Asparagus

seasonal vegetable, only available in spring. It is a flowering, perennial plant species that belongs to the genus Asparagus . In the past, the asparagus plant [...] is an indigenous plant in most of Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. Commercially it is an interesting vegetable crop and it is extensively cultivated

Diamond back moth

in Europe, South Africa or East Asia, but is now present wherever its cruciferous hosts exist and it is considered to be the most universally distributed [...] often stick to leaves and frequently hide in crevices near the bud. In cauliflower and broccoli, pupation may occur in the florets. Initially, the pupa is [...] Plutellidae . It only attacks Brassicaceae species, including cruciferous weeds. The diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella) is suggested to have its origin in

Common cockchafer

Melolontha, in the family Scarabaeidae. Damage symptoms The common cockchafer ( Melolontha melolontha ) does most of its damage in the larval stage, when it feeds [...] hairy, well developed yellow legs. It takes three or four years for the larvae to fully develop. The grubs are 10 to 20 mm in the first autumn, 30 to 35 mm [...] common cockchafer ( Melolontha melolontha ) are 2 x 3 mm, but they increase in size by absorbing water. The larvae (grubs) have a whitish curved body, large

Green peach aphid

important insect pest in sweet pepper, tomato, cucumber and many other greenhouse crops. The aphid may originate from Asia, where its winter-hardy host plant [...] occurs early enough in the season, the death of young plants. Retarded growth and defoliation reduce yield, Plant sap is rich in sugars, but has a low [...] get sufficient protein. The excess sugar is secreted in the form of honeydew, making the crop and its fruit sticky. Black fungal moulds ( Cladosporium spp

Dwarf bunt

healthy kernels, which in turn become a source of disease in the next season. The optimum temperature for germination is 3-8 °C and it takes three to ten weeks [...] General Tilletia controversa is a plant pathogen. It is a fungus known to cause the smut disease TCK smut in soft white and hard red winter wheats, as well [...] teliospores in the soil or on seed. The soil-borne teliospores are the main source of primary infection. The soil-borne teliospores may survive in soil without

Black bean aphid

bean aphid, Aphis fabae , is widespread in temperate regions, where it is a serious economic pest of beans. It is highly polyphagous, and attacks a wide [...] occurs early enough in the season, the death of young plants. Retarded growth and defoliation reduce yield. Plant sap is rich in sugars, but has a low [...] get sufficient protein. The excess sugar is secreted in the form of honeydew, making the crop and its fruit sticky. Black moulds grow on this honeydew,

Tomato leaf miner

crop damage in many parts of the world, including North Africa, Europe and northern Asia. In warmer regions, the insect is found outdoors but in temperate [...] temperate regions it only occurs in greenhouses. The tomato leaf miner has been found in greenhouses for decades, but has become a common pest since the 1960’s [...] 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

Pea leaf miner

occurs in a variety of vegetable and ornamental crops. It originates from South and Middle America and has subsequently spread via plant material. It is now [...] 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 [...] 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

Impatiens thrips

the trade in foliage plants. Impatiens thrips (Echinothrips americanus) has a wide range of hosts. In addition to many ornamental plants it also attacks [...] attacks sweet pepper, cucumber and eggplants. It lives exclusively on the leaves and is often present on weeds in greenhouses. Life cycle and appearance of [...] develops in six stages: egg, two larval instars, prepupa, pupa, and finally the adult insect. Impatiens thrips (Echinothrips americanus) completes its entire

European red mite

generations in one year. The European red mite overwinters in the egg stage; the “winter eggs” are laid in the wooden parts of the host plants in autumn. [...] 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 [...] 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