Horticultural pest and diseases
By Denis Crawford
Varroa mite, the invasive parasite of European honey bees, has been detected in NSW. The current outbreak is very concerning but is there possibly a silver lining to this outbreak?
At the time of writing this article, the NSW outbreak of varroa mite (Varroa destructor) appears to be contained.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Denis Crawford
There is more than one type of insect life cycle. Understanding the life cycles of insects can help when managing pests and/or encouraging beneficial insects.
In Pest Files of April this year I described the insect life cycle of ‘complete metamorphosis’ or holometabolous development, from egg to larva to pupa to adult.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Denis Crawford
Biodiversity in gardens means growing a variety of plants, which are likely to attract a variety of insects. That might sound alarming to some, but it’s actually a good thing.
Biodiversity can be a bit of a buzzword, but the way I look at it, is insects are the foundation of biodiversity.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Denis Crawford
Sap-feeding insects may be quite small, but they usually leave signs of their feeding activity.
I had a couple of speaking engagements at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS) this year. I was always on the lookout for insect specimens to show people, either the insects themselves, or the damage they cause, or other signs of their activities.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Denis Crawford
For insects which go through a lifecycle of complete metamorphosis, the pupal stage is a critical one. But sometimes the pupal process is not smooth sailing.
Only insects which pass through a lifecycle of complete metamorphosis (holometabolous) have a pupal stage.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Denis Crawford
The populations of some insects can vary dramatically in size from one year to the next. Why does that happen?
As I write this Pest File my garden is a-flutter with clouds of cabbage white butterflies (Pieris rapae).… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Denis Crawford
Most cultivated plants are attacked by a mixture of introduced and native insect pests. You may be surprised which pests are the native ones.
I recently found some caterpillars chewing into the leaves and stems of my climbing guinea flower, Hibbertia scandens.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Denis Crawford
The arrival of insects en masse can cause alarm, but as you will see an ‘invasion’ may not necessarily result in an infestation requiring management.
Just as our borders were reopening post-COVID, there were some arrival flights of a different kind in my region.… Continue reading
Read More
Cabbage aphid parasite enters the colony bottom right (Supplied by Denis Crawford of Graphic Science)
By Denis Crawford
Aphids thrive in warm, moist conditions so they are often the first insect pests that we notice in spring. Most of the aphids that cause problems in Australia are introduced from elsewhere and it’s likely they are here to stay.… Continue reading
Read More
An illustration of Darwin’s hawk moth feeding on Angraecum sesquipedale (Supplied by Denis Crawford of Graphic Science)
By Denis Crawford
The value of night pollinating insects has long been overlooked, but recent studies show just how important nocturnal insects are for horticultural production.
Information about crop pollination is nearly always dominated by the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) and how vital that particular insect is to the food that we eat.… Continue reading
Read More
