Vine mealybug

Planococcus ficus belongs to the family Pseudococcidae, and is also known by the names Mediterranean vine mealybug and Grapevine mealybug. As the name indicates [...] this 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 causing deformation and / or yellowing of leaves, sometimes followed by defoliation. The overall effect is a reduction of photosynthesis and therefore

California red scale

scale or California red scale (Aonidiella aurantii) belongs to the Diaspididae family and is a pest found worldwide, mainly in citrus, but also in fig, [...] feeding is very toxic to plant tissue. California red scale feeds by inserting its mouthpart into the plant tissue and sucking the contents of the parenchymal [...] cells. If the infestation is more serious, the leaves present some characteristic yellow dots around each gravid female, which may result in loss of shoots

Macadamia nut borer

borer ( Thaumatotibia batrachopa ) is native to Africa and was originally described from the Eastern Cape province in South Africa. Macadamia is the major [...] major host of this moth, it has not been linked to any other crop or indigenous host in South Africa. It is a quarantine pest and control procedures have [...] have to be carried out to enable export. Damage and symptoms Damage before shell hardening is caused by the larvae which bore into the fruit. In small nuts

Litchi moth

General Litchi moth ( Cryptophlebia peltastica ) is native to Southern Africa and also occurs on the Indian Ocean islands of Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion [...] Reunion and Seychelles. Litchi moth is polyphagous and of economic importance on litchi, and macadamia nuts to a limited extent. Damage and symptoms The [...] fruit and feeds its way through the fruit flesh and into the seed. Such feeding causes fungal growth and other infestations leading to fruit rot. Larva

Citrus thrips

General Citrus thrips is originally described from various localities in South Africa and is indigenous. It occurs throughout Southern Africa, East Africa [...] Egypt and Yemen. Citrus thrips can survive on many different host plants but seem to be particularly attracted to those with aromatic oils and terpenoids [...] feed on young leaves or fruit. They cannot survive on mature, hard foliage. They feed most often in narrow crevices created by folds in leaves or under

False codling moth

moth ( Thaumatotibia leucotreta ) is native to sub-Saharan Africa and is found in all citrus production areas in Southern Africa. It also occurs on some [...] some of the Indian and Atlantic Ocean islands, such as Mauritius and Cape Verde. False codling moth was previously known as Cryptophlebia leucotreta . The [...] this pest’s high pest status is its quarantine status and is not due to the economic losses. Damage and symptoms Larval penetration holes in the fruit

Leafhoppers

Biological control of leafhoppers Leafhoppers are highly mobile, sap-sucking pests that feed on plant leaves, causing discoloration, stippling and leaf [...] growth and can lead to reduced yield and lower crop quality. In addition, leafhoppers can transmit plant pathogens, increasing the risk of disease spread within [...] field crops. Effective leafhopper control is therefore essential to maintain healthy and productive cultivation. By combining monitoring with targeted biological

Leaf miners

Biological control of leaf miners Leaf miners are damaging pests that tunnel through leaves, reducing photosynthesis and weakening plant growth. Their [...] Effective leaf miner control is essential to protect plant vitality and maintain marketable yields. Biological control of leaf miners combines effective [...] effective natural enemies and monitoring tools to target different pest stages: Beneficial nematodes Parasitic wasps Sticky traps Parasitic wasps attack and

Psyllids

Whitefly

Biological control of whitefly Whiteflies are common pests in greenhouse and field crops, feeding on plant sap and transmitting harmful viruses. Their [...] causes leaf yellowing and leads to honeydew deposits that reduce crop quality. Effective whitefly control is essential to maintain healthy, productive crops [...] crops and prevent the spread of diseases. Biological control of whiteflies uses a combination of natural enemies and tools that target different pest stages: