Food-security-threat
Guides
Vatiga
cassava lace bugs
Vatiga is a genus of lace bugs (family Tingidae) containing approximately 11 described species. The genus is native to the Neotropical region and has become economically significant as an invasive pest in cassava-growing regions worldwide. Species in this genus are highly host-specific, feeding exclusively on cassava (Manihot esculenta). The most extensively studied species are Vatiga illudens and Vatiga manihotae, which have been introduced to Indonesia and Africa, posing threats to food security in these regions.