• Cactus mealybug

  third nymphal instar onwards are covered with a white waxy material in the form of powder, threads, spiky projections or platelets. Eggs are laid in a sticky [...] sedentary and only move occasionally. After the second instar, the males form a pupa. After a complete metamorphosis, a winged male emerges from this pupa [...] have a brief lifespan during which they are wholly engaged in seeking females to fertilize. The female second instar nymph, on the other hand, moults into

• Fusarium spp.

  Infected glumes and kernels become white, due to dehydration, and later turn pinkish-red as spores are formed. Ear infection decreases the baking quality [...] ia), which are transported upwards. At the same time, the plant produces gum as a defence mechanism to stop the fungus from spreading. This gum blocks [...] of which DON (deoxynivalenol) is the best-known. The mycotoxins are toxic to mammals so maximum levels have been determined. Fusarium sambucinum (a.k.a

• American serpentine leaf miner

  outwards from its egg, so that its mines join to form small plates. In various other crops one finds intermediate forms of tunnelling between these ‘plate mines’ [...] miners cause damage to plants both directly and indirectly. The most direct damage is caused by the larvae mining the leaf tissue, leading to desiccation, premature [...] hard to distinguish from feeding spots. The larvae of Liriomyza trifolii are entirely ochre-yellow. When the larva hatches from the egg, it begins to eat

• Tomato moth

  underside of leaves in groups of 50 to 300, often arranged in layers. The eggs are greenish at first, but gradually change to a light yellow or almost white [...] instars, later becoming white to grey-brown with mottled markings. The pattern of markings on the larvae varies according to the host plant and developmental [...] areas of leaves and can also attack stems, rendering them fragile and liable to break. Young plants may be stripped completely, and the frass deposited on

• A legacy of sustainability: Stolk Brothers and Koppert’s shared vision

  March 17, 2025

  family’s dedication to innovation and sustainable practices led them through various crops—from lettuce to tomatoes, and eventually to their current specialty: [...] better, healthier alternative.” That’s when they turned to Koppert’s biological solutions. At the time, biological pest control was seen as unconventional [...] Brothers continues to feel the company’s personal touch. “Fifteen, twenty years ago, you could just call someone at Koppert and get a sample to try out. Things

• Treatment of bumblebee stings and allergies

  an allergic reaction involves antibodies formed during a previous exposure to an antigen, it is not possible to have an allergic reaction after the first [...] have an allergic reaction to the next sting. If you had a level 1 or 2 reaction in particular, the chance is small. Reactions to bumblebee stings may differ [...] days it is possible to take a test using purified bumblebee venom to determine whether you will have an allergic reaction the next time you are stung. It

• Aphidius colemani

  causing aphids to drop from the leaf and fall to the ground. Although many aphids die as a result, many will survive and migrate to other plants to begin new [...] a cocoon inside the aphid cuticle, causing it to swell. The cuticle turns from a hard, leathery brown to a golden yellow casing, known as a mummy. Parasitized [...] temperature. Four to six days later the new wasps will emerge. An adult braconid wasp leaves this mummy via a round hole. The colour and form of the mummy do

• Aphidoletes aphidimyza

  size of the aphids, and the aphid species. The time required to consume an aphid can vary from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the age and nutritional [...] adjusted to the particular situation. Start introduction as soon as the first aphids are detected in the crop. Introduction rates typically range from 1-10 per [...] As gall-midges are active at night, it is crucial to keep the night temperature above 12°C/61°F, to ensure optimal conditions for oviposition. Apply A

• Sugar beet

  About Sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris ) belongs to the Altissima cultivar group of the common beet. Beta vulgaris (beet) is a plant which is included in Betoideae [...] crown. The plant consists of the root and a rosette of leaves. Sugar is formed by photosynthesis in the leaves and is then stored in the root. Sugar beets [...] sugar production. Sugar beets grow exclusively in temperate zones, in contrast to sugarcane, which grows exclusively in tropical and subtropical zones. The

• Root and crown rot of strawberry

  clavispora. Pestalotiopsis clavispora has been connected to strawberry diseases, but has also been linked to rose diseases. Damage symptoms Pestalotiopsis clavispora [...] mostly found in plants that have been weakened by some form of stress, from underfertilization to water stress (either too much or too little water), or [...] stimulates disease development. How to prevent Root and crown rot of strawberry Avoid stress: Take runner tips at the right stage to avoid stress and make plants