole year round. The eggs are minute (0.1 to 0.25 mm) and yellowish white in colour [...] legless and have a conspicuous black head. The head is equipped with biting-chewing mouth parts. Pupation takes place in a small hole in the ground. Pupae

• Asian citrus psyllid

  psyllid, ( Diaphorina citri ), is an important pest of citrus in several countries as it is a vector of a serious citrus disease called greening disease or [...] widely distributed in southern Asia and the disease is responsible for the destruction of several citrus industries in Asia and Africa. In North America, it [...] symptoms The psyllid is a sucking insect that inserts its mouthparts into plant tissue to feed. Adults feed on young stems and on leaves of all developmental

• Impatiens thrips

  consequence of the trade in foliage plants. Impatiens thrips (Echinothrips americanus) has a wide range of hosts. In addition to many ornamental plants it also [...] silver-grey patches on leaves and the black dots of their excreta indicate their presence in the crop. The vigour of the plant is reduced by loss of chlorophyll [...] low in the crop. In sweet pepper the damage can be seen as discolouration of older leaves at the bottom of the plant. Life cycle and appearance of Impatiens

• Flies

  into a major pest on soft fruits in Europe and North America. Sciarid flies and shore flies are mainly a problem in greenhouses. Their larvae live in the [...] and indirectly. The type of damage depends on the species of the flies. Direct damage is the immediate result of larvae feeding on root hairs and tender roots [...] rich in organic matter. Although they cause little direct damage to plants, they are often a problem due to their large number. Larvae of flies of the family

• Mealybugs and scales

  low in proteins and rich in sugars. In order to gain an adequate intake of protein, mealybugs must ingest large quantities of sap, getting rid of the excess [...] scales also produce honeydew (on which moulds grow) resulting in considerable damage in ornamental and fruit crops and loss of value. Armoured scales do not [...] species of mealybugs feed on the aerial parts of the plant, some species extract their nourishment from roots, whilst others are gall-formers. A few species

• Vine mealybug

  sap is rich in sugars, but low in proteins. In order to gain an adequate intake of protein, mealybugs must therefore ingest large quantities of sap, getting [...] mealybug is mostly found on grapevines, but also on figs and pomegranates. Damage symptoms Mealybugs inflict damage on the crop in various ways: Nymphs and [...] getting rid of the excess sugars in the form of honeydew. Characteristically, dark sooty moulds ( Cladosporium spp .) are often found growing on this honeydew

• Cyclamen mite

  smaller than usual. In cyclamen, the flowers are damaged and leaf growth is inhibited. In hedera, a mite attack can cause baldness in parts of the stem. Gerbera [...] pallidus ) is a harmful strawberry pest as well as a common pest found in cyclamen, gerbera and other ornamentals . Mites belonging to the family of tarsonemids [...] s ( Tarsonemidae ) display a greater diversity of feeding habits than any other mite family. There are species that feed on fungi, algae, plants, as well

• Potato aphid

  cycle and appearance of Potato aphid Aphids have a complex life cycle, with both winged and wingless forms of adults and a great variety in colour. When re [...] specifically characteristic of the potato aphid and is particularly visible in the nymphs. Immatures have a light dusting of whitish-grey wax. The aphids [...] euphorbiae ) is of North American origin, but is these days distributed throughout the world. It is a highly polyphagous species with a preference for