Brassicaceae-pest
Guides
Bagrada
Bagrada is a genus of stink bugs in the family Pentatomidae, comprising approximately nine described species. The genus is native to Africa and Asia, with at least one species, Bagrada hilaris, becoming a significant invasive pest in North America. Species in this genus are associated with plants in the Brassicaceae family and have become economically important due to their impact on agricultural crops.
Bagrada hilaris
Bagrada bug, Painted bug
Bagrada hilaris is an invasive shield bug native to Africa and Asia that has become a significant agricultural pest in North America, South America, and Europe. First detected in the Western Hemisphere in Los Angeles in 2008, it has since spread throughout California, Arizona, and other southwestern states, as well as establishing in Chile and Italy. The species is a major pest of Brassicaceae crops including cabbage, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower, causing damage through sap-sucking by both adults and nymphs. Its rapid spread and broad host range have made it a priority for integrated pest management research.
Contarinia
Gall midges
Contarinia is a genus of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) containing over 300 described species. Adults are small, delicate flies with hairy wings, long antennae, and distinctive wing venation including an interrupted costal vein. The genus includes numerous agricultural pests whose larvae induce galls or feed on meristematic tissues of plants, particularly in the Brassicaceae, Poaceae, and other families. Several species cause significant economic damage to crops including sorghum, canola, citrus, and stone fruits.
Lipaphis
Crucifer Aphids
Lipaphis is a genus of aphids in the family Aphididae, commonly known as crucifer aphids. Species in this genus are specialized feeders on plants in the family Brassicaceae, with some species showing broader host ranges within dicotyledons. The genus includes economically significant pests such as Lipaphis erysimi (mustard aphid) and Lipaphis pseudobrassicae, which cause substantial yield losses in rapeseed, mustard, kale, and other cruciferous crops across multiple continents.
Microtheca
leaf beetles
Microtheca is a genus of leaf beetles in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Chrysomelinae. The genus contains several economically important agricultural pests, particularly of Brassicaceae crops. The most extensively studied species include M. ochroloma (yellowmargined leaf beetle) and M. punctigera, both of which are oligophagous specialists on cruciferous plants. These beetles are native to the Neotropics but have become significant pests in organic agriculture systems where synthetic insecticides are restricted.