Corn rootworm

General The western corn rootworm ( Diabrotica virgifera virgifera ) is a chrysomelid beetle originating from North America, where it is regarded as the main pest of maize. Nowadays it is present in m

Tarnished plant bug

General The lygus bug (or tarnished plant bug) is native to North America, and it is especially common across the eastern half of the continent, from northern Canada to southern Mexico. It is one of t

Poultry Red Mite

General Dermanyssus gallinae , the poultry red mite, chicken mite or roost mite, is a major pest of fowl, pigeons, and other caged birds worldwide. A parasite especially common to poultry breeding and

Potato/tomato psyllid

Overview It is a pest of huge economic importance, which initially affected potatoes and in recent years has become a problem for other Solanaceae crops such as tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, and toba

Whitefly

Hemiptera Whitefly What are whiteflies? Whiteflies are a group of small, winged insects that belong to the family Aleyrodidae. They are called "whiteflies" because they are typically white or yellowis

Leaf miners

Diptera Leaf miners What are leaf miners? Leaf miners belong to the order Diptera (the true flies ) and form the family Agromyzidae. This is a family of small flies whose larvae tunnel into the leaves

Mealybugs and scales

Hemiptera Mealybugs and scales What are mealybugs & scales? Mealybugs (family Pseudococcidae), soft scales (family Coccidae) and armoured scales (family Diaspididae) form three important families with

Spider mites and other mites

Biological control of spider mites and other mites Spider mites and other mite species can rapidly infest greenhouse and field crops, feeding on plant cells and causing leaf discoloration, reduced pho

Thrips

Thysanoptera Thrips What are thrips? Several species of thrips are a major problem in greenhouse horticulture. The Western flower thrips ( Frankliniella occidentalis ) is the most damaging species. Th

Bugs

Hemiptera Bugs What are bugs? Heteropteran bugs form a group in the order Hemiptera , a highly diverse group of insects, containing both harmful and beneficial species. Heteropteran bugs are insects w