What have we learnt about sap-sucking insects in apple and pear orchards? By Anna Mouton. The order Hemiptera contains more than 80 000 insect species that use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract bodily fluids from other organisms. Some, such as bedbugs,…
Stink bugs or stem-pitting virus? By Anna Mouton. A new research project funded by Hortgro aims to establish the cause of dimpled and deformed pears seen in Western Cape orchards. The project is led by Dr Rachelle Bester and Prof…
Are surging populations of antestia bugs in pome- and stone-fruit orchards responsible for fruit defects? By Rae Oelofse. Damage, including puncture wounds, sunken areas, brown spots, and distortion, is rising in pome and stone fruit. The defects are not visible…
Conflicting views on a century-old disease. By Anna Mouton. Pear stony pit is a disease of pear trees that shows up as deformed fruit. The fruit are dimpled or pitted. Severely affected fruit may have a distorted shape and become…