Tea-pest
Guides
Aleurocanthus
Aleurocanthus is a genus of whiteflies in the family Aleyrodidae, established by Quaintance & Baker in 1914. Species in this genus are significant agricultural pests, particularly of citrus and other cultivated crops. The genus includes notable species such as the orange spiny whitefly (A. spiniferus) and the citrus blackfly (A. woglumi), both of which have been subjects of extensive biological control programs due to their economic impact. The genus is characterized by distinctive spiny or ornamented puparial cases and exhibits sexual dimorphism in some species.
Ectropis
Engrailed Moths
Ectropis is a genus of geometer moths (Geometridae) comprising approximately 100 species distributed primarily across paleotropical regions, Australia, and Asia. The genus includes several economically significant pests, notably E. obliqua and E. grisescens, which are sibling species known as tea loopers that damage tea production in China. These two species are morphologically similar but exhibit differences in geographical distribution, sex pheromone composition, and Wolbachia symbiont abundance. Only one species or species complex (E. bistortata/E. crepuscularia, the Engrailed/Small Engrailed) occurs in Europe. The genus has a complex taxonomic history with several invalid junior synonyms and homonyms.
Euwallacea perbrevis
tea shot-hole borer
Euwallacea perbrevis, the tea shot-hole borer, is an invasive ambrosia beetle native to South and Southeast Asia through Australia. It is part of the Euwallacea fornicatus cryptic species complex, distinguished from its three sibling species (E. fornicatus, E. fornicatior, and E. kuroshio) primarily through molecular genetics rather than morphology. The beetle cultivates symbiotic fungi in galleries bored into host trees and vectors fungal pathogens causing Fusarium branch dieback. It has been introduced to the United States (Florida, Hawaii), Costa Rica, and Panama, where it poses significant economic threats to avocado production and urban trees.
Fiorinia theae
tea scale
Fiorinia theae, known as the tea scale, is an armored scale insect native to Asia that has become an established pest in the Americas. It is polyphagous on woody plants, with primary hosts including tea (Camellia sinensis), ornamental camellias, and hollies (Ilex species). Heavy infestations cause leaf yellowing, premature defoliation, branch dieback, and plant death. The species is multivoltine in warmer climates, with overlapping generations and year-round activity in southern regions.
Matsumurasca
Matsumurasca is a genus of microleafhoppers in the family Cicadellidae, subfamily Typhlocybinae. The genus was established by Anufriev in 1973 and is currently treated as a subgenus of Empoasca by some authors. The most economically significant species is Matsumurasca onukii, the tea green leafhopper, a major pest of tea plantations throughout East Asia. Species in this genus are piercing-sucking herbivores associated with vascular plants. The genus occurs in both the Palearctic and Neotropical regions, with documented species in East Asia and Central America.
Pulvinaria floccifera
Cottony Camellia Scale, Cottony Yew Scale, Cottony Taxus Scale
Pulvinaria floccifera is a soft scale insect (Coccidae) known for producing conspicuous white, cottony ovisacs that cover eggs. It is a significant pest of woody ornamentals including camellia, holly, yew, and tea plants. The species has a broad global distribution spanning temperate and subtropical regions. Females are sessile and wingless, while males develop wings for mating. Heavy infestations produce honeydew that supports sooty mold growth, reducing plant vigor and aesthetic value.
Scirtothrips
leaf-feeding thrips, citrus thrips, chilli thrips
Scirtothrips is a genus of leaf-feeding thrips in the family Thripidae, established by Shull in 1909. The genus includes economically significant pest species such as the chilli thrips (S. dorsalis), citrus thrips (S. citri), and South African citrus thrips (S. aurantii), which damage agricultural crops through piercing-sucking feeding on tender leaves, buds, and fruit. Species exhibit diverse host associations ranging from highly host-specific forms on endemic Australian Acacia to broadly polyphagous invasive pests. The genus has undergone taxonomic revision, with Labiothrips synonymised under Scirtothrips.