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
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
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
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
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
Diptera Flies What are flies? There are several flies that are pests in agriculture, horticulture and mushroom cultivation. Species that can cause damage or nuisance, are particularly small flies of t
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
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
Coleoptera Beetles What are beetles? Beetles belong to the order Coleoptera, a well-known group of insects that are easily recognizable on account of their hard wing covers (elytra). With more than 35
Lepidoptera Caterpillars What are caterpillars? Caterpillars are the larvae of butterflies and moths. Butterflies and moths form the order Lepidoptera, a very large group with more than 150,000 specie