• Beneficial nematodes

  bodies, and they come in a variety of sizes, ranging from microscopic to several inches in length. Nematodes play various roles in ecosystems. Some are [...] of beneficial nematodes are commonly used in biological pest control . These nematodes play a vital role in managing insect pests and are considered beneficial [...] insect larvae. They are commonly used in greenhouse and nursery pest management and are becoming more and more popular in orchards and outdoor vegetable crops

• Fall Armyworm

  an easily spotted sign of larval feeding. After feeding, the leaves appear ragged or torn (similar to hailstorm damage in appearance). Life cycle of the [...] throughout the Americas. Recently, it has been found in Africa too. The caterpillars of fall armyworms feed on the leaves, stems and reproductive parts of more [...] disperse in a radius of about 500 km (300 miles) before oviposition, which is sufficient for them to move from seasonally dry habitats to wet habitats in Central

• Beet armyworm

  It is highly polyphagous, feeding on plants of more than 20 families. It is a serious pest in greenhouses, where it feeds on ornamental plants such as [...] the ground in preparation for pupation. Although pupation sometimes occurs in the crop, it usually takes place on the surface of the ground in a loosely [...] s migrate to the top of the plant where they feed mainly on the growing tips. They produce large holes in the leaf, sometimes stripping the leaf down to

• American serpentine leaf miner

  cosmetic damage. In tropical and subtropical areas this can lead to burning in fruit such as tomato and melon. Loss of leaves also reduces yield. In full-grown [...] millimetres long. When the adult females feed or lay eggs, they bore a hole using their toothed ovipositor, usually in the upper side of the leaf. Egg spots [...] exit hole in the leaf with its mouth parts. After roughly one hour the larva crawls out of the leaf and falls to the ground. This occurs in the early morning

• Macrolophus pygmaeus

  to damage. In tomato there may be fruit deformations during setting, and in gerbera, misshapen flowers may appear. The use of this bug in gerbera is therefore [...] mites. This beneficial insect has been widely employed in integrated pest management (IPM) programs in tomato. Macrolophus pygmaeus adults are small, slender [...] and nymphs are voracious predators, capable of feeding on various pest species. With its effectiveness in pest control and minimal impact on non-target

• Spider mites and other mites

  characteristics and feeding habits. Plant mites generally thrive in warm and dry conditions, which is why they are often problematic in greenhouses and during [...] are often found in colonies on the undersides of leaves, where they feed on the plant's sap. The damage caused by plant mites can result in discolored or [...] Plant mites are a diverse group of small arthropods that feed on plant sap. They are found in a wide variety of habitats, from forests and grasslands to

• Leaf miners

  cosmetic damage. In (sub)tropical areas this can lead to burning in fruit such as tomato and melon. Loss of leaves also reduces yield. In full-grown plants [...] The leaf miner species that cause damage in horticultural crops are mostly polyphagous; that is, they feed on many crops. However, this is not universal [...] species in this family, only eleven are truly polyphagous. The species that cause most damage all belong to the genus Liriomyza and are very common in temperate

• Cyclamen mite

  smaller than usual. In cyclamen, the flowers are damaged and leaf growth is inhibited. In hedera, a mite attack can cause baldness in parts of the stem. [...] Tarsonemidae ) display a greater diversity of feeding habits than any other mite family. There are species that feed on fungi, algae, plants, as well as insect [...] and they are protected from direct sunlight. In such spots, they are difficult to observe. Damage occurs in localized patches, because the mite spreads

• Mealybugs and scales

  fruit are concerned, these often drop off; plant sap is low in proteins and rich in sugars. In order to gain an adequate intake of protein, mealybugs must [...] scales also produce honeydew (on which moulds grow) resulting in considerable damage in ornamental and fruit crops and loss of value. Armoured scales do [...] sale, and the reduced level of photosynthesis in the leaves also reduces flower and fruit production; in ornamental crops, the mere presence of mealybugs

• Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Hypoaspis miles)

  gnats) The predatory mites feed on larvae of sciarid flies, thrips pupae and other soil-dwelling insects. The mites appear in and on the soil and at the [...] Stratiolaelaps scimitus is a generalist predator. In addition to soil-dwelling thrips stages, it also feeds on fly larvae, mites, springtails, nematodes and [...] and other small soil-dwelling organisms. The larvae do not feed. Nymphs and adults prey mainly in the upper 1-2 cm of the soil. Adult females consume up to