Entomology

THE MAJOR
AND MINOR
PESTS OF THE
FOLLOWING
CROPS
prepared by: Dangcatan, Gwyneth
BAN
ANA
BANANA RHIZOME WEEVIL
Scientific Names Picture
Cosmopolites Sordidus
Life cycle Feeding habits
feeds on the corm

BANANA RHIZOME
WEEVIL
Most destructive Unique characters
stage
weakens the plant and The weevils are nocturnal

increases the chance of it and hide during the day in
breaking at ground level or around corms or in moist
and falling over in the areas near the plant and in
wind. The damage also the trash.
allows fungi to enter the
tunnels causing rotting of
the corm, and reduces yield.
BANANA STEM WEEVIL
Odoiporus longicollis
The
weevils are predominantly nocturnal in habit,
although
during cloudy days and cooler months they may fly
during the daytime. They often confine themselves
within
the pseudostem and in the decomposing tissues of
harvested pseudostems
BANANA RHIZOME
WEEVIL
stage
Adult weevils are about 10–
12mm long, hard shelled and
All life stages of the weevil are have the pronounced snout
present throughout the year in typical of weevils. The newly
the infested plant. Adults are emerged weevil is reddish
strong fliers and in this way, brown but soon becomes
move from plant to plant. uniformly dull black. The
weevils are nocturnal and hide
during the day in or around
corms or in moist areas near the
plant and in the trash.
B A N A N A L E A F E AT I N G
C AT E R P I L L A R
Erionota thrax

Eggs are laid singly or in groups of up to 25
on the underside of banana leaves and hatch larvae feed on the leaves of
after 5–8 days. There are 5 larval stages
over 30 days. Later larval stages are Musa species, especially
covered in a white waxy powder. Larvae Musa textilis.
spin strong threads, shred leaves and roll
them into a shelter to hide and
BANANA RHIZOME
WEEVIL
stage
Damage of up to 60% of The wingspan is 70–77

the leaf area of banana mm. There are multiple
plants has been recorded generations per year.
during outbreaks.
BANANA APHID
Pentalonia nigronervosa
Leaves are bunched into a rosette

appearance.
Leaf margins are wavy and upward
rolling.
Do not produce bunches.
It is vector of bunchy top disease.
Seen in colonies on leaf axils and
BANANA APHID
stage
Symptoms of the disease

Like most aphids, the banana
include dark green streaking of
aphid is a phloem feeder that
the leaves, midrib, and petioles;
uses its long stylets to pierce
progressive leaf dwarfing;
plant tissues to suck the sap
marginal chlorosis; and leaf
directly from the vessels. This
curling. Fruits of diseased plants
can cause plants to become
are unsaleable because they are
deformed; the leaves become
small and distorted. In India,
curled and shriveled, and in
banana aphid vectors a mosaic
some cases galls are formed on
virus of cardamom called
the leaves
"katte".
RUST THRIPS
Chaetanaphothrips
Signipennis Thysanoptera
They feed by puncturing the

epidermal (outer) layer of host tissue
and sucking out the cell contents,
which results in stippling, discolored
flecking, or silvering of the leaf
surface.
RUST THRIPS
stage
Feeding by adult and nymphal

stages causes the damage. The Tiny, tapered body (spindle-
early symptoms appear as shaped – widest in middle)
water-soaked smoky areas Fringe of long hairs on each
where the colonies congregate slender wing.
to feed and oviposit between Mouthparts concealed within
touching or adjacent fruit. These head capsule.
areas then develop the typical
rusty-red to dark brown-black
discolouration.
LACEWING BUG
Chrysopidae
Most green lacewing adults feed on

honey dew (sugary liquid) secretions
from aphids, as well as nectar and
pollen from flowers, but some are also
predaceous and consume soft-bodied
insects, like aphids.
LACEWING BUG
stage
Feeding damage is most Adults are soft-bodied insects with

noticeable in mid to late golden eyes and 4 membranous wings
summer when populations are at held rooflike over the body at rest. The
their highest. Heavy feeding can wings and body are commonly green.
cause severe leaf discoloration Adults (head to wing tip, excluding
antennae) average about 3/4 inch (19
and premature leaf drop. mm). Eggs are oblong and 1/16 inch
Healthy, mature trees and shrubs (1.5 mm) or less in length.
can tolerate damage by lace
bugs.
BANANA SCAB MOTH
Nacoleia octasema

The life cycle egg to egg is completed in 28
days under hot wet conditions in tropical Feeding is generally confined to the
north Queensland. Adults are short-lived curve of the fruit adjacent to the bunch
(4–5 days) and have crepuscular habits.
Mating and egg laying takes place in the
stalk and between the fingers.
early evening. Adult moths hide in trash
and under old leaf axils during the day.
BANANA SCAB MOTH
stage
This pest is very damaging and Banana scab moth (Nacoleia
to protect all emerging bunches, octasema) is one of the most
treatment must start when economically damaging pests in
activity is first noticed. A banana and can cause up to
decision on action should be 100% bunch damage if left
made depending on the expected uncontrolled. Significant
bunching rate and weather economic damage from banana
conditions, rather than on scab scab moth is primarily confined
moth populations as these are to the fruit.
difficult to predict from
monitoring alone.
CO
C O R N E A RW O R M
Helicoverpa zea

Larvae pass through six instars with the On corn, larvae eat through kernels of
first being about 1/16 inches long. Larval ears and feed on the developing tassels
development takes about 18 days before in the whorls of the plant.
they pupate in the soil and remain for about
8-14 days. Development from egg to adult
takes 3 to 4 weeks during the summer.
There are several generations per year.
C O R N E A RW O R M
stage
Plants are most vulnerable to Corn earworm moths are most

injury during the bloom to milk active during evening and night.
stages, and corn earworm larvae Adults are robust moths about
can heavily damage seed heads 0.75 inches long with a
(Figure 4). An average of one wingspan of 1 to 1.5 inches.
larva per seed head can reduce They can be olive green, tan, or
yields by 5 percent and two dark reddish brown. Young
larvae per seed head can cause a caterpillar larvae are greenish
9-10 percent yield loss. with black heads and
conspicuous black hairs on the
EUROPEAN CORN BORER
Ostrinia nubilalis

European corn borer goes through complete Foliage above bored stems may wilt or
metamorphosis and has four distinct life break. Borers enter peppers near the stem
stages: egg, larva (borer or caterpillar), and feed on seed core. In young corn
pupa, and adult (moth). The development shoots, feeding occurs in the central whorl
through these four life stages comprise one of leaves and silk. Older larvae do the
generation. The larvae go through five most damage, on sweet corn boring into
molts, or instars. and feeding primarily in the ear and
introducing fungi.
EUROPEAN CORN
BORER
stage
Second- and third-generation Full-grown larvae of the

European corn borer larvae may European corn borer range in
attack corn during the silking length from 3/4 to 1 inch and
and tasseling stages. Second- vary in color from gray to
generation larvae initially feed creamy white. The body is
on pollen and leaves before covered with numerous dark
boring into the ears and stalk spots and the head is black.
(within the ear zone). Adults are straw-colored moths
with a 1-inch wingspread. Male
moths are slightly smaller and
FA L L A R M Y W O R M
Spodoptera frugiperda

The fall armyworm life cycle has an egg Fall armyworms feed on a wide range of
stage, 5 to 6 caterpillar (larval) stages, a plants, including Bermudagrass, corn,
pupal stage and an adult moth stage. The fescue, Johnsongrass, rice, ryegrass, small
larval life cycle stages cause widespread grain crops, sorghum, Sudangrass and
damage to crops through feeding. timothy. In corn, caterpillars can injure
foliage as well as the ears.
FA L L A R M Y W O R M
stage
Growth stages 4-6: By stages 4- The fall armyworm moth has

6, the fall armyworm will have dark gray, mottled forewings
reached the protective region of with light and dark splotches,
the whorl, where it does the and a noticeable white spot near
most damage, resulting in the extreme end of each. Newly
ragged holes in the leaves. hatched larvae are green in color
Feeding on young plants can kill and move in a looping motion.
the growing point, resulting in Fall armyworm larvae are
no new leaves or cobs. smooth-skinned and vary in
color from light tan or green to
S TA L K B O R E R
Papaipema nebris

The stalk borer moth lays eggs in the fall Stalk borer larvae feed on leaves in the
on grasses and weeds. These eggs hatch whorl of corn plants before tunneling into
very early in the spring and the larvae begin the stalk. Sometimes, larvae burrow into
boring into the grasses. During mid to late the stalk at the base of the plant and tunnel
June, the larvae grow to be too large for the upward. Larval feeding can destroy the
grass stems and they move to larger plant growing point, but the growing point is not
stems in the vicinity. always injured.
S TA L K B O R E R
stage
Stem borers can destroy rice at The common stalk borer is a

any stage of the plant from slender, purple and white striped
seedling to maturity. They feed caterpillar found tunneling
upon tillers and causes inside the stems of a wide
deadhearts or drying of the variety of plants. It is most
central tiller, during vegetative commonly found inside the stalk
stage; and causes whiteheads at of giant ragweed but is of some
reproductive stage. importance as a pest of
tomatoes, corn, and other plants.
CORN FLEE BEETLE
Chaetocnema pulicaria
Coleoptera

Flea beetle eggs are deposited on weeds, The corn flea beetle feeds on corn leaves
corn, other cultivated crops, or in the soil by stripping away the top layer of plant
near the host plant. Larvae hatch, feed on tissue. This feeding leaves gray to brown
the roots of plants, pupate in the soil and lines or "tracks" etched on the leaf surface.
emerge as adults in late July. The corn flea Heavily infested plants may appear gray as
beetle overwinters in the adult stage. their leaves shrivel and die.
CORN FLEE BEETLE
stage
The larvae, which are the Corn flea beetles are small,
primary damaging stage, feed in shiny, black beetles,
the soil on roots. Feeding by the approximately 1/16-inch long,
adults, which is usually not with enlarged hind legs. Adults
serious, may cause leaves to dry are easily disturbed and are
up and fall from the plants, known for their ability to jump
especially in hot years. long distances. The larvae are
small, white, and not very
active. Full-grown larvae are
1/6-inch long and most body
DUSKY SAP BEETLE
Carpophilus lugubris

Like the typical beetle life cycle, C. Like other sap beetles, fruit secretions are
lugubris has four life stages: egg, larva, the primary food source, but they will also
pupa and adult. Eggs are often laid on the consume fungi, decomposing fruit and
silk of corn and have a generation time of even pollen. Carpophilus lugubris is
2–4 days. 3-5 eggs will be laid at a time capable of feeding on undamaged fruits as
and the optimal temperature is 21 °C. well, corn being its primary food source.
DUSKY SAP BEETLE
stage
A long-lived species, the dusky

Larvae present in corn kernels
sap beetle can live as an adult
often go undiscovered and this
for up to 300 days. Measuring
can lead to their rejection and
3.3-4.5 mm, this beetle is
subsequent discarding. The
primarily brown but has orange
beetles can also act as vectors
colouration on its elytra.
for fungi transfer to crop plants.
Depressions can be seen on each
side of the pygidium, which is a
characteristic of males.
J A PA N E S E B E E T L E
Popillia japonica

This insect spends about 10 months of the They usually feed in groups, starting
year in the ground in the larval stage. In at the top of a plant and working
early spring, the grubs return to the turf and downward. The beetles are most
continue to feed on roots until late spring,
when they change into pupae. In about 2
active on warm, sunny days, and
weeks, the pupae become adult beetles and prefer plants that are in direct sunlight.
emerge from the ground. This life cycle
takes a year.
J A PA N E S E B E E T L E
stage
Both as adults and as grubs (the The adult Japanese beetle is ½
larval stage), Japanese beetles inch (10mm) long and metallic
are destructive plant pests. green with coppery-brown wing
Adults feed on the foliage and covers. They have six small
fruits of several hundred species white patches of hairs along
of fruit trees, ornamental trees, each side. Males and females
shrubs, vines, and field and look alike except the males are a
vegetable crops. Adults leave little smaller.
behind skeletonized leaves and
large, irregular holes in leaves.
CORN LEAF APHID
Rhopalosiphum maidis

In the Middle East the corn leaf aphid Aphids feed on the phloem sap of host
reproduces throughout the year on wild plants through stylet penetration, during
grasses and commercial cereals by which saliva is secreted from the aphid
viviparous parthenogenesis. A cycle can be salivary gland, delivering effector proteins
completed in one week and 35-40 to overcome plant defenses
generations may be raised annually, each
female producing about 70 progeny.
CORN LEAF APHID
stage
The corn leaf aphid causes The wingless form of corn leaf
damage by sucking sap from aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis
corn plants. As part of the insect (Fitch)) is oval, about 1/16 inch
intrusion, it creates “honeydew,” (0.2 mm), blue green in color
which leaves a sticky deposit with black antennae, legs and
that causes mold. The result can tailpipes. The nymphs have the
look like black soot on the tops same appearance as the wingless
of corn plants. adults with smaller size and
underdeveloped antennae and
tailpipes.
SPIDER MITES
Tetranychidae

The life cycle is composed of the egg, the Spider mites feed by penetrating the
larva, two nymphal stages (protonymph and plant tissue with their mouthparts and
deutonymph) and the adult. The length of are found primarily on the underside
time from egg to adult varies greatly
depending on temperature. Under optimum
of the leaf. All spider mites spin fine
conditions (approximately 80ºF), spider strands of webbing on the host plant
mites complete their development in five to — hence their name.
twenty days.
SPIDER MITES
stage
Insects and mites can damage Spider mites (family:

plants through feeding or egg Tetranychidae) have a simple,
laying activities. Some insects oval‑shaped body and no wings
such as flower trip's can damage or antennae. All species pass
plants when they lay their eggs through an egg stage, a
inside the plant tissue. Mites six‑legged larval stage, and two
feed by sucking plant sap. This eight‑legged nymphal stages
causes damage that appears as (protonymph and deutonymph)
browning or mottling of the before transforming into an
leaves. eight‑legged adult.
RI
BLACK BUG
Scotinophara coarctata

The eggs are laid in mass of 40-60 eggs, Black bug feeds on the rice plant from
with one egg measuring to 1 mm long. A seedling to maturity growth stages.
single female RBB can lay about 200 eggs Ten black bug adults per hill can cause
during its lifetime. The eggs hatched 5-7
days and become a full- grown adult after
losses of up to 35% in some rice.
six weeks. Adult RBB is oval-shaped and
measures about 8-9 mm long.
BLACK BUG
stage
On severe cases, black bugs Black bugs remove the sap of

weaken the plant preventing the plant. They can cause
them from producing seeds. browning of leaves, deadheart,
and bugburn. Their damage also
causes stunting in plants,
reduced tiller number, and
formation of whiteheads.
RICE THRIPS
Stenchaetothrips biformis
Thysanoptera

They feed by puncturing the epidermal
(outer) layer of host tissue and sucking out
the cell contents, which results in
stippling, discolored flecking, or silvering
of the leaf surface. Thrips feeding is
usually accompanied by black varnishlike
flecks of frass (excrement).
RICE THRIPS
stage
It infests the rice plant during Most adult thrips are elongate,
the seedling stage or two weeks slender, minute (less than 1/20
after early sowing. In direct- inch long), and have long
seeded rice fields in Malaysia, fringes on the margins of both
losses can reach 100% when pairs of their long, narrow
infestation is severe in the first wings. Immatures (called larvae
20 days, after sowing. or nymphs) are oblong or
slender and elongate and lack
wings.
RICE WHORL MAGGOT
Hydrellia philippina Ferino

The larva uses its hardened mouth hooks
to rasp the tissues of unopened leaves or
the growing points of the developing
leaves. The damage becomes visible when
the leaves grow old. Mature larva prefers
to feed on the developing leaves of the
new developing tillers at the base of the
rice plant.
RICE WHORL MAGGOT
stage
The feeding damage of whorl white or transparent patches.

maggots causes yellow spots, pinholes.
white or transparent patches, damaged leaves easily break
and pinholes. The larva uses its from the wind.
hardened mouth hooks to rasp somewhat distorted leaves.
the tissues of unopened leaves clear or yellow spots on inner
or the growing points of the margins of emerging leaves.
developing leaves. The damage stunting.
becomes visible when the leaves few tillers.
grow old.
ZIGZAG LEAFHOPPER
Recilia dorsalis

There are three stages in the life cycle — yellowish brown nymphs and adults
egg, nymph, and adult. The nymphs sucking sap from the leaves in the
resemble the adults but instead of wings, upper parts and tillers near the base of
they have wing pads. Leafhoppers
generally feed on the leaves and upper parts
the plant.
of the plants, while the planthoppers
usually infest the basal portions of the
plants.
ZIGZAG LEAFHOPPER
stage
The most destructive Leafhopper adults are elongated,

leafhoppers are those whose wedge shaped and somewhat
feeding causes 'burning' triangular in cross-section. They
('hopperburn') of foliage jump and fly off readily.
Depending on species, they
range in size from 1/8 to 1/2-
inch and their bodies are colored
yellow, green, gray or they may
be marked with color patterns.
RICE SKIPPER
Pelopidas mathias Fabricius
They feed on the leaf blades at night

and rest during daytime. They also
create a leaf chamber where they rest
during the day. The insect favors
young transplanted rice seedlings.
Feeding damage continues until plant
maturation.
RICE SKIPPER
stage
The large larvae cause most of Rice skippers are found in all
the defoliation. They feed on the rice environments but they are
margins and tips of the leaves, more abundant in rainfed rice
removing large sections of leaf fields. They are light brown
tissue, gradually progressing with orange markings and have
toward the midrib. a characteristic pattern of white
spots on the wings. The adults
are diurnal and they have erratic
flight movement as they skip
from plant to plant, thereby their
Gryllotalpidae

Mole crickets have three life stages in their Mole crickets vary in their diets; some like
development, the egg stage, the immature the tawny mole cricket are herbivores,
stage (also known as the larval or nymph others are omnivores, feeding on larvae,
stage), and the adult stage. Mole crickets worms, roots, and grasses, and others like
can overwinter as either an immature or the southern mole cricket are mainly
adult, from October through March. predacious.
MOLE CRICKET
stage
Damage begins in early spring Mole crickets are brown and

when overwintering mole have characteristic shovel-like
crickets emerge from soil to fore legs, especially adapted to
mate and lay eggs. Newly digging burrows. The abdomen
hatched nymphs go through is very soft, and the forewings
several stages from spring small and oval-shaped, usually
through summer, becoming less than half the length of the
larger and more destructive as abdomen.
they mature.
M E A LY B U G
Pseudococcidae

Consists of eggs (except for the longtailed Mealybugs are usually found feeding in
mealybug that births live young), 3 colonies in somewhat protected areas such
(sometimes 4) nymph stages and adult. as between two touching fruits, in the
Immature crawlers mature in about 6 weeks crown of a plant, in branch crotches, on
to 2 months depending on temperature, stems near soil, or between the stem and
humidity and species. Mature females die touching leaves. A few mealybug species
after laying eggs. feed on roots.
M E A LY B U G
stage
Mealybugs suck sap from plant Mealybugs are slow-moving,

phloem, reducing plant vigor, small, oval insects that are
and they excrete sticky covered with a white, cottony
honeydew and wax, which wax. They are tropical insects
reduces plant and fruit quality, that are typically only found on
especially when black sooty perennial foliage plants, and
mold grows on the honeydew. rarely on flowering or bedding
plants. They can infest all plant
parts including the roots.
Mealybugs are related to scales.
RICE BUG
Sitophilus oryzae

Nymphs and adults use their piercing-
sucking mouthparts to feed on
developing rice grains. These bugs
prefer to feed when the host plants are
young, at a time when the starches
within the grains are not yet fully
formed. Leptocorisa acuta are
crepuscular, active during the early
morning and late afternoon.
RICE BUG
stage
The most susceptible stages of oval, shiny, and reddish brown

rice to rice stink bug are heading eggs along midrib of leaf.
(flowering) and milk. Thus, the slender and brown-green
EILs for rice stink bug are lower nymphs and adults feeding on
for these stages than later endosperm of rice grains.
stages---soft dough and hard offensive smell.
dough. Fields with abundant
weeds (particularly
barnyardgrass) generally harbor
high rice stink bug populations.
RICE CASEWORM
Nymphula Depunctalis

The life cycle is completed in about 32 The rice caseworm feeds on rice
days under optimal conditions. This during the seedling and tillering stages
suggests that multiple generations a year
are likely in Bhutan. The first instar is free-
living. Subsequent larval instars construct
and inhabit leaf cases.
RICE CASEWORM
stage
The early stages of the crop are It is light yellow and has a
damaged by the caterpillars of smooth surface. Mature eggs are
this pest. The leaf blades are darker and develop two purplish
eaten away completely leaving dots. Larva: Pale translucent
the mid rib only. They also green with orange head. It has
construct tubular cases inside filamentous gills on the sides of
leaves and remain inside these the body.
leave rolls and feeds upon the
foliage.
R I C E H I S PA
Dicladispa armigera
Coleoptera

The rice hispa passes through four stages: Adult rice hispa feed externally on
egg, larva (four instars), pupa and adult. leaf tissue and the larvae mine into the
Adult rice hispa feed externally on leaf leaf.
tissue and the larvae mine into the leaf.
Both the adult beetle and larvae damage a
rice plant by eating the green tissue of the
leaf and severely infested leaves dry up.
R I C E H I S PA
stage
The rice hispa is a defoliator Adults have long, well-

during the vegetative stage of developed spines on the
the rice plant. Extensively prothorax and elytra. Four
damaged plants may be less spines project from the
vigorous. metanotum, and the elytra
contains a row of ten spines
along lateral margins, and nine
dorsolateral spines.

Entomology

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THE MAJOR

Life cycle Feeding habits

feeds on the corm

weakens the plant and The weevils are nocturnal

Life cycle Feeding habits

Life cycle Feeding habits

Damage of up to 60% of The wingspan is 70–77

Life cycle Feeding habits

Leaves are bunched into a rosette

Symptoms of the disease

Life cycle Feeding habits

They feed by puncturing the

Feeding by adult and nymphal

Life cycle Feeding habits

Most green lacewing adults feed on

Feeding damage is most Adults are soft-bodied insects with

Life cycle Feeding habits

Life cycle Feeding habits

Plants are most vulnerable to Corn earworm moths are most

Life cycle Feeding habits

Second- and third-generation Full-grown larvae of the

Life cycle Feeding habits

Growth stages 4-6: By stages 4- The fall armyworm moth has

Life cycle Feeding habits

Stem borers can destroy rice at The common stalk borer is a

Life cycle Feeding habits

Life cycle Feeding habits

A long-lived species, the dusky

Life cycle Feeding habits

Life cycle Feeding habits

Life cycle Feeding habits

Insects and mites can damage Spider mites (family:

Life cycle Feeding habits

On severe cases, black bugs Black bugs remove the sap of

Life cycle Feeding habits

Hydrellia philippina Ferino

Life cycle Feeding habits

The feeding damage of whorl white or transparent patches.

Life cycle Feeding habits

The most destructive Leafhopper adults are elongated,

Pelopidas mathias Fabricius

Life cycle Feeding habits

They feed on the leaf blades at night

Life cycle Feeding habits

Damage begins in early spring Mole crickets are brown and

Life cycle Feeding habits

Mealybugs suck sap from plant Mealybugs are slow-moving,

Life cycle Feeding habits

The most susceptible stages of oval, shiny, and reddish brown

Life cycle Feeding habits

Life cycle Feeding habits

The rice hispa is a defoliator Adults have long, well-

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