Credits:Biovision-Infonet Pumpkin and butternut are affected by similar diseases as other cucurbits; since they belong to the family Cucurbitacea, including melons, squash, zucchini (courgettes) and cucumber.
Monthly Archives: February 2020
Leafmining Flies
(Lyriomyza spp) Credits:Biovision-Infonet Feeding and egg laying by leafmining flies cause stippling of leaves. This can kill seedlings and in older plants allows entry of disease-causing microorganisms. Feeding by maggots causes mining (tunnelling) of leaves reducing the productive leaf area. Heavily attacked leaves may drop off, and may lead to yield losses. What to do: […]
Fruit flies
Bactrocera cucurbitae, Dacusspp. and Ceratitis capitata Credits:Biovision-Infonet Fruit flies are important pests of cucurbits including pumpkins. Fruit flies pierce the fruits and lay eggs in them. The fruit fly maggots feed inside the fruit causing sunken, discoloured patches, distortions and open cracks. These cracks serve as entry points for fungi and bacteria, which cause fruit rot. What to do: Avoid […]
Mealybugs
(Planococcus citri and P. kenya) Credits:Biovision-Infonet Mealybugs infest fruits and foliage. They can be serious pests in the warm season, if natural enemies, which usually control them, are destroyed by spraying with pesticides. They are 3-5 mm long, soft, elongate oval and somewhat flattened What to do: Conserve natural enemies. Mealybugs are usually controlled by […]
Information on Passion Fruit Pests
Credits: Biovision-Infonet Biological methods of plant protection Nematodes, especially the root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita, M. javanica and M. arenaria), are the most serious pests on passion fruit. Practical control measures are crop rotation and the use of tolerant rootstocks. Several species of sucking bugs feed on passion fruit. They suck and pierce leaves and young […]
Passion Fruit Production
Credits: Biovision-Infonet Scientific Name: Passiflora edulis (purple passion fruit) / P. edulis var. flavicarpa (yellow passion fruit) Order / Family: Violales: Passifloraceae Common Names: Maracuya Pests & Diseases: Aphids, Broad or yellow tea mite, Brown spot, Bugs , Fruit flies, Fusarium wilt, Leafmining flies (leafminers), Mealybugs, Phytophthora blight, Root-knot nematodes, Septoria spot, Spider mites, Woodiness potyvirus Geographical Distribution in Africa General Information and Agronomic Aspects Passion fruit is a native […]
Epilachna beetle
Epilachna chrysomelina Credits:Biovision-Infonet Adults of the Epilachna beetle, also known as the African melon ladybird are 6 to 8 mm long, reddish in colour with a number of black spots on the wing cases. The larvae are 7 to 9 mm in length, soft and covered with dark coloured spines. They pupate on leaves. Both adults and larvae feed […]
Pigeon Pea Information Source Links
Credits: Biovision-Infonet AIC (2002). Field Crops Technical Handbook. Nairobi, Kenya CAB International (2005). Crop Protection Compendium, 2005 Edition. www.cabi.org Wallingford, UK Elwell, H., Maas, A. (1995). Natural Pest & Disease Control. Natural Farming network, Zimbabwe. The Plant Protection Improvement Programme and The Natural Farming Network. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations www.fao.org Hillock, R. J., Minja, […]
Whiteflies
Bemisia tabaci Credits:Biovision-Infonet What to do: Conserve natural enemies. Parasitic wasps are important in natural control of whiteflies. Use reflective mulches (see aphids). Reflective mulch repels whitefly adults in pumpkin, cucumber and zucchini, resulting in delayed and reduced attack by this pest with consequent reduction in damage as shown in experiments USA. Whitefly density on […]
Aphids
Aphis gossypii Credits:Biovision-Infonet Colonies of green to blackish aphids are found on tender shoots, mainly on the lower leaf surface, where they suck sap. Under heavy attack the growth of attacked shoots is stunted and leaves are curled and twisted. Aphids excrete honeydew, which leads to growth of sooty mould, and may also attract fruit […]