Anthurium

variety of colours. However, the ‘flower’ is actually an altered leaf (also called spathe) with many flowers on the spadix. Standard varieties of anthuriums

Hop

The hop is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. Hops are the female flowers (seed cones, strobiles) of the plant and are considered [...] typically trained on strings up to 25 ft tall. The hop is native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere where currently the most acreage of production occurs [...] in the ground. They emerge each year towards the end of Spring and are harvested near the end of Summer.

Leek

cultivar of Allium ampeloprasum , the broadleaf wild leek. In the past, many different scientific names were used to identify various species of leek, but [...] but now they are all classified as cultivars of Allium ampeloprasum . The part of the plant that can be eaten is at times erroneously called a stem or stalk [...] stalk. This part is actually a bundle of leaf sheaths. This bundle is blanched by putting soil around it (so-called ‘trenching’). The plant is usually

Lettuce

and most often grown for its leaves. It is, however, often plagued on by a number of insect and mammal pests and fungal and bacterial diseases, and can

Mottled arum aphid

they produce large amounts of honeydew, which provides an excellent substrate for the growth of black sooty mould. Large areas of mould covering the leaves [...] Damage symptoms Large colonies of mottled arum aphids can greatly reduce plant vigour and kill the plant through sucking of plant sap. However, also at lower [...] Reproduction of the mottled arum aphid is entirely by parthenogenesis, with unfertilized viviparous females continuously producing new generations of females

Black bean aphid

regions, where it is a serious economic pest of beans. It is highly polyphagous, and attacks a wide range of other crops. Damage symptoms Economic damage [...] damage is caused through the transmission of plant viruses. Infestations start usually at the younger parts of the plant but can spread all over the plant [...] therefore need to extract large quantities of sap to get sufficient protein. The excess sugar is secreted in the form of honeydew, making the crop and its fruit

A dive into organic hop farming and biological crop protection

recognizes the need for resilience and innovation in the face of change, acknowledging the importance of learning from both setbacks and triumphs in this evolving [...] the ecosystem of his hop farm. These natural enemies contribute to more balanced and targeted pest management, with a specific focus on addressing issues [...] conclusion, Lukas Locher's journey represents the potential of organic farming and the integration of beneficial insects in crop protection. As he navigates

Broad mite

indication of an attack of broad mite ( Polyphagotarsonemus latus ), is the appearance of dark brown edges at the base of young leaves. In case of a mild [...] caused by viruses. The typical pattern of damage consists of malformation and distortion of the above-ground growth of the plant. The mites show a preference [...] family of tarsonemids ( Tarsonemidae ) display a greater diversity of feeding habits than any other mite family. There are species that feed on fungi,

Tomato leafminer

absoluta), a major pest of field- and greenhouse-grown tomatoes, belongs to the family of Gelechiidae . It is oligophagous, feeding mainly on Solanaceae species [...] may also occur underneath the crown of the fruit and even inside the fruit itself. On leaves, the larvae only feed on mesophyll tissues, leaving the epidermis [...] cycle and appearance of Tomato leafminer The female moth of the tomato leaf miner ( Tuta absoluta ) lays about 260 eggs. The eggs of the tomato leaf miner

Blueberry aphid

most likely of North American origin and was probably introduced into Europe with plant material. It feeds on blueberries and is a vector of blueberry scorch [...] symptoms Blueberry aphids live in dense colonies on young shoots of blueberry bushes and produce large amounts of sticky honeydew. The aphids spread blueberry [...] loss. Life cycle and appearance of Blueberry aphid Aphids have a complex life cycle, with both winged and wingless forms of adults and a great variety in