California red scale

as well as by humans and their tools. In the hours after birth, they disperse over the tree in search of a source of food. When attracted by the light (positive [...] found worldwide, mainly in citrus, but also in fig, cotton, mango, banana, avocado, grape, and rose. Life cycle and appearance of California red scale California [...] moult into the grey stage, named after the colour of the edges of their shield. Mating occurs at the start of this stage, before the female finally matures

Cottony cushion scale

spread widely through most of the tropical and subtropical countries of the world. It is also periodically discovered in greenhouses in temperate regions, but [...] purchasi , is considered to have originated in Australia. It was accidentally introduced to California in about 1868 and devastated the citrus industry [...] there until a natural enemy from Australia was introduced in 1888. This was the first ever example of successful classical biological control. The cottony cushion

Mediterranean fruit fly

range of unrelated fruits, in fact, practically all the tree fruit crops. It has also been recorded from wild hosts belonging to a large number of families [...] laid below the skin of the host fruit. After hatching, the larvae feed on the flesh of the fruit. As each fly lays several eggs in a fruit and different [...] widespread in Africa, the Mediterranean basin and South America. Ceratitis capitata is a highly polyphagous species whose larvae develop in a very wide

Cotton aphid

complex life cycle, with both winged and wingless forms of adults and a great variety in colour. In greenhouses reproduction takes place by parthenogenesis [...] therefore need to extract large quantities of sap to get sufficient protein. The excess sugar is secreted in the form of honeydew, making the crop and its fruit [...] been a pest in European greenhouses since the late 1980’s, particularly affecting cucumber. About Cotton aphid Life cycle and appearance of Cotton aphid

Oleander scale

is a large reduction in fertility and high mortality in crawlers. Damage symptoms Scale infestation can be seen by the appearance of the scale armour on [...] yield. Damage to fruit occurs in heavy infestations, where spotting and often deformity of fruits affects market value. In olives this is seen as green [...] citrus. Life cycle and appearance of Oleander scale Adult oleander scales are a greyish, dirty white or yellowy colour, round in shape, with a scale whose apex

Tomato leafminer

place in the soil or on the surface of a leaf, in a curled leaf or in a mine. If they leave the mines they build silk cocoons on the leaflets or in the soil [...] cycle and appearance of Tomato leafminer The female moth of the tomato leaf miner ( Tuta absoluta ) lays about 260 eggs. The eggs of the tomato leaf miner [...] tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta), a major pest of field- and greenhouse-grown tomatoes, belongs to the family of Gelechiidae . It is oligophagous, feeding mainly

False codling moth

native to sub-Saharan Africa and is found in all citrus production areas in Southern Africa. It also occurs on some of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean islands [...] fruit and drops to the ground where it pupates in the top layer of the soil. The moths emerge after a couple of weeks. The life cycle varies between 5 weeks [...] Damage and symptoms Larval penetration holes in the fruit can only be found through thorough inspection. In green citrus fruit the peel around the penetration

Sciarid flies

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 [...] parts. Pupation takes place in a small hole in the ground. Pupae are white, but later become yellow to brown. The posterior end of the pupa remains mobile [...] 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

Codling moth

caterpillars of the last generation overwinter and pupate in spring. Larvae still in the apples at harvest can often be found in cracks in apple boxes or [...] is a notorious, worldwide pest of apple and also occasionally of pear, quince, peach and other fruits. It is very common in Europe. Damage symptoms After [...] prematurely and drop off. Life cycle and appearance of Codling moth The adults have a wing span of 15-22 mm, blackish-brown forewings, suffused with ash-grey

A dive into organic hop farming and biological crop protection

resilience and innovation in the face of change, acknowledging the importance of learning from both setbacks and triumphs in this evolving process. Beneficial [...] and other beneficial insects, Lukas has witnessed a boost in confidence in the ecosystem of his hop farm. These natural enemies contribute to more balanced [...] Lukas Locher's journey represents the potential of organic farming and the integration of beneficial insects in crop protection. As he navigates challenges