Tomato/Potato Psyllid

Bactericera cockerelli

Tomato/Potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) is a devastating pest of potato and tomato crops. A sucking pest whose feeding on foliage causes yellowing, purpling and cupping of leaves, stunting of plants and reduces yields. The pysllid can also transmit Liberibactor, a bacterium like organism that affects the internal vascular transport system of plants. This negatively disrupts potato tuber quality often resulting in the “zebra chip” effect in processing potatoes.

Related Pests

Potato Tuber Moth

Phthorimaea operculella

Potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella) is an issue for potato growers throughout New Zealand. The larvae can mine leaves but the major challenge is in the dry season when the soil cracks and adults can directly access and lay eggs on the tubers. The larvae then burrow into the tubers rendering them unmarketable and causing rots in storage.

Two Spotted Mite

Tetranychus urticae

Two-spotted mite (Tetranychus urticae) is a common pest of greenhouse horticultural crops including capsicums. Feeding damage from high populations can cause leaf damage and significantly reduce yields. Depending on temperature the life cycle can be completed in 2 - 3 weeks so two-spotted mite populations can build up rapidly if not controlled.

Thrips

Thrips are a rasping feeding pest that can cause economic damage on several crops including avocados and stonefruit. Their feeding causes bronzing and marking on fruit surfaces reducing the marketable value of the crop.