• Sciarid flies

  . Lycoriella species are mainly found in commercial mushroom cultivation where they can cause enormous damage. Sciarid flies are usually found in damp [...] little, plant death is generally local. Young plants that are kept humid and well-watered are particularly at risk. Life cycle and appearance of Sciarid [...] hardly feed at all during their short life. The males are usually smaller than the females. They are not fast fliers, and prefer damp areas in dark places

• Obscure mealybug

  instar nymphs are yellow-brown and not yet covered with wax. They are actively mobile and known as ‘crawlers’. Second instar nymphs are darker and less [...] layer of wax, the filaments around the body are longer (20-50% of the body size) and the two tail filaments are always markedly longer than the others. The [...] nymphal instar onwards are covered with a white waxy material in the form of powder, threads, spiky projections or platelets. Eggs are laid in a sticky, foamy

• Tobacco thrips

  wings are fully developed. Adult females are brown, with a head and thorax lighter than the abdomen, and measure about 1 mm in length. Adult males are ye [...] and finally the adult insect. The eggs are laid in leaves, flower petals, and the soft parts of stalks. They are inserted into the plant tissue with a saw-like [...] at 25 ºC. Larvae are nearly transparent white or yellowish to orange-yellow, with a large head and bright red eyes. Adult females are brown, with the head

• Tomato leafminer

  absoluta ) are grey-brown with filiform antennae, alternating light or dark segments and recurved labial palps, that are well developed. Black spots are present [...] distinctive symptoms of damage done by the tomato leaf miner ( Tuta absoluta) are the blotch-shaped mines in the leaves. Caterpillars prefer leaves and stems [...] tissues, leaving the epidermis intact. Fruits can be attacked as soon as they are formed but the larvae only feed on green fruits. In case of serious infection

• Diamond back moth

  the diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella) are initially yellow or pale green and later darken. They are deposited singly or in small groups of two or [...] in the leaf tissue, the larvae are voracious surface feeders. The pupae of the diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella) are covered with a white, loose, silken [...] edge. In females, the upper two-thirds of the forewings are light ochreous and the markings are like those of the males. The back is marked with a broad

• Citrus mealybug

  females of Planococcus citri are 2.5 - 4 mm long and 2 - 3 mm in breadth. Seen dorsally, they have an oval form; they are soft and covered with a fine [...] longitudinal stripe running over the body. The adult males are short lived and can be hard to spot. They are smaller than the females, have two pairs of wings and [...] threads. Once the eggs are laid, the female shrivels up and dies. The first instar nymph develops from the egg. These first instar nymphs are known as ‘crawlers’

• Broad mite

  and cyclamen are also affected. Outside in temperate climates, broad mites (Polyphagotarsonemus latus) are not a serious problem, as they are unable to [...] elongated, oval eggs are firmly attached to the surface and are rather large (about 0.07 mm) compared with the subsequent, active stages. They are transparent and [...] cells are killed, deformed corky patches frequently appear causing misshapen fruits that often crack open at the site of deformation. Flowers are often

• Mediterranean fruit fly

  silvery crossbands. The wings are clear with black veins and marked with black spots and brownish yellow patches. The eggs are about 1 mm long and narrowly [...] hole is often surrounded by a sunken and discoloured area. These punctures are often sufficient in high quality produce to make fruit unmarketable. Damage [...] caused by larval feeding on the flesh makes the fruit useless. Damaged fruits are often invaded by pathogenic fungi causing rotting. Life cycle and appearance

• Cottony soft rot

  first symptoms of a cottony soft root ( Sclerotinia sclerotiorum ) infection are water-soaked lesions at the stem base. The plant above it wilts and rots. [...] this disease its name cottony soft rot. In the mycelium, big, dark sclerotia are formed. They can easily be seen with the naked eye and look like rat droppings

• Fall Armyworm

  lifetime. Eggs are white, pinkish or light green and spherical, and are usually laid on the underside of the leaves. The larvae ( caterpillars ) are 30-40 mm [...] Life cycle of the Fall Armyworm Adult moths are 20 to 25 mm long and have a wingspan of 32-38 mm. They are nocturnal and most active during the warm, humid [...] fall armyworms to spread over large areas rapidly. Adults fly by night, and are attracted to lights, especially those with a strong ultra-violet component