General The cottony cushion scale, Icerya purchasi , is considered to have originated in Australia. It was accidentally introduced to California in about 1868 and devastated the citrus industry there
General The codling moth ( Cydia pomonella ) is a notorious, worldwide pest of apple and also occasionally of pear, quince, peach and other fruits. It is very common in Europe. Damage symptoms After i
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 an
Overview The corn earworm is a major pest affecting over 100 crops, of which the most prominent varieties are corn, sorghum, cotton, aubergine, pepper, and tomato. They primarily feed on flowers and f
General The cotton bollworm ( Helicoverpa armigera ) occurs in the tropics and sub-tropics of all continents except for North America. Larvae of the cotton bollworm ( Helicoverpa armigera ) are highly
General The woolly aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum , is a serious worldwide apple pest. It is probably of North American origin and has been distributed to other parts of the world mainly via infested apple
General The fall armyworm is a polyphagous pest that is indigenous throughout the Americas. Recently, it has been found in Africa too. The caterpillars of fall armyworms feed on the leaves, stems and
General The beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) has become a regular problem for horticulturalists due to its resistance to nearly all insecticides, and its ability to develop on wild vegetation during
General Cutworms ( Agrotis spp.) are occurring worldwide. Important species are for instance the black cutworm Agrotis ipsilon and the turnip moth Agrotis segetum . The larvae of these moths usually f
General Since the start of its invasion in 2008/2009, the spotted wing drosophila, which is originally from Asia, has spread extensively in North and South America and Europe where it has caused sever