USEFUL AND ARMFUL INSECTS ON CHILLI PLANTS:
Like all plants also the genus Capsicum L. is subject to attack by phytophagous insect. A real ’’plague’’ is certainly the aphids but also other insects may be particularly harmful. However, nature provides us with the valuable allies, insect predators. Below we will cite only some of the most useful and harmful insects.
USEFUL INSECTS:
The Ladybug is without doubt the best ally in the fight against aphids, mites and various insects. It has a remarkable voracity. In the adult state can reach to eat up to 100 aphids in a day. Often you can find among the flowers of Heracleum sphondylium.
The Hoverflies are excellent pollinators because they feed with nectar, honeydew and pollen. Their larvae are active predators of aphids and other phytophagous insects. Are similar in appearance to wasps, but belong to the Diptera order.
The Crisope are a family of insects of the order Neuroptera. The larvae are nocturnal predators of aphids, mites, eggs and larvae of other insects.
The Anthocorid are predatory insects belonging to the order of Rincoti, they're especially active against mites, aphids, eggs and larvae of other insects.
The Cryptolaemus montrouzieri is a coccinellid, but unlike ladybugs in bright colors, the body has a brown-orange color. The larvae are covered with white waxy substance. Excellent predator of mealybugs, but in the absence of them they also willingly feeds on aphids. The ability of predation is high and leads to a complete elimination of the pest.
The Orius laevigatus is part of the family of anthocorid, the size between 1.4 and 3 mm and is an excellent predator of thrips. In the absence of thrips, protects the crop even with low prey density because it also feeds on aphids, spider mites, moth eggs and pollen. The background color of the adults can go from yellow ocher to blackish-brown.
HARMFUL INSECTS:
The Aphids, or plant lice, are insects from the extraordinary reproductive development. If left unchecked, quickly contaminating the entire plant leading her to death, or almost. They feed with the sap by subtracting energy to the plant. The sap is rich in sugars and the surplus is expelled in the form of honeydew, smearing the leaves of sugar drops. Fungi grow well, the so-called "sooty mold" that may hinder the photosynthetic activity.
The Mites belonging to the family of arthropods of the class of arachnids. They feed on pricking the surface of the leaves, feeding on the cells that make up the leaf blade.
The attack by mites is manifested by a general loss of vigor of the plant. We can also observe the characteristic discoloration of the leaves, which tend to become bronze and then to fall.
The Polyphagotarsonemus latus is a microscopic mite belonging to the family of Tarsonemidae. The females of P. latus lay eggs on soft tissue attacking the younger leaves that make up its diet. The damage caused by its infestation in plants have a developmental arrest or one stunted development. The vegetative apex appear deformed, stunted and often end with a final drying. The leaves grow small and shriveled and the stem presents superficial necrosis. Even in the fruits mite activity causes developmental arrest.
The Thrips are phytophagous insects that feed on the sap, sucked from the leaves, flowers, fruits and young shoots. They enter saliva with phytotoxic effects. They cause discoloration on the leaves, in the fruits often results in the appearance of areas commonly known as rust or scabies. On shoots cause developmental abnormalities such as atrophy, deformation, etc.. Also transmit phytopathogenic agents such as viruses and bacteria.
The Aleyrodidae or whiteflies belongs to the phytophagous insects, causing damage amounting to the aphids, more or less the same way.
They are located on the underside of the leaves, so is difficult to combat them with the use of insecticides. A predator of whiteflies are Miridi, but them can also cause damage to plants.
The Lepidoptera known as butterflies and moths. At the stage of larvae or caterpillars, they feed with leaves, flowers and fruits, thus causing considerable damage.
