• Yellow rose aphid

  General The yellow rose aphid , Rhodobium porosum , is probably of North American origin but is now widely distributed in Europe, North Africa, parts of Asia and South America. It attacks plants of the family Rosaceae and is a pest of strawberries and roses. Damage symptoms The yellow rose aphids usually live in young unfolded leaves. Nymphs and adults extract nutrients from the plant and disturb the balance of growth hormones. As a result, the

• Cutworms

  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 feed on roots and plant parts close to the ground, thereby often cutting the stems of young plants. This is where their common name comes from. Cutworms are vey polyphagous and have a wide host range. Damage symptoms Early instar cutworm larvae can

• Chafers

  General The chafers are beetles of the Scarabaeidae family. The larvae of both species live in the soil and feed on the roots of many plants. They are a serious pest that can cause substantial damage. The adults are not harmful. Damage symptoms Larval feeding on the roots can lead to yellowing and wilting of plants. Damage can be severe on young plants and especially in grassland and turf. There, secondary damage is often caused by birds and small

• Click beetles

  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 feigning death and then suddenly propel themselves into the air with a audible click. Hence their name. Their larvae are called wireworms and feed on the roots of many plants. Damage symptoms The click beetles feed on the roots and bore into the base of plants. This can cause the plants to wilt

• Apple rosy aphid

  General The rosy apple aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea , is a serious apple pest. It is widespread in Europe and also occurs in Africa, North and South America, and Asia and can cause severe damage to both shoots and fruits. Damage symptoms Infested apple leaves are severely curled downwards and disfigured. They sometimes turn yellowish or brown. Attacked shoots are stunted and twisted. Heavy attack can lead to premature leaf fall and death of shoots.

• Spotted Wing Drosophila

  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 severe yield losses in many berry crops, cherries and grapes. Damage symptoms After oviposition, the 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

• Cabbage leafroller

  General The cabbage leafroller (Clepsis spectrana) is native to North-West Europe. It is a highly polyphagous species causing damage to field grown cabbage, apple, pear as well as maple, popular, spruce and many herbaceous wild plants. Because fewer broad-spectrum pesticides are used these days, the cabbage leafroller has also become a pest in greenhouse crops. Great damage can be inflicted on ornamental crops, such as roses, alstroemeria, azalea

• Box tree moth

  General The box tree moth ( Cydalima perspectalis ) belongs to the family of Crambidae . It originates in the temperate and sub-tropical regions of East Asia (Japan, Korea, China). The box tree moth ( Cydalima perspectalis ) is an oligophagous species feeding on the leaves of box tree ( Buxus spp. ) species mainly. Severe defoliation can lead to the death of the tree. As the tree is extensively traded within Europe, the box tree moth ( Cydalima

• Diamond back moth

  General The diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella) belongs to the family of Plutellidae . It only attacks Brassicaceae species, including cruciferous weeds. The diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella) is suggested to have its origin 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 lepidopteran species. It is highly migratory and wind-borne

• Oak processionary moth

  General The oak processionary moth ( Thaumetopoea processionea ), 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 processions. The moth is native to central and southern Europe but is now present in almost all European countries and also in parts of the Middle East. Damage symptoms The nests of caterpillars on infested trees are clearly visible. The larvae