Mites - Class Arachnida

Other animals in Class Arachnida include ticks, spiders and scorpions. The group of mites which cause plant damage include the eriophyid mites su[...]

WHITE PALM SCALE - Phenacaspis eugeniae

These hard scales are found most commonly under the leaves of the plant, but if a large population develops, they may also be fou[...]

WHITE WAX SCALE (Ceroplastes destructor)

The mature scales, which are found on the twigs, are all females and their protective white or greyish-white waxy covereings may[...]

WHITEFLIES Order Hemiptera: Family Aleyrodidae

There are about 20 species of whitefly known in Australia.  THe adult have a wingspan of about 3mm and are covered with a powdery wax;[...]

WHITEFRINGED WEEVIL (Graphognathus leucoloma)

These insects are long-lived and can cause considerable damage in an area once they have become established.  The adul[...]

The spiralling whitefly (Aleurodicus dispersus) is a tropical pest to a variety of horticultural crops, ornamental plants and shade trees. It is believed to have originated in the wet tropics of [...]

WHITESTEMMED GUM MOTH (Chelepteryx collesi)

This large moth has a pattern of wavy grey-brown lines on the wing, which spread to about 150mm.  The body is covered th[...]

WINGLESS GRASSHOPPER (Phaulacridium vittatum)

Eggs are laid in the soil, usually in small bare areas, and hatch in spring.  The young numphs feed on very low-growin[...]

WOOLLY APHID (Eriosoma lanigerum)

These aphids feed on the root system and the woody above-ground parts of the tree.  They are also found around the fruit stalks on[...]

WOOLLY GIAN MEALYBUG (Monophlebulus pilosior)

This native Austrlian insect sucks sap but is never present in sufficient numbers to cause damage.  It is oval in shap[...]

WOOLLYBEAR CATERPILLAR (Spilosoma glatignyi)

These are the larve of some of the moths in family Arctiidae.  They are thickly covered with bands of black and brown h[...]

Spittlebugs - Order Hemiptera: Superfamily Cercopoidea

The nymphs of these sap-sucking insects protect themselves from drying out by producing wet, frothy material aroun[...]

Thrips - Order Thysanoptera

A number of thrips are serious plant pests. Some do not attack living plants at all but feed on decaying organic matter such as dead leaves, old wood or fungi[...]

Scales - Order Hemiptera

These insects such sap and can cause serious plant damage. They do not look like typical insects because most of them form a protective covering over themselves [...]

Orchid Beetle - Stethopachys Formosa

This insect is sometimes called the dendrobium beetle. the stout, cream-coloured larvae tunnel in the top of the pseudobulb and in new shoots. They m[...]

Pink Wax Scale - Ceroplastes Rubens

These scales are found on the midribs of leaves and on young twigs. They produce large quantities of honeydew, and plant health declines if the infest[...]

Psyllids - Order Hemiptera: Family Psyllidae

This family of about 80 species of small insects is related to the aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs and some other similar sapsuckers. Many spec[...]

Mites - Class Arachnida

Other animals in Class Arachnida include ticks, spiders and scorpions. The group of mites which cause plant damage include the eriophyid mites such as grapeleaf b[...]

Crusader Bug - Mictis Profana

These bugs are light brown and about 20mm long in the adult stage. They are refferred to as 'crusader' bugs because of the pale yellow cross on the [...]

Earwigs - Order Dermaptera

These insects are shades of brown or black, and all have the characteristic thick curved pincers or forceps at the end of their bodies. The adults of one speci[...]

Hard Scales - Order Heiptera: Family Diaspididae

These scales are also referred to as armoured scales. Even small populations can cause serious damage, which includes yellow blotches on [...]

Hibiscus Flower Beetle - Aethina (Olliffura) concolor

This beetle is dull black, oval in shape and about 3mm long. It belongs to a family of beetles called Nitidulidae - as do the driedf[...]

Hydrangea Scale - Pulvinaria hydrangeae

The adult female scale is oval and about 3mm long. Towards the end of spring the females begin to produce ovisacs - structures of soft, white wax [...]

Leafminers

There are a number of different insects whose larvae feed inside leaves. These can bee referred to as 'leafminers'. Adults may be beetles, wasps, sawflies, moths or fl[...]

Mealybugs - Order Hemiptera: Family Pseudococcidae

These insects are oval in outline and divided across into many sections. They usually have a fringe of short waxy threads around their [...]

Cabbage Moth - Plutella Xylostella

This pest causes more damage in hot, dry districts than in coastal areas, and its numbers are highest in summer. The larvae of this moth initially tunn[...]

Christmas Beetles - Anaoplognathus Spp.

The adult beetles are found from November to January and feed on eucalypt leaves. The produce at first the characteristic saw-tooth pattern of dam[...]

Aphids - Order Hemiptera: Family Aphididae

These Small insects, which are sometimes referred to as plant lice or blackfly or greenfly, are usually 1 to 2mm long. Differe[...]

Azalea Lace Bug - Stephanitis Pyrioides

The adult bugs are about 4mm long and shiny black with lace-like mottled wings. MOst eggs are laid in the midrib or larger veins [...]

Azalea Leafminer - Caloptilia azaleella

The adult is a small moth, 6mm long with a wingspan of 11mm. Eggs are deposited singly near the midrib of the leaf. The caterpill[...]

Black Scale - Saissetia Oleae

This soft scale - which is also known as brown olive scale - can be found on both twigs and foliage. It is approximately 3mm in diameter, w[...]

Leaf Miner is a Major Problem in Citrus
Solution - Diazinon

Description: Citrus leafminer is a pest that attacks all varieties of citrus, including some Australian native species.[...]