Agricultural-pest
Guides
Phorodon humuli
hop aphid, damson-hop aphid
Phorodon humuli is an aphid species and the primary pest of cultivated hops (Humulus lupulus). It exhibits a heteroecious life cycle, alternating between Prunus species as winter primary hosts and hop plants as summer secondary hosts. The species causes direct damage through phloem feeding and can reduce hop yields substantially. Populations show cultivar-specific susceptibility patterns and have developed insecticide resistance in agricultural settings.
Phthorimaea
Phthorimaea is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae, established by Edward Meyrick in 1902. The genus contains approximately 15 described species distributed across the Americas and other regions. Several species are economically significant agricultural pests, particularly Phthorimaea operculella (potato tuber moth) and Phthorimaea absoluta (South American leafminer/tomato leafminer), which infest Solanaceae crops worldwide. The genus is characterized by its association with nightshade family plants and has been the subject of intensive research due to the invasive potential and management challenges posed by its pest species.
Phthorimaea operculella
potato tuber moth, tobacco splitworm
Phthorimaea operculella, commonly known as the potato tuber moth or tobacco splitworm, is a gelechiid moth and major agricultural pest of Solanaceae crops worldwide. The species is oligophagous, feeding primarily on potato tubers and foliage, but also attacks tomato, tobacco, eggplant, and pepper plants. Larval mining of tubers and leaves causes substantial economic damage, rendering potatoes unmarketable. The species has achieved near-global distribution, particularly in subtropical, tropical, and Mediterranean climates, and is subject to extensive integrated pest management efforts including biological control, cultural practices, and chemical interventions.
Phyllocnistis citrella
Citrus Leafminer, CLM
Phyllocnistis citrella, commonly known as the citrus leafminer or CLM, is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae. Native to tropical Asia, it has become a globally distributed agricultural pest of citrus since its discovery in Florida in 1993. The larvae create distinctive serpentine mines in citrus leaves, protected within the leaf epidermis from many topical insecticide treatments. The species is managed through integrated pest management strategies including biological control with introduced parasitoids, mating disruption using sex pheromones, and cultural practices.
Phyllocnistis vitegenella
Phyllocnistis vitegenella is a small moth in the family Gracillariidae, native to North America, with established populations in Europe since the 1990s. The larvae are leaf miners that feed on grape species, including both native Vitis and cultivated Vitis vinifera, and have become recognized as a pest of commercial vineyards. The species was first described by Clemens in 1859.
Phyllophaga anxia
Forest-ogre June Beetle, Cranberry White Grub, Common June Beetle
Phyllophaga anxia is a large scarab beetle native to North America, commonly known as the forest-ogre June beetle or cranberry white grub. Adults are nocturnal fliers active primarily in May and June, with males attracted to light during pre-copulatory flights. The species is a significant agricultural pest, with larvae feeding on roots of various host plants and adults feeding on foliage. It serves as host for multiple parasitoids including the American pelecinid wasp Pelecinus polyturator and several mite species.
Phyllophaga bipartita
Phyllophaga bipartita is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as May beetles or June bugs. It belongs to a large and taxonomically challenging genus with over 400 species in North America. The species was first described by Horn in 1887 under the basionym Lachnosterna bipartita.
Phyllophaga congrua
May beetle, June beetle
Phyllophaga congrua is a scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, distributed across the central and eastern United States. Like other members of the genus Phyllophaga, the larvae are soil-dwelling white grubs that feed on plant roots. The species contributes to soil ecosystem processes through burrowing activity, though this can result in agricultural damage when larval densities are high.
Phyllophaga obsoleta
May beetle, June beetle
Phyllophaga obsoleta is a scarab beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, found across the Americas from North America through Central America to South America. It is an agricultural pest in some regions, with larvae feeding on plant roots. The species was first reported in Colombia in 2017, where it has been documented in agricultural ecosystems of the Eastern Antioquia region.
Phyllotreta armoraciae
Horseradish Flea Beetle
Phyllotreta armoraciae is a monophagous flea beetle specialized on horseradish (Armoracia rusticana). Research has identified its unique feeding chemistry: the beetle requires synergistic combinations of glucosinolates and flavonol glycosides (specifically kaempferol 3-O-xylosylgalactoside and quercetin 3-O-xylosylgalactoside) for feeding stimulation, marking the first documented case of a crucifer-feeding insect using non-glucosinolate allelochemicals as feeding stimulants. Two subspecies are recognized: P. a. armoraciae and P. a. biplagiata.
Phyllotreta cruciferae
crucifer flea beetle, canola flea beetle, rape flea beetle
Phyllotreta cruciferae is a flea beetle and significant agricultural pest of cruciferous crops, particularly canola, rapeseed, and other Brassica species. Adults are small, black, and shiny with enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species overwinters as adults in leaf litter and topsoil, emerging in early spring to feed on host plants. Population dynamics vary by region and year, with one to two generations annually depending on thermal accumulation.
Phyllotreta pusilla
Western Black Flea Beetle
Phyllotreta pusilla, commonly known as the western black flea beetle, is a flea beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae. It is distributed across Central America and North America, with documented presence in regions including Alberta, Canada and Colorado, USA. The species is recognized as an agricultural pest of canola and mustard crops, where it causes plant injury through feeding damage. Research has identified significant variation in host plant susceptibility among different canola and mustard varieties.
Phyllotreta undulata
small striped flea beetle, turnip flea beetle, Small Striped Flea-beetle
Phyllotreta undulata is a flea beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, commonly known as the small striped flea beetle or turnip flea beetle. It is a widespread agricultural pest with a broad geographic distribution spanning multiple continents. The species is associated with damage to brassicaceous crops, particularly turnips and related plants.
Phylloxera
phylloxeras
Phylloxera is a genus of tiny, soft-bodied, sap-sucking insects in the family Phylloxeridae, closely related to aphids. The genus includes economically significant agricultural pests, most notably the grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae), which devastated European vineyards in the late 19th century and remains a major threat to viticulture worldwide. Phylloxera species induce characteristic galls on host plants through chemical secretions that manipulate plant tissue development. The genus exhibits complex life cycles involving multiple morphological forms, including winged and wingless parthenogenetic generations and a brief sexual generation.
Phylloxera caryaefallax
pecan leaf phylloxera
Phylloxera caryaefallax, commonly known as the pecan leaf phylloxera, is a small, soft-bodied, gall-forming insect closely related to aphids. It is a significant pest of pecan trees (Carya illinoinensis), causing distinctive galls to form exclusively on leaf tissue. Unlike the related pecan phylloxera (Phylloxera devastatrix), which attacks shoots and nuts and causes more severe economic damage, this species is generally less destructive though heavy infestations can cause defoliation. The insect has a complex life cycle involving multiple generations per season and overwinters as eggs protected within the bodies of deceased females.
Phylloxera caryaefoliae
pecan leaf phylloxera
Phylloxera caryaefoliae is a tiny, soft-bodied, gall-forming insect closely related to aphids that infests pecan trees. It produces conspicuous galls exclusively on leaf tissue, distinguishing it from the more damaging pecan phylloxera (P. devastatrix) which attacks shoots and nuts. While extensive infestations may cause some defoliation, this species is generally less economically significant than shoot-attacking phylloxerans. The insect has a complex life cycle involving multiple generations and both winged and wingless forms.
Phylloxeridae
phylloxerans, phylloxerids
Phylloxeridae is a small family of plant-parasitic hemipterans comprising approximately 75 described species across 11 genera and two subfamilies (Phylloxerininae and Phylloxerinae). These minute insects are closely related to aphids and adelgids, with which they share the superfamily Phylloxeroidea. They are specialized gall-formers on deciduous trees and perennial fruit crops, with complex life cycles involving cyclical parthenogenesis and host alternation between primary woody hosts and secondary herbaceous hosts. The family includes the economically devastating grape phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae), responsible for the 19th-century European vineyard crisis.
Phytomyza gymnostoma
onion leaf miner, allium leafminer
Phytomyza gymnostoma is a leaf-mining fly in the family Agromyzidae, commonly known as the onion leaf miner or allium leafminer. Native to mainland Europe, it has established invasive populations in England (first detected 2002) and North America (first detected December 2015 in Pennsylvania). The species is a significant agricultural pest specializing in Allium crops, including onions, garlic, shallots, and leeks. It is bivoltine, producing two generations annually, with adults active during spring and fall flight periods.
Phytomyza syngenesiae
Chrysanthemum Leafminer, Ragwort Leaf Miner
Phytomyza syngenesiae is an agromyzid leaf-mining fly found in the Palaearctic region, Australia, and New Zealand. The larvae create internal leaf mines in members of the Asteraceae family, including chrysanthemums, ragwort (Senecio), and artichokes. The species is recognized as an agricultural pest in greenhouse and crop settings, with significant variation in host plant susceptibility among cultivars.
Phytomyzinae
leaf-miner flies
Phytomyzinae is a subfamily of leaf-mining flies within the family Agromyzidae, comprising at least 520 described species. The larvae of these flies are internal feeders that create distinctive mines within plant leaves. They serve as hosts for various parasitoid wasps, including braconids and chalcidids. The subfamily includes economically significant genera such as Liriomyza and Phytomyza.
Pieris
Garden Whites, Whites
Pieris is a widespread, nearly cosmopolitan genus of butterflies in the family Pieridae, commonly known as the garden whites. The genus exhibits highest species diversity in the Palearctic region. Many species are economically significant as agricultural pests, with larvae feeding on Brassicaceae crops including cabbage, broccoli, and kale. The genus has been extensively studied for its biochemical adaptations to glucosinolate-containing host plants.
Pieris rapae
small white, cabbage white, cabbage butterfly, small cabbage white, imported cabbageworm (larval stage), white butterfly (New Zealand)
Pieris rapae is a small to medium-sized butterfly in the family Pieridae, native to Europe and Asia and introduced to North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. Adults are white with black wing markings; females bear two additional black spots on the forewings. The species is a significant agricultural pest in its larval stage, known as the imported cabbageworm, feeding on cruciferous crops. It has been extensively studied for its responses to climate change, with long-term data showing progressively earlier spring emergence in North America.
Piezodorus
Piezodorus is a genus of shield bugs in the family Pentatomidae, distributed across multiple continents. The genus includes several economically significant agricultural pests, particularly Piezodorus guildinii (redbanded stink bug), which causes substantial damage to soybean and other legume crops in the Americas. Species in this genus exhibit typical pentatomid morphology with shield-shaped bodies and are associated primarily with leguminous host plants.
Piezodorus guildinii
Red-banded Stink Bug, Redbanded Stink Bug, Small Green Stink Bug, Alfalfa Bug
Piezodorus guildinii, commonly known as the red-banded stink bug, is a pentatomid stink bug native to the Neotropics that has become a significant agricultural pest in the southern United States since around 2000. It is smaller and more agile than other stink bug pests, with documented resistance to multiple insecticide classes. The species causes substantial economic damage to soybean and other legume crops through sap feeding on seeds, pods, flowers, stems, and leaves, and has been linked to delayed maturity syndrome in soybeans.
Plagiognathus
Plagiognathus is a large genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, comprising over 120 described species. Members are commonly known as jumping tree bugs or plant bugs. The genus exhibits diverse host associations with various flowering plants, including agricultural crops and endemic wild species. Individual species show specialized relationships with particular host plants, though broader patterns across the genus remain incompletely documented.
Plagiognathus chrysanthemi
trefoil plant bug
Plagiognathus chrysanthemi, commonly known as the trefoil plant bug, is a small mirid bug native to the Palearctic region that has become established in North America as an adventive species. It is highly polyphagous, feeding on herbaceous plants across multiple families, with documented damage to agricultural crops including birdsfoot trefoil. The species has been identified as a pest of forage legumes in Ontario, Canada.
Planococcus
mealybugs
Planococcus is a genus of mealybugs in the family Pseudococcidae, comprising economically significant agricultural pests. The genus includes species such as Planococcus citri (citrus mealybug), Planococcus ficus (vine mealybug), and Planococcus minor, which infest a wide range of host plants including citrus, grapevines, and numerous horticultural crops. These insects cause direct damage through phloem feeding and indirect damage via honeydew secretion that promotes sooty mold growth; several species are also known vectors of plant viruses. The genus is characterized by small, soft-bodied insects covered in white, powdery wax secretions, with complex taxonomic histories involving multiple synonymies and cryptic species complexes.
Planococcus citri
citrus mealybug
Planococcus citri, the citrus mealybug, is a highly polyphagous pest native to Asia that has established populations worldwide through human-mediated transport. Adult females are approximately 3 mm long, wingless, and covered in white wax with marginal filaments; males are slightly larger with functional wings. The species reproduces sexually with multiple generations per year, producing ovisacs containing up to 20 eggs. It feeds on phloem sap from over 200 host plant species across 82 families, causing direct damage through sap removal and indirect damage via honeydew secretion and sooty mold growth. It is also a known vector of Cacao swollen shoot virus. The species is difficult to distinguish morphologically from the vine mealybug (Planococcus ficus), requiring microscopic examination of pore and duct arrangements or molecular methods for accurate identification.
Plataspidae
shield bugs, kudzu bugs, plataspid bugs
Plataspidae is a family of shield bugs in the suborder Heteroptera, native to the Old World and primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions. Members are characterized by a greatly enlarged scutellum that covers most or all of the abdomen and wings. The family includes the economically significant pest Megacopta cribraria (kudzu bug), which was introduced to North America in 2009 and has become a major pest of soybean in the southeastern United States. Most species feed on plants, particularly legumes, though some exhibit broader host ranges.
Platyedra
Platyedra is a genus of small moths in the family Gelechiidae. Some species are significant agricultural pests, particularly Platyedra gossypiella (Pink Bollworm), which attacks cotton, and Platyedra malvella (Hollyhock Seed Moth), which feeds on hollyhock seeds. The genus exhibits variation in life history strategies, with some species having facultative larval diapause influenced by environmental humidity. Species occur across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Platynota idaeusalis
Tufted Apple Bud Moth
Platynota idaeusalis, the tufted apple bud moth, is a tortricid moth native to eastern North America. It is a significant agricultural pest, particularly of apples in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The species has been documented as a host for both alphabaculovirus and betabaculovirus isolates, making it a subject of biocontrol research. Larvae are known to feed on diverse host plants and have developed resistance to certain organophosphate insecticides.
Platynota rostrana
Omnivorous Platynota Moth
Platynota rostrana is a small tortricid moth with a wingspan of 13–17 mm, distributed across the Americas from the United States through Central America to South America, with established populations in the West Indies and occasional records in Europe via accidental importation. The species is known to be a pest of citrus and other crops, with larvae that feed on a variety of plant materials.
Platynota stultana
Omnivorous Leafroller, Omnivorous Leafroller Moth
Platynota stultana, the omnivorous leafroller, is a highly polyphagous tortricid moth native to northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States. It has become an established invasive pest in Hawaii, Spain, Italy, and multiple other European countries. Adults are small with wingspans around 14 mm and are active year-round in warm climates. The species completes four to six generations annually in California and produces severe economic damage in vineyards, greenhouses, and nursery operations. Larval feeding on grape berries causes skin breakage that leads to fungal rot and crop losses up to 80%.
Platystomatidae
Signal Flies
Platystomatidae, commonly known as signal flies, is a family of acalyptrate Diptera in the superfamily Tephritoidea. The family comprises approximately 1200 species in 127 genera, with highest diversity in tropical regions, particularly the Australasian and Afrotropical realms. Adults are characterized by distinctive wing patterns and often metallic coloration. Many species exhibit elaborate sexual dimorphisms, including extreme head modifications in males used in agonistic interactions. The family is notable for convergent evolution of eyestalks with Diopsidae, though developed through different morphological pathways.
Pleuroprucha insulsaria
Common Tan Wave, common tan wave moth
Pleuroprucha insulsaria, known as the Common Tan Wave, is a small geometrid moth with a broad distribution spanning eastern North America through Central and South America to the Galápagos Islands. Adults are active from spring through fall, with timing varying by latitude. The species is notable for its generalist larval feeding habits across multiple plant families.
Plusiina
Plusiina is a subtribe within the subfamily Plusiinae of the moth family Noctuidae. Members are commonly known as loopers or semiloopers due to their distinctive larval locomotion. The subtribe includes economically significant agricultural pests such as Rachiplusia nu and Chrysodeixis includens, which cause defoliation damage to soybean and other crops. Larvae are characterized by having three pairs of prolegs and a looping gait, distinguishing them from true geometrid loopers which possess only two pairs.
Plusiinae
Plusiine Looper Moths, Looper Moths
Plusiinae is a subfamily of moths within Noctuidae, commonly known as plusiine looper moths. The group is characterized by larvae with three pairs of prolegs that move with a distinctive looping gait. Several species are significant agricultural pests, particularly of soybean and other legumes. The subfamily is relatively small compared to other noctuid groups, and its taxonomic status may be elevated to family rank pending resolution of Noctuidae paraphyly.
Plutella xylostella
diamondback moth, cabbage moth
Plutella xylostella is a globally distributed moth species and one of the most economically significant agricultural pests worldwide. The small grayish-brown moth derives its common name from the cream-colored band that forms a diamond pattern along its back. Its larvae feed exclusively on cruciferous plants, causing extensive damage to cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, canola, and other Brassica crops. The species has evolved resistance to nearly every class of insecticide, including Bacillus thuringiensis toxins, making it exceptionally difficult to control. Annual global management costs are estimated at $4–5 billion.
Plutellidae
diamondback moths
Plutellidae is a family of small to medium-sized moths commonly known as diamondback moths, named after the economically significant pest species Plutella xylostella. The family contains approximately 26 described species in the genus Plutella, with additional genera including Eidophasia, Rhigognostis, and Homadaula. Members are characterized by elongated wings with long fringes, often appearing sickle-shaped, and generally drab coloration with banding or markings. The family has undergone taxonomic revision, with subfamilies Praydinae and Scythropiinae elevated to family status or transferred to other families.
Polymerus basalis
red-spotted aster mirid
Polymerus basalis is a plant bug in the family Miridae, commonly known as the red-spotted aster mirid. The species occurs across Central America and North America, with records from the United States (including Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and West Virginia), Mexico, and Brazil. It inhabits agricultural fields and adjacent habitats, particularly in the Delta region of the lower Mississippi River valley. Two subspecies are recognized: Polymerus basalis basalis and Polymerus basalis fuscatus.
Polyphagotarsonemus latus
Broad Mite, Yellow Tea Mite, Citrus Silver Mite
Polyphagotarsonemus latus, commonly known as the broad mite, is a microscopic tarsonemid mite with a cosmopolitan distribution and an exceptionally broad host range spanning over 60 plant families. First described from mango in a Washington, D.C. greenhouse in 1904, it has become a significant agricultural pest affecting crops including cotton, soybean, peppers, strawberries, blackberries, citrus, tea, coffee, and increasingly, cannabis and hemp. The mite feeds on young, tender plant tissues, causing characteristic damage including leaf stunting, twisting, and distortion that resembles auxin herbicide injury. It thrives in greenhouse environments and tropical to subtropical climates, with development occurring between 10–36°C at high humidity. Management relies on acaricides and biological control using predatory mites such as Amblyseius swirskii, Neoseiulus californicus, and A. orientalis.
Popillia japonica
Japanese Beetle
Popillia japonica is a scarab beetle native to Japan that has become one of the most destructive invasive pests in North America since its accidental introduction to New Jersey in 1916. Adults feed on foliage, flowers, and fruits of over 300 plant species, while larvae (grubs) damage roots of turf grasses and other plants. The species has established populations throughout the eastern United States and Canada, with recent expansions into the Midwest and detections in western states. Climate modeling predicts continued northward range expansion.
Praydidae
false ermine moths
Praydidae is a family of small moths in the superfamily Yponomeutoidea, elevated from subfamily rank in 2013 based on molecular evidence. The family includes the economically significant genus Prays, notably Prays oleae (olive moth), a major agricultural pest of olive trees. Members are characterized by their association with woody plants and, in some species, distinct multivoltine life cycles with generation-specific feeding habits.
Prociphilus fraxinifolii
leafcurl ash aphid
Prociphilus fraxinifolii, commonly known as the leafcurl ash aphid, is a species of woolly aphid in the family Aphididae. It is a specialist feeder on ash (Fraxinus) species, causing characteristic leaf curl damage to host plants. Like other members of the genus Prociphilus, it produces dense white waxy secretions that give colonies a distinctive woolly appearance. The species has been documented in parts of Europe including Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland, with observations also recorded in North America.
Proconiini
sharpshooters
Proconiini is a large tribe of xylem-feeding leafhoppers (Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) comprising approximately 422 species in 58 genera, restricted to the New World. Members are commonly known as sharpshooters due to their rapid, directed flight patterns. The tribe includes major agricultural pests and vectors of Xylella fastidiosa, a phytopathogenic bacterium causing diseases in citrus, grapes, almonds, and other crops. Proconiini species exhibit distinctive morphological adaptations including brachyptery in high-altitude Andean forms and unique egg brochosome production for offspring protection.
Prodiplosis
Prodiplosis is a genus of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) comprising approximately 11 described species. Several species are economically significant agricultural pests, notably P. longifila, which infests citrus, solanaceous crops, and ornamental foliage. Members of this genus are characterized by complete metamorphosis and larval feeding on reproductive and vegetative tissues of host plants, causing necrosis and yield loss. Some species exhibit host specialization and cryptic genetic differentiation across geographic ranges.
Prosapia bicincta
Two-lined Spittlebug, Twolined Spittlebug
Prosapia bicincta, commonly known as the two-lined spittlebug, is a froghopper in the family Ischnorhinidae (formerly Cercopidae). Native to the eastern United States, it was first detected in Hawaiʻi in 2016 and has since become a destructive invasive pest of pasture grasses, infesting over 70,000 hectares on Hawaiʻi Island. The species is named for the two prominent red or orange stripes crossing the black wings of adults and for the foamy spittle masses produced by nymphs. It causes significant economic damage to forage grasses, turfgrasses, and sugarcane through feeding that induces water stress, reduces photosynthesis, and causes plant tissue death.
Prosapia simulans
Prosapia simulans is a spittlebug species (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) native to Central America that was first detected in Colombia in 1999, where it has since become an economic pest of cultivated graminoids. The species has a hemimetabolous life cycle with five nymphal instars and exhibits a notably long life cycle of approximately 72 days compared to other spittlebug species in the region. Females preferentially oviposit on plant stems rather than soil, distinguishing it ecologically from congeners. Eggs can enter diapause, with field-collected eggs showing nearly 70% diapause incidence during dry season months. The species currently has a restricted distribution within Colombia's Cauca Valley but poses ongoing agricultural concern.
Protaphis
Protaphis is a genus of aphids in the family Aphididae, established by Börner in 1952. The genus includes species that are agricultural pests, with at least one species (Protaphis middletonii) known to infest millets. Records indicate presence in parts of Europe.
Protopulvinaria pyriformis
Pyriform Scale
Protopulvinaria pyriformis, commonly known as the pyriform scale, is a soft scale insect in the family Coccidae. It is a significant agricultural pest primarily associated with avocado, though it has been recorded on citrus and other hosts. The species exhibits parthenogenetic reproduction in most populations and possesses the unusual ability for a soft scale to move around as an adult female. It is known from multiple continents including Australia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.