Oak processionary moth

ea ), is a major pest of oak in many European countries. The common and scientific names of this moth refer to the behaviour of the larvae to form long [...] during the day leaving at night in a characteristic procession to feed in the canopy of the trees. If the leaves on a tree become scarce, the larvae move [...] However, this is usually less of a problem as the trees normally recover from this. More important is the health risk posed to both human and animal health

Cabbage moth

youngest a transparent yellow to grey-green with a characteristic brown-black head capsule. After the third moult, the caterpillar is green with a dark back [...] brassicae) has grey-brown to black forewings, with a kidney-shaped white-rimmed marking in the middle. The hindwings are light brown with a rather inconspicuous [...] becoming steadily darker until they are a brown-black or sometimes even a purple colour. They are ridged and have a light network of markings. First instar

Goat moth

reddish brown. The caterpillars are up to 10 cm long, pink when young, later with yellowish sides and a dark red back with a black head. The pupa is 5-6 cm long [...] lay eggs on tree trunks in batches of up to 50. After the eggs hatch, the larvae bore into the bark and down to the sap wood. Development takes 3 or 4 years [...] General The goat moth ( Cossus cossus ), is a pest of broad-leafed trees. It is most often found in birch, ash, willow and elm but can also attack fruit

Tomato looper

The caterpillar passes through 6 instars. It has a green head capsule and a yellowish-green body with a clear yellow longitudinal stripe on either side [...] moth or tomato looper ( Chrysodeixis chalcites ) belongs to the family of Noctuidae . It is a tropical and subtropical species originating in the Mediterranean [...] distinct. The antennae are long and thin. The eggs are white to pale green, shiny, dome-shaped with 28 to 32 vertical ribs. They are deposited singly or in pairs

Potato aphid

Plant sap is rich in sugars, but has a low protein content. Aphids therefore need to extract large quantities of sap to get sufficient protein. The excess [...] but is these days distributed throughout the world. It is a highly polyphagous species with a preference for Solanaceae (particularly potato), but has also [...] and disturb the balance of growth hormones. As a result, the plant’s growth is retarded giving rise to deformed leaves or, if the infestation occurs early

Click beetles

skinned. They are up to 25 mm long and usually shiny yellowish brown or light brown with a darker head. Larval development takes 4 to 5 years. When fully [...] yellowish brown to black. The eggs are laid in May or June in groups in the soil. They hatch about one month later and the larvae start to feed on roots [...] General Click beetles are elongate beetles with a hard exoskeleton, with the head deeply retracted into the thorax. When disturbed they lie on their back

European red mite

is mainly a pest of fruit trees (apple, pear, plum and cherry). However, it can attack a large scale of other woody plants and is occasionally a problem [...] diameter, dark red, and oval with small ridges running top to bottom, with a thin stalk on top. They look a bit like an onion. Adult females are about 0.4 mm long [...] mainly on the undersides of leaves but moves to upper leaf surfaces when the lower side becomes crowded. Contrary to the two-spotted spider mite , Tetranychus

Tobacco whitefly

symptoms The larvae of whitefly need a lot of protein for growth, and thus consume a large quantity of plant sap. This contains a high proportion of sugar, and [...] development of fruit and lead to a reduction in yield. The honeydew deposited on fruit makes it sticky. Dirt adheres to the fruit, and the growth of sooty [...] return to the underside of the leaves. The adult tobacco whitefly ( Bemisia tabaci ) has well-developed piercing-sucking mouthparts and begins to feed on

Garden chafer

who mate with females that stay close to the ground. Females start to deposit eggs into the soil at a depth up to 5 cm soon after mating. The eggs elongate [...] feed on a wide variety of plant species. High populations of larvae can destroy plants under field conditions. Established crops are more resistant to damage [...] larval instars, a pupal instar and the adult beetle. Adult garden chafers ( Phyllopertha horticola ) have red-brown slightly hairy wings with a dark edge. The

Spotted Wing Drosophila

females by a large dark spot on each wing, where their common name is derived from. Females have a strong saw-like ovipositor that is used to penetrate [...] respiration tubes extend from the fruit but are difficult to see. Larval feeding in the fruit leads to fruit tissue collapse. Even if the fruits have not collapsed [...] exposes fruits to secondary pathogens (e.g. bacteria, fungi and yeasts). Finally, deterioration of fruit can increase its susceptibility to attack by other