• Crane flies

  General The larvae of crane flies , called leatherjackets, live in the soil and feed on roots and shoots (which they pull into the ground of mainly grasses and cereal crops. The adults do not cause any damage. Damage symptoms Larval feeding causes brown spots in grasslands, turf and cereal fields. Exit holes of the burrows of the larvae might also be visible. Secondary damage may come from birds and rodents feeding on larvae and digging up turf

• European red mite

  General As the name implies, the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi , is mainly a pest of fruit trees (apple, pear, plum and cherry). However, it can attack a large scale of other woody plants and is occasionally a problem on roses and other ornamentals of the family Rosaceae grown in greenhouses. It originates from Europe (as can be seen from the common name, European red mite) but is now distributed in all important apple growing areas of the

• Citrus mealybug

  General The citrus mealybug ( Planococcus citri ) has a world-wide distribution and many and diverse host plants. In temperate regions of the world this mealybug poses a problem in greenhouse horticulture, and in the tropics and sub-tropics on outdoor crops. The insect causes damage especially in fruit trees and ornamental crops, particularly in pot plants such as ficus, palms, schefflera, croton and kalanchoë, but also in roses and gerbera. Additionally

• Shallot aphid

  General The shallot aphid, Myzus ascalonicus , is extremely polyphagous. It feeds on crops such as onions, shallots, strawberries, lettuce, brassicas and potatoes and many ornamentals . The shallot aphid is cosmopolitan and widely spread in Europe. Damage symptoms Feeding of shallot aphid on strawberries invokes a strong host plant reaction. Infested plants become severely stunted when growth starts in spring. Petioles are shortened and leaves curled

• Tomato looper

  General The golden twin-spot moth or tomato looper ( Chrysodeixis chalcites ) belongs to the family of Noctuidae . It is a tropical and subtropical species originating in the Mediterranean and northern Africa. The larva is highly polyphagous and feeds on plants of over 20 families, among them crops such as cauliflower, corn, crucifer, soybean , potato , strawberry , banana, sweet pepper and tomato but also chrysanthemum and geranium. An annual

• Onion thrips

  General The onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) is distributed throughout the world. It is found outdoors on many plants and particularly damaging on onions, leek, and in greenhouses on cucurbits, tomato , sweet pepper , eggplant , roses, chrysanthemum , gerbera , carnations, bulbs and many others. Damage symptoms Thrips cause damage to plants by piercing the cells of the surface tissues and sucking out their contents, causing the surrounding tissue to

• May beetle

  Overview May beetles are beetles from the Scarabaeidae family, and are plant-eating species from the Melolonthinae subfamily. Although this subfamily contains a number of species which cause damage to crops, the most representative genus is the Phyllophaga . Given the external physical similarities between the adults and larvae of this genus, they are usually treated as a single group, sharing similar habits and biology. The larval stages of these

• Black vine weevil

  General The black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, is a pest in many ornamental crops (e.g. rhododendron, cyclamen and azalea), as well as in strawberries and other fruit crops in both temperate and sub-tropical regions. It belongs to the family Curculionidae. Damage symptoms The major damage is caused by the feeding of the larvae on the roots. After the roots have been destroyed the larvae move into corms, rhizomes and stem bases of plants

• Common asparagus beetle

  General The common asparagus beetle ( Crioceris asparagi ) is a major, host-specific pest of asparagus in most asparagus producing regions of the world. Damage symptoms Both adults and larvae feed on the leaves of asparagus. As the larvae feed, they secrete a blackish fluid, consisting of faecal material, which may contaminate the plant. Life cycle and appearance of Common asparagus beetle The life cycle of the asparagus beetle has the following stages

• Potato aphid

  General The potato aphid ( Macrosiphum euphorbiae ) is of North American origin, but is these days distributed throughout the world. It is a highly polyphagous species with a preference for Solanaceae (particularly potato), but has also been identified on more than 200 plant species from more than 20 families. Various vegetable and ornamental crops grown in greenhouses are colonized, including tomato , aubergine and roses. Damage symptoms Nymphs