pest guide 1

Chewing insects include caterpillars (immature lepidoptera), grasshoppers and crickets (orthoptera), and beetles and weevils (coleoptera). Photo A is southern armyworm on New Zealand spinach. Notice how most of the chewing occurs first on the interior of the leaf between leaf veins. Photo B is damage caused by adult Sri Lankan weevils. Notice how the chewing occurs from the outside of the leaf margin into the center. Eating patterns can be helpful in determining what order of pest you may have if they are not present. Grasshoppers and crickets prefer grass crops and typically chew from the outside of the leaf margin towards the center.