• Don Sanchez Fresh innovates with biological control in avocados

  maintained a close relationship that has allowed them to go one step further. Pest and disease control in avocado trees In avocado production there are a number [...] insects. It also takes a lot of dedication to obtain the favorable results that biological pest control gives. More open doors thanks to biological control [...] farmers to comply with these regulations and ensure safe and environmentally friendly crop production. All farmers must take a step forward to stay in

• Bugs

  bugs Bugs can cause extensive damage to greenhouse and field crops by feeding on plant tissues and fruits, leading to deformation, discoloration, and yield [...] control Learn more about What are bugs? Heteropteran bugs form a group in the order Hemiptera , a highly diverse group of insects, containing both harmful and [...] yield loss. Effective bug control is key to maintaining healthy, high-quality crops. Biological control of bugs combines targeted monitoring and natural

• Obscure mealybug

  world with a temperate climate. It has a very similar appearance to the citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri) , but its body is covered with a thicker layer [...] the males form a dark false pupa followed by a pupa in rapid succession. The actual pupa develops inside a white, cottony cocoon. After a complete metamorphosis [...] seeking females to fertilize. The female second instar nymphs, on the other hand, settle on the leaf and begin to secrete wax, moulting to a third instar

• Macadamia nut borer

  been linked to any other crop or indigenous host in South Africa. It is a quarantine pest and control procedures have to be carried out to enable export [...] may remain. A larva can consume several small nuts by moving from one fruit to another. This type of damage is small, and trees are able to compensate for [...] General The macadamia nut borer ( Thaumatotibia batrachopa ) is native to Africa and was originally described from the Eastern Cape province in South Africa

• Broad mite

  latus) are not a serious problem, as they are unable to overwinter. Mites belonging to the family of tarsonemids ( Tarsonemidae ) display a greater diversity [...] d on the underside near the leaf stalk, which tends to cause the leaf to turn brown and curl up. A typical indication of an attack of broad mite ( Pol [...] case of a mild infestation, one can often see brown, frequently collapsed spots, or brown stripes forming a fine network on the leaves. In case of a more

• Predatory insects

  hunt and feed on various harmful pests, helping to maintain a balanced ecosystem. Predatory bugs play a vital role in controlling whitefly , thrips , c [...] referred to as "aphid lions," are particularly effective in controlling aphids . They use their strong jaws to grasp and consume aphids at a high rate [...] actively seek out aphid colonies, helping to keep their populations in check. Next to aphids, lacewings also contribute to the control of mealybugs , thrips and

• Grow your own vegetable garden

  as “ a condition within which all people have access to adequate and safe food at all times in order to meet their dietary needs to enable them to lead [...] lead a healthy and active life.” According to a 2017 study, nearly 20% of SA households, a total of 6,8 million individuals, experience inadequate access to [...] to food. Agriculture is core to every person’s story, mother, father, child, commercial or emerging farmer. An increase in the involvement of households

• Cotton aphid

  Plant sap is rich in sugars, but has a low protein content. Aphids therefore need to extract large quantities of sap to get sufficient protein. The excess [...] population. Large individuals (up to 1.8 mm long) are usually dark green to black, while aphids produced in overcrowded colonies at a high temperature can be much [...] and disturb the balance of growth hormones. As a result, the plant’s growth is retarded giving rise to deformed leaves or, if the infestation occurs early

• Diamond back moth

  disperse, on average, only 13 to 35 m within a crop field, however, they are readily carried by the wind and as such can disperse 400 to 500 km per night. [...] suggested to have its origin in Europe, South Africa or East Asia, but is now present wherever its cruciferous hosts exist and it is considered to be the [...] wind-borne adults can travel long distances to invade crops in other regions. Damage symptoms The caterpillar is a surface feeder. They feed from the lower

• American serpentine leaf miner

  miners cause damage to plants both directly and indirectly. The most direct damage is caused by the larvae mining the leaf tissue, leading to desiccation, premature [...] lead to burning in fruit such as tomato and melon. Loss of leaves also reduces yield. In full-grown plants of fruiting vegetable crops, however, a considerable [...] American serpentine leaf miner The life cycle of a leaf miner has the following stages: egg, three larval instars, a pupal instar and the adult fly. Adult leaf