Cotton aphid

cucumber, melon, pepper and many ornamental plants such as chrysanthemum and kalanchoe. The cotton aphid ( Aphis gossypii ) is distributed throughout the [...] virus. Nymphs and adults extract nutrients from the plant and disturb the balance of growth hormones. As a result, the plant’s growth is retarded giving [...] contaminating fruit and ornamental crops and rendering them unsuitable for market. At the same time, photosynthesis in the leaves is reduced, affecting

Crane flies

soil in late summer to fall, and females mate and lay 200-300 eggs. Larvae emerge within one week and then feed on roots and crowns of grasses during the [...] 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 [...] feeding on larvae and digging up turf. Life cycle and appearance of Crane flies Adult crane flies are large flies with females reaching 45-50 mm across. They

Pomegranate

granatum ) is a small tree or deciduous shrub that belongs to the family of Lythraceae . The plant can grow up to between 5 and 8 metres (16 and 26 feet) [...] near modern-day Iran and spread to the Mediterranean region and northern India. The tree’s flowers are an attractive, bright red and usually have three to [...] flowers. The pomegranate’s edible fruit is actually a berry and with regards to size sits between a lemon and grapefruit, 5–12 cm (2.0–4.7 in) in diameter

Potato

‘potato’ ( S olanum tuberosum ) is used to refer to the plant itself or its edible tuber. The plant is an herbaceous perennial and came to Europe from Latin [...] this starchy, tuberous crop is an integral part of the world’s food supply and many people’s diet. In terms of volume, potato is the fourth-largest food crop [...] the world, after maize, wheat and rice. Potato plants grow up to some 60 cm tall. Its leaves die after flowering, fruiting and the development of the potatoes

Crop Protection

protection is the practice of protecting plants against pests, diseases, and harmful influences to ensure healthy growth and reliable harvests. It is essential [...] wasps , beneficial nematodes and beneficial microorganisms , growers can control pests and diseases, minimize pest resistance, and strengthen plant resilience [...] pollinators, and strengthens crop resilience. Advantages Pest and insect management Biological crop protection provides effective pest and insect management

Fall Armyworm

eggs in clusters of 150-200 and can lay up to 2000 eggs in a lifetime. Eggs are white, pinkish or light green and spherical, and are usually laid on the underside [...] General The fall armyworm is a polyphagous pest that is indigenous throughout the Americas. Recently, it has been found in Africa too. The caterpillars [...] leaves, stems and reproductive parts of more than 100 plant species causing major damage to cultivated grasses, such as maize, rice, sorghum and sugarcane

La Hacienda Fresh increases crop profitability thanks to biological control

The profitability of a crop is based on the quantity and quality of its fruits and the time in which they can be produced and harvested, the price of the [...] number of productive weeks and, therefore, in the profitability of the business. The implementation of a biological control program is one of the key tools that [...] achieve this. This is attested to by La Hacienda Fresh, a company that has developed great expertise in the integrated management of pests and diseases, making

Caterpillars

on leaves and young shoots, and their enormous feeding capacity can rapidly decimate a plant. Very small caterpillars are not able to chew and therefore [...] What are caterpillars? Caterpillars are the larvae of butterflies and moths. Butterflies and moths form the order Lepidoptera, a very large group with more [...] them feed on nectar. In contrast, the caterpillars have biting and chewing mouthparts and can devour large amounts of plant tissue. Many species cause damage

Red palm weevil

elongated cocoon made of rolled-up palm fibres. After the cocoon is formed the larva enters a pre-pupal stage, its body contracts and it does not crawl any more [...] Asia, but has spread to Africa and Europe with distribution through the Mediterranean since the 1980s. Damage symptoms It is very difficult to recognize the [...] tissues mainly at the base of living fronds. Larvae are present and feed in the softest and most humid living tissues (growth areas) with a low to moderate

Southern blight

southern blight is a disease caused by the fungus Athelia (Sclerotium) rolfsii . It is an important plant pathogen that inhabits the soil, and is responsible [...] young tissues and softening of the stem, cotyledons, and roots. The main damage caused by damping-off is reduction of the stand, meaning it is very often [...] humidity of over 90%, and a soil pH of under 7. The ideal pH range for germination is between 2.6 and 4.4, but it can occur between 2.6 and 7.7. Very humid soils