Agricultural-pest
Guides
Panonychus citri
Citrus Red Mite
Panonychus citri, commonly known as the citrus red mite, is a major agricultural pest of citrus orchards with a global distribution spanning Asia, the Mediterranean Basin, North America, South America, and Africa. The mite feeds by sucking cytoplasm from plant cells, causing chlorotic spots, premature leaf fall, brown skin discoloration, rough skin texture, and stunted fruit growth. Severe infestations can reduce fruit yields by up to 70%. The species has developed resistance to more than 23 pesticides due to extensive acaricide use, making integrated pest management strategies increasingly important. Research indicates that local factors, particularly citrus plant canopy density, significantly influence population dynamics more than landscape-scale factors.
Panonychus ulmi
European red mite, fruit tree red spider mite, apple red spider mite
Panonychus ulmi, the European red mite, is a major agricultural pest of deciduous fruit trees with global economic significance. The species exhibits a high reproductive rate and short generation time of approximately 21 days at 20°C, enabling multiple broods per year. It possesses a cosmopolitan distribution spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Australasia. First described by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1836, this spider mite is particularly damaging to apple orchards and grapevines.
Panoquina ocola
Ocola Skipper, long-winged skipper
Panoquina ocola is a skipper butterfly with an exceptionally long forewing relative to its body, giving it a distinctive elongated silhouette. It ranges from Paraguay through tropical America and the West Indies to the southern United States, with occasional strays reaching as far north as Canada. The species is strongly associated with cultivated grasses and has been documented feeding on rice, sugarcane, and related wetland grasses.
Papaipema circumlucens
hops-stalk borer moth, hop-gall borer moth
Papaipema circumlucens is a North American moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Smith in 1899. The species is known by two common names: hops-stalk borer moth and hop-gall borer moth. It is listed as a species of special concern and has been documented from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Saskatchewan, and Wisconsin. It is believed to be extirpated from Connecticut.
Papaipema nebris
stalk borer
Papaipema nebris, commonly known as the stalk borer, is a noctuid moth whose larvae tunnel into the stems of herbaceous plants. The species is distributed across eastern North America, from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, with the notable exception of Florida. Adults are nocturnal and active during summer months. The species is of agricultural concern due to larval damage to corn and other crops.
Papilionidae
Swallowtails and Parnassians, Swallowtail butterflies
Papilionidae is a family of large, colorful butterflies comprising over 550 species distributed across every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the birdwing butterflies of genus Ornithoptera, the largest butterflies in the world. Members are characterized by distinctive tail-like extensions on the hindwings in many species. The family encompasses three subfamilies: Papilioninae (swallowtails), Parnassiinae (Parnassians or Apollos), and Baroniinae (a monotypic subfamily).
Paraleyrodes
nesting whiteflies, Bondar's nesting whitefly (for P. bondari), fig whitefly (for P. minei)
Paraleyrodes is a genus of whiteflies in the subfamily Aleurodicinae, commonly known as nesting whiteflies due to the woolly wax nests constructed by females around egg masses. The genus includes economically significant invasive species such as P. bondari (Bondar's nesting whitefly) and P. minei, which are pests of coconut, citrus, fig, avocado, and ornamental plants. Species in this genus are characterized by distinctive waxy secretions, sessile nymphal stages, and polyphagous feeding habits on woody plants.
whiteflyinvasive-pestagricultural-pestornamental-pestAleurodicinaecoconut-pestcitrus-pestfig-pestavocado-pestwoolly-wax-nestspolyphagousphloem-feederhoneydew-producersooty-moldFlorida-pestCalifornia-pestIndia-pestBangladesh-pestCroatia-pestGreece-pestnatural-enemiesbiological-controlintegrated-pest-managementParalobesia
Paralobesia is a genus of small tortricid moths described by Obraztsov in 1953. The genus is primarily Nearctic in distribution, with approximately 40 described species, many of which were described recently by Royals and Gilligan in 2018-2019. The most economically significant species is Paralobesia viteana, the grape berry moth, a major pest of cultivated grapes in eastern North America. Host associations within the genus range from monophagous to polyphagous, including grapevines (Vitis), orchids (Cypripedium), larch (Larix), and hemlock (Tsuga).
Paralobesia viteana
Grape Berry Moth
Paralobesia viteana, the grape berry moth, is a tortricid moth native to eastern North America and an economically significant pest of cultivated and wild grapes (Vitis spp.). Larvae damage grape berries directly through feeding and indirectly by increasing susceptibility to fungal and bacterial pathogens. The species completes two to four generations annually depending on latitude and climate, with the final generation overwintering as pupae in leaf litter. It is considered one of the most damaging insect pests of grapes in eastern North America.
Paraphlepsius
Paraphlepsius is a genus of leafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, tribe Pendarini, subfamily Deltocephalinae, containing approximately 70 described species. The genus is best known from detailed studies of Paraphlepsius irroratus, which serves as a vector of plant pathogens including the peach X-disease phytoplasma and the clover phyllody mycoplasmalike organism. Members of this genus are phloem-feeding insects with documented associations with grasses, legumes, and various agricultural crops.
Paraphlepsius irroratus
bespeckled leafhopper, irrorate leafhopper, brown-speckled leafhopper, irrorate spittlebug
Paraphlepsius irroratus is a leafhopper species in the family Cicadellidae, commonly known as the bespeckled leafhopper. It is a documented vector of plant pathogens, specifically the clover phyllody mycoplasmalike organism (phytoplasma) and Peach X-disease. The species has been successfully reared in laboratory conditions, revealing broad host plant associations and a development period of 31.8–59.2 days across five nymphal instars.
Paria fragariae-complex
Paria fragariae-complex is a species complex of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae. Members of this complex are associated with strawberry (Fragaria) and related plants. The complex designation indicates taxonomic uncertainty, with multiple cryptic or poorly differentiated species grouped under this name. These beetles are part of the subfamily Eumolpinae, a group of small to medium-sized leaf beetles often associated with specific host plants.
Paromius
dirt-colored seed bugs
Paromius is a genus of seed bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae containing approximately 15 described species. Members are elongate, parallel-sided bugs with glabrous integument and distinctive pronotal structure. The genus has broad geographic distribution spanning the Afrotropical region and subtropical Eurasia, with at least one species extending into temperate Europe. Some species are associated with grasses (Poaceae) and can be agricultural pests, while others occupy dry, xerothermic habitats.
Parthenolecanium
soft scales, lecanium scales
Parthenolecanium is a genus of soft scale insects in the family Coccidae. These hemipterans are dome-shaped, sap-feeding pests of woody plants including oaks, fruit trees, and grapevines. Several species are significant urban tree pests, notably P. quercifex (oak lecanium scale) and P. corni (European fruit lecanium scale). The genus exhibits variation in reproductive mode: some species reproduce by parthenogenesis, while P. corni reproduces sexually (gamogenesis). Many species have been documented as vectors of grapevine viruses.
Pegomya
Pegomya is a genus of flies in the family Anthomyiidae comprising diverse species with varied larval feeding strategies. Larvae exhibit leaf mining, stem boring, gall induction, seed feeding, and mycophagy. Several species are economically significant agricultural pests, including those attacking sugar beet, spinach, and cruciferous crops. Some species have been investigated for biological control of invasive plants.
Pegomya betae
Beet Leafminer
Pegomya betae is a leaf-mining fly in the family Anthomyiidae, commonly known as the Beet Leafminer. The species is native to the Palearctic region and has been introduced to North America. Larvae feed internally in leaves of beet plants, creating distinctive mines. It is considered a significant agricultural pest of sugar beet and related crops.
Pegomya hyoscyami
beet leafminer, spinach leafminer
Pegomya hyoscyami is a small grey fly in the family Anthomyiidae, commonly known as the beet leafminer or spinach leafminer. The species is economically significant as a pest of leafy greens, with larvae that mine between leaf surfaces causing substantial damage to crops. Multiple generations occur annually, with activity beginning in spring. The species belongs to a complex of four closely related species that were historically confused.
Peltophorus polymitus
Speckled Agave Weevil
Peltophorus polymitus is a true weevil (Curculionidae) native to North America, widely distributed throughout Mexico. Adults and larvae feed on multiple agave species, including cultivated plants used for food, medicine, and mezcal production. Despite causing documented plant damage, it has not been formally classified as a pest species. Two subspecies are recognized: P. p. seminiveus and P. p. suffusus.
Pemphigus betae
sugarbeet root aphid, sugar-beet root-louse
Pemphigus betae is a gall-forming aphid with a complex heteroecious life cycle involving host alternation between cottonwood trees (Populus angustifolia, P. balsamifera) and sugar beet roots. Stem mothers emerge in spring to form galls on poplar leaves, producing up to 300 progeny per gall. Winged migrants disperse to Chenopodiaceae roots for summer feeding, causing significant agricultural damage. The species exhibits clonal variation in host-alternation propensity, with some lineages remaining on roots year-round. Molecular studies reveal cryptic sympatric diversity, with morphologically indistinguishable galls formed by P. betae, P. populivenae, and a third undetermined species.
Pemphigus bursarius
lettuce root aphid, poplar gall aphid
Pemphigus bursarius is a host-alternating aphid with a heteroecious life cycle involving Populus species as primary hosts and Asteraceae (particularly lettuce) as secondary hosts. On poplars, it forms flask-shaped leaf-stalk galls in spring; on secondary hosts, it lives subterraneanly feeding on roots. The species exhibits unusual flexibility in its life cycle, with some populations capable of asexual overwintering in soil without returning to the primary host. It is an economically significant pest of lettuce crops and shows genetically distinct host-associated populations.
Pentalonia
Pentalonia is a genus of aphids in the family Aphididae, established by Coquerel in 1859. The genus contains at least four recognized species distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. Pentalonia nigronervosa, the banana aphid, is the most extensively studied species due to its role as the primary vector of Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), a devastating disease of banana crops worldwide. Recent morphometric and molecular studies have clarified that P. nigronervosa and P. caladii are distinct cryptic species with different host plant preferences.
Pentastiridius
Pentastiridius is a genus of planthoppers in the family Cixiidae with nearly cosmopolitan distribution. The genus includes at least three described species, with P. leporinus emerging as a significant agricultural pest in central Europe. This species vectors two bacterial pathogens causing syndrome "basses richesses" in sugar beet and related diseases in potato and carrot. Originally associated with reed grass (Phragmites australis), P. leporinus has undergone rapid host range expansion to become polyphagous on crops.
Pentatomidae
stink bugs, shield bugs
Pentatomidae is the largest family in the superfamily Pentatomoidea, comprising approximately 900 genera and over 4,700 species. Members are commonly known as stink bugs or shield bugs, distinguished by their ability to release defensive secretions when disturbed. The family exhibits diverse feeding strategies: most species are phytophagous and include major agricultural pests, while members of the subfamily Asopinae are predatory. The family name derives from Greek 'pente' (five) and 'tomos' (section), referring to the five-segmented antennae characteristic of all pentatomids.
Pentatominae
shield bugs, stink bugs
Pentatominae is the largest subfamily within Pentatomidae, comprising approximately 4,937 species in 938 genera. Members are commonly known as shield bugs or stink bugs due to their characteristic body shape and defensive secretions. The subfamily includes numerous agricultural pests and several invasive species that have become household pests in introduced ranges. Higher systematics of the group have been revised by Rider et al.
Pentatomoidea
stink bugs, shield bugs, jewel bugs, giant shield bugs, burrower bugs
Pentatomoidea is a superfamily of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) comprising approximately 7,000 species across 21 families (16 extant, 5 extinct). Members are characterized by a prominent scutellum, five-segmented antennae, and tarsi with two or three segments. The group includes economically significant agricultural pests such as the brown marmorated stink bug, as well as predatory species that serve as biological control agents.
Penthaleidae
earth mites
Penthaleidae, commonly known as earth mites, is a family of mites in the order Trombidiformes. The family is distributed globally across every continent. In southern Australia, several species are major agricultural pests, causing damage to winter crops and pastures. The family contains approximately 30 described species across seven genera, including economically significant species such as *Halotydeus destructor* (the redlegged earth mite) and *Penthaleus major* (the blue oat mite).
Penthaleus
earth mites
Penthaleus is a genus of earth mites in the family Penthaleidae, established by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1835. The genus contains 13 described species distributed across every continent except Antarctica. Members are significant agricultural pests, particularly in southern Australia where they damage winter crops and pastures. The genus includes the winter grain mite (P. major), a notable pest of small grains.
Penthaleus major
Blue Oat Mite, Winter Grain Mite
Penthaleus major, commonly known as the blue oat mite or winter grain mite, is a small earth mite in the family Penthaleidae. It is a significant agricultural pest of pasture grasses and grain crops, particularly oats, wheat, and barley. The species reproduces asexually through obligate thelytokous parthenogenesis and has a broad global distribution spanning multiple continents. Temperature strongly influences its development, with optimal population growth occurring around 12°C and no development possible below 6°C or above 24°C.
Pentodontini
rhinoceros beetles
Pentodontini is the most diverse tribe within the subfamily Dynastinae (rhinoceros beetles), containing over 100 genera distributed across multiple biogeographic regions. Most genera are restricted to a single biogeographic region. The tribe is characterized by substantial morphological diversity, with generic-level identification often relying on mouthpart morphology in females and secondary sexual characters (horns, claw modifications, antennal club length) in males.
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Percolaspis is a genus of leaf beetles in the subfamily Eumolpinae. The genus is distributed across South America and Central America, with occasional records from southern Florida. Several species have significant agricultural importance, particularly as pests of cacao and field crops in Brazil.
Peregrinus maidis
corn planthopper, corn delphacid, sorghum shoot bug, shoot bug
Peregrinus maidis is a small planthopper in the family Delphacidae, widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. It is a significant agricultural pest of maize, sorghum, and sugarcane, causing direct damage through phloem feeding and acting as a vector for several important plant viruses including maize mosaic virus and maize stripe virus. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size, with females larger than males, and displays wing dimorphism with brachypterous (short-winged) and macropterous (long-winged) forms that develop in response to environmental conditions.
Peridroma
variegated cutworm moth
Peridroma is a genus of owlet moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Noctuinae. The genus includes approximately 12 described species, with Peridroma saucia (variegated cutworm) being the most economically significant due to its status as a widespread agricultural pest. Species in this genus are found across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia, with some species introduced to new regions. The genus is characterized by medium-sized moths with relatively stout bodies and cryptic coloration typical of noctuine moths.
Peridroma saucia
Variegated Cutworm, Pearly Underwing, False Black Cutworm Moth
Peridroma saucia is a highly polyphagous noctuid moth with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution across temperate and subtropical regions. The species is a significant agricultural pest, with larvae feeding on numerous crop plants including vegetables, fruits, and field crops. Adults are migratory, moving northward in spring and returning south in autumn, with 2–4 generations per year depending on latitude. Recent research has documented its role as a nocturnal pollinator of apple and other crops, revealing ecological functions beyond its pest status.
Perkinsiella
Perkinsiella is a genus of delphacid planthoppers in the family Delphacidae, containing more than 30 described species. Several species are significant agricultural pests, particularly of sugarcane. Perkinsiella saccharicida and P. vastatrix are known vectors of Fiji disease virus (FDV), which causes Fiji leaf gall in sugarcane. The genus has a broad distribution across Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Pacific Islands.
Perkinsiella saccharicida
Sugarcane planthopper, Sugarcane delphacid, Sugarcane leafhopper
Perkinsiella saccharicida is a delphacid planthopper and a significant pest of sugarcane. It is the primary vector of Fiji disease virus (FDV), the causative agent of Fiji leaf gall, a major viral disease affecting sugarcane production. The species has been documented across Africa, Asia, Australia, Oceania, North America, and South America. Laboratory studies have established methods for rearing this species on sugarcane leaf segments, enabling research on virus transmission dynamics.
Petrobia
brown wheat mite, oxalis mite
Petrobia is a genus of spider mites in the family Tetranychidae, containing 34 described species. The genus includes several economically important agricultural pests, notably P. latens (brown wheat mite) and P. harti (oxalis mite). Species are distinguished by morphological features including elongated first leg pairs, pad-like claws with hooked empodia, and distinctive prodorsal setae arrangements. The genus is divided into three subgenera: Mesotetranychus, Petrobia, and Tetranychina, differentiated primarily by peritreme structure and dorsal setae characteristics.
Phaedon
Phaedon is a genus of leaf beetles in the subfamily Chrysomelinae. Species in this genus are associated with feeding on plant foliage, with some species documented as agricultural pests. The genus has been recorded across Europe and Asia, with at least one species, P. brassicae, known from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Members are small to medium-sized beetles typical of the Chrysomelidae family.
Phaneroptera nana
Mediterranean katydid, southern sickle bush-cricket
Phaneroptera nana is a small katydid native to mainland Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. It has established invasive populations in California (first recorded 1952), Oregon (since 2015), and South America, likely spreading via shipping. The species inhabits sunny, dry environments with shrubs and low tree branches. Adults are active primarily in summer and fall.
Pheidole megacephala
big-headed ant, coastal brown ant, African big-headed ant
Pheidole megacephala is a highly successful invasive ant species native to tropical Africa, considered among the world's worst invasive organisms. It exhibits true worker dimorphism with distinct major and minor worker castes, the former bearing disproportionately large heads used for crushing food. The species forms expansive supercolonies through budding reproduction, enabling rapid territorial expansion. It has spread globally to tropical and subtropical regions, where it aggressively displaces native ant faunas and disrupts ecosystem function through generalist predation and mutualistic associations with sap-sucking insects.
Phenacoccus
mealybug
Phenacoccus is a genus of mealybugs (family Pseudococcidae) containing at least 180 described species. Species in this genus are economically significant agricultural pests, with several species causing major damage to crops including cassava, cotton, and various ornamentals. The genus includes notable invasive species such as Phenacoccus manihoti (cassava mealybug), P. solenopsis (cotton mealybug), and P. madeirensis (Madeira mealybug). These insects are characterized by their soft bodies covered with white, powdery wax secretions. Several species have been targets of successful biological control programs, most famously the cassava mealybug control program in Africa that averted a major food crisis.
Phenacoccus aceris
apple mealybug, maple mealybug
Phenacoccus aceris, commonly known as the apple mealybug or maple mealybug, is a widespread polyphagous mealybug species in the family Pseudococcidae. Native to Europe, it has become established across the Holarctic region including North America and Asia. The species is a significant agricultural and horticultural pest, feeding on phloem sap of numerous host plants including apple, maple, grapevine, ash, and prickly ash. Recent molecular and morphological studies have revealed that P. aceris represents a species complex containing multiple cryptic species, with taxonomic confusion arising from co-occurring putative species that cannot be reliably separated by host-plant associations alone. The species is also an important vector of grapevine viruses, transmitting six ampeloviruses and two vitiviruses.
Phidotricha
Phidotricha is a genus of snout moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae: Epipaschiinae) established by Ragonot in 1889. The genus includes at least one economically significant species, Phidotricha erigens, which was first documented as a coffee pest in Amazonian Robusta plantations in Rondônia, Brazil. Members of this genus are associated with tropical agricultural ecosystems, with larvae feeding on reproductive structures of host plants.
Philaenus
meadow spittlebug, spittlebug, froghopper
Philaenus is a genus of spittlebugs in the family Aphrophoridae containing eight described species. The genus is best known for Philaenus spumarius (meadow spittlebug), a widespread insect in the Northern Hemisphere and the primary vector of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe. Most species exhibit striking color polymorphism with up to sixteen distinct phenotypes including dark, pale, mottled, and striped patterns. Nymphs produce protective foam masses from excreted xylem fluid and glandular secretions. The genus has been extensively studied for genetic diversity, climate change responses, and vector ecology.
Philaenus spumarius
Meadow Spittlebug, Meadow Froghopper
Philaenus spumarius is a small spittlebug (5–7 mm) in the family Aphrophoridae, native to the Palearctic and introduced to North America. The species exhibits extreme color polymorphism with approximately 20 known color varieties ranging from yellowish and brownish to black. Nymphs produce characteristic foam masses for protection, while adults are strong jumpers and capable fliers. It has become economically significant as the primary European vector of Xylella fastidiosa, the bacterium causing Olive Quick Decline Syndrome and Pierce's disease in grapevines.
Phobetron
hag moth, monkey slug
Phobetron is a genus of slug caterpillar moths in the family Limacodidae, containing at least four described species distributed across North, Central, and South America. The genus is notable for its distinctive caterpillars, commonly called "monkey slugs" or "hag moths," which possess stinging urticating spines concealed beneath a cloak of hair-like setae. These caterpillars are polyphagous and feed on a wide range of woody and herbaceous plants. The genus includes the well-known species Phobetron pithecium, whose caterpillar is frequently encountered in eastern North America.
Phoenicococcidae
palm scales, phoenicococcids
Phoenicococcidae is a monotypic family of scale insects containing a single genus and species, Phoenicococcus marlatti. Commonly known as palm scales or red date scales, these insects are specialized pests of palms in the genus Phoenix. They are sessile as adults, embedded in white waxy nests at the base of palm fronds.
Phoenicococcus
red date scale
Phoenicococcus is a genus of scale insects in the family Phoenicococcidae. The genus contains P. marlatti, commonly known as the red date scale, which is a significant pest of cultivated date palms (Phoenix dactylifera). Species in this genus are phloem-feeding insects that infest palm hosts. The genus is distinguished by its specialized association with palms and its morphological features typical of the family Phoenicococcidae.
Phoenicococcus marlatti
red date scale
Phoenicococcus marlatti, commonly known as the red date scale, is a scale insect in the family Phoenicoccidae. It is recognized as the most important pest of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), causing significant agricultural damage requiring management intervention. The species has a broad distribution across date palm-growing regions worldwide, including North Africa, the Middle East, Mediterranean Europe, and parts of the Americas.
Phorbia
Wheat bulb fly, Black fly, Onion fly
Phorbia is a genus of true flies in the family Anthomyiidae. Several species are significant agricultural pests, including Phorbia coarctata (Wheat Bulb Fly) on cereals, Phorbia securis (Black Fly) on wheat, and Phorbia cepetorum (Imported Onion Fly) on Allium crops. Some species engage in unusual mutualistic interactions with Epichloe fungi, transporting spermatia between fungal individuals in a manner analogous to insect pollination of angiosperms. The genus occurs in Europe and North America.
Phorodon
Phorodon is a genus of aphids in the family Aphididae containing at least two economically significant species: Phorodon humuli (damson-hop aphid) and Phorodon cannabis (cannabis aphid). The genus exhibits host specialization, with P. humuli feeding on hop (Humulus lupulus) and P. cannabis restricted to hemp and cannabis (Cannabis sativa). Both species are recognized agricultural pests in their respective cropping systems. P. humuli has been extensively studied for insecticide resistance mechanisms involving elevated esterase activity, while P. cannabis has emerged as a concern in the expanding North American hemp industry following legalization.