• Tomato looper

  General The golden twin-spot moth or tomato looper ( Chrysodeixis chalcites ) belongs to the family of Noctuidae . It is a tropical and subtropical species originating in the Mediterranean and northern Africa. The larva is highly polyphagous and feeds on plants of over 20 families, among them crops such as cauliflower, corn , crucifer, soybean , potato, strawberry , banana, sweet pepper and tomato but also chrysanthemum and geranium. An annual

• Black vine weevil

  General The black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, is a pest in many ornamental crops (e.g. rhododendron, cyclamen and azalea), as well as in strawberries and other fruit crops in both temperate and sub-tropical regions. It belongs to the family Curculionidae. Damage symptoms The major damage is caused by the feeding of the larvae on the roots. After the roots have been destroyed the larvae move into corms, rhizomes and stem bases of plants

• Potato aphid

  General The potato aphid ( Macrosiphum euphorbiae ) is of North American origin, but is these days distributed throughout the world. It is a highly polyphagous species with a preference for Solanaceae (particularly potato), but has also been identified on more than 200 plant species from more than 20 families. Various vegetable and ornamental crops grown in greenhouses are colonized, including tomato , aubergine and roses. Damage symptoms Nymphs

• Cotton aphid

  General The cotton aphid ( Aphis gossypii ) is an extremely polyphagous aphid found on more than 700 plant species. Crop plants attacked by this aphid include cotton, citrus , coffee, cocoa, eggplant , cucumber , melon , pepper and many ornamental plants such as chrysanthemum and kalanchoe. The cotton aphid ( Aphis gossypii ) is distributed throughout the world but prefers the warmer regions. It has been a pest in European greenhouses since the late

• Sciarid flies

  General Sciarid flies constitute the family of Sciaridae. The species that cause most damage to crops belong to the genera Bradysia and Lycoriella . Lycoriella species are mainly found in commercial mushroom cultivation where they can cause enormous damage. Sciarid flies are usually found in damp, humid environments, and appear very commonly in greenhouses throughout the world. Although they generally do little harm to healthy plants, sciarid

• Two-spotted spider mite

  What are two-spotted spider mites? Two-spotted spider mite ( Tetranychus urticae ) is a pest of many crops throughout the world. Despite their small size, they are capable of very rapidly doing severe damage, due to their great reproductive capacity. There are more than 1200 species worldwide and many of them are major crop pests. The two-spotted spider mite ( Tetranychus urticae ) is by far the most important species in greenhouses and many

• Impatiens thrips

  General Impatiens thrips (Echinothrips americanus) is an increasing problem in greenhouse cultivation, having spread to many countries within the last 30 years. The thrips have mostly been able to spread as a 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 attacks sweet pepper , cucumber and eggplants. It lives exclusively on the leaves

• Tomato russet mite

  General The tomato russet mite (Aculops lycopersici , also referred to as Vasates lycopersici, Vasates destructor and Phyllocoptes destructor in older publications) belongs to the family Eriophyidae. It does not produce galls but lives freely (vagrant) on tomato plants. Aculops lycopersici was detected for the first time in Australia and is a pest in tomatoes in all areas where they are grown. Other members of the plant family Solanaceae may be affected

• Tomato leaf miner

  General The tomato leaf miner (Liriomyza bryoniae) has many host plants and has caused crop damage in many parts of the world, including North Africa, Europe and northern Asia. In warmer regions, the insect is found outdoors but in temperate regions it only occurs in greenhouses. The tomato leaf miner has been found in greenhouses for decades, but has become a common pest since the 1960’s, particularly in sweet pepper , lettuce , melon , chrysanthemum

• Long-tailed mealybug

  General Pseudococcus longispinus occurs naturally in tropical and sub-tropical regions, but these days it is widespread throughout the world. The range of host plants of Pseudococcus longispinus is less extensive than that of the citrus mealy bug but it nevertheless encompasses many species of (ornamental) crops (e.g. croton, orchids, grapes , avocado, apple , citrus). The species often inhabits concealed places such as auxiliary buds and prefers a warm