Study Room/Citrus/Pests & Beneficials
Plant Systems

Pests & Beneficials

Pests, pathogens, parasites and predators from the official pool. Study the photograph first, compare the field-guide illustration, then prove recall without the name visible.

Practice this area
39cards in this sectionUse recall mode when recognition feels easy.
39 shown

Listen and review

Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Asian Citrus Psyllid

Look first

Look for a tiny mottled brown wedge-shaped adult feeding with its rear end raised at about a 45-degree angle; nymphs are yellow-orange on new flush.

Closest checkAphids sit more parallel to the plant and form soft-bodied colonies; psyllid posture is a major clue.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueACP = tiny wedge feeding tail-up.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Aschersonia

Look first

Look for bright red-orange or yellow cushion-like fungal growth on whitefly scale stages; it is a beneficial fungus.

Closest checkSooty mold is black and superficial; Aschersonia forms distinct colored fungal colonies on insect hosts.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueAschersonia = colored fungus attacking whiteflies.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Black Scale

Look first

Look for a dark brown-to-black domed oval scale with a characteristic raised H-like ridge on the back.

Closest checkFlorida red scale is flatter and round; Glover's and purple scales are elongated mussel-shaped scales.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueBlack scale = dark dome + H ridge.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Blue Green Citrus Root Weevil

Look first

Look for a broad-snouted adult weevil covered with blue-green scales.

Closest checkDiaprepes is larger and strongly striped/multicolored; Little Leaf Notcher is dull gray-brown.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueBlue-green weevil = blue-green scaled snout beetle.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Brown Citrus Aphid

Look first

Look for colonies of dark brown to nearly black soft-bodied aphids crowded on tender new flush.

Closest checkGreen citrus aphid is bright green; psyllids are more wedge-shaped and hold the body at an angle.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueBrown citrus aphid = dark aphids on flush.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Caribbean Fruit Fly

Look first

Look for a yellow-brown fruit fly with patterned wings and a relatively long body/ovipositor in females.

Closest checkMediterranean fruit fly is smaller and has a different bold wing/body pattern; use the official specimen image rather than color alone.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueCaribbean fruit fly = larger patterned fruit fly.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Citrus Blackfly

Look first

Look for dark slate-black nymphal scales on leaf undersides, often ringed with waxy fringe; adults are small dark whitefly-like insects.

Closest checkCitrus whitefly nymphs/adults are pale to white rather than black.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueCitrus blackfly = black whitefly-type scales.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Citrus Leafminer

Look first

Look for winding silvery serpentine mines in tender leaves, often causing curled or distorted new growth.

Closest checkChewing insects remove tissue from the edge; leafminer damage stays inside the leaf as tunnels.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueLeafminer = silver squiggle tunnel.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Citrus Mealybug

Look first

Look for soft-bodied insects covered in white cottony wax, often clustered in fruit/stem crevices.

Closest checkCottony cushion scale has a large fluted white egg sac attached to a brown-orange female.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueMealybug = little cottony clusters.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Asian Citrus Psyllid

Look first

Look for a tiny mottled brown wedge-shaped adult feeding with its rear end raised at about a 45-degree angle; nymphs are yellow-orange on new flush.

Closest checkAphids sit more parallel to the plant and form soft-bodied colonies; psyllid posture is a major clue.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueACP = tiny wedge feeding tail-up.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Citrus Red Mite

Look first

Look for very small bright red mites/eggs on leaves and fruit together with fine stippling or bronzing.

Closest checkTexas citrus mite is darker/brownish; rust mite damage is more uniform russet/bronze and the mites are extremely tiny.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueRed mite = red specks + stippling.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Citrus Rust Mite

Look first

The mite itself is nearly microscopic; identify the bronze/russet rind or leaf surface damage it produces.

Closest checkWind scar creates rub marks; rust mite injury creates a more uniform russet/bronzed surface.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueRust mite = tiny mite, big bronzing clue.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Citrus Snow Scale

Look first

Look for bark that appears dusted with snow from masses of elongated white male scales; darker females may be mixed in.

Closest checkMealybugs are fluffy/cottony clusters; snow scale forms numerous narrow white scale covers on bark.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueSnow scale = white snowstorm on bark.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Cottony Cushion Scale

Look first

Look for a brown-orange female attached to a large white ribbed/fluted cottony egg sac.

Closest checkMealybug wax is irregular and fluffy; cottony cushion scale has a structured elongated egg sac.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueCottony cushion = fluted white pillow.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Diaprepes Weevil

Look first

Look for a large snout weevil with bold black-and-cream/yellow/orange striping or scale patterns.

Closest checkBlue-green root weevil is more uniformly blue-green; Little Leaf Notcher is small and gray-brown.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueDiaprepes = big colorful striped weevil.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Florida Red Scale

Look first

Look for small round flattened reddish-brown scale covers on fruit, leaves or twigs, often with a central nipple.

Closest checkBlack scale is domed and dark with an H ridge; purple/Glover's scales are elongated.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueFlorida red scale = flat red-brown round disk.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Fuller's Rose Beetle

Look first

Look for a gray-brown broad-snouted weevil with a rough/scaly body; leaf edges may show scalloped feeding.

Closest checkLittle Leaf Notcher is another gray weevil but is generally smaller; use body size and official specimen shape.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueFuller's rose beetle = gray rough snout weevil.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Glover's Scale

Look first

Look for a long, very narrow brown mussel-shaped scale cover aligned along twigs/leaves.

Closest checkPurple scale is also elongated but is typically darker/purplish and more curved/broader.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueGlover's = skinny brown mussel scale.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Grasshopper

Look first

Look for the large jumping hind legs, chewing mouthparts and stout body of a grasshopper.

Closest checkKatydids usually have much longer threadlike antennae and a more leaf-like green body.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueGrasshopper = power hind legs + shorter antennae.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Green Citrus Aphid

Look first

Look for clusters of bright green soft-bodied pear-shaped aphids on tender shoots.

Closest checkBrown citrus aphid is dark brown/black; psyllids are wedge-shaped and feed tail-up.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueGreen aphid = green soft colony on flush.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Hirsutella

Look first

Look for evidence of the beneficial fungus on rust mites—infected tiny mites may appear coated or anchored by whitish fungal growth.

Closest checkThis is a beneficial pathogen of mites, not a citrus leaf disease lesion.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueHirsutella = fungus that attacks rust mites.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Katydid

Look first

Look for a green leaf-like insect with extremely long threadlike antennae and strong jumping hind legs.

Closest checkGrasshoppers usually have shorter antennae and a less leaf-like profile.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueKatydid = green leaf body + very long antennae.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Lacewing Larva (Trash Bug)

Look first

Look for an alligator-shaped predator larva often carrying bits of debris/prey remains on its back.

Closest checkLady beetle larvae are exposed and do not usually wear the characteristic debris pile.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueTrash bug = predator hiding under trash.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Lady Beetle

Look first

Look for a small dome-shaped beetle, often red/orange/yellow with contrasting spots or markings; larvae are elongated predators.

Closest checkDo not confuse the adult with scale insects, which are immobile and shell-like.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueLady beetle = little dome predator.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Leaf Footed Plant Bug

Look first

Look for an elongated brown true bug with widened leaf-like expansions on the hind tibiae.

Closest checkStink bugs are broader and shield-shaped; leaf-footed bugs have the obvious expanded hind legs.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueLeaf-footed bug = leaves on the back legs.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Mediterranean Fruit Fly

Look first

Look for a small yellow-brown fruit fly with bold patterned wings and contrasting body markings.

Closest checkCaribbean fruit fly is generally larger; exact ID depends on the official wing/body pattern, not fruit damage alone.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueMedfly = small patterned fruit fly.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Nematode

Look first

Look for a microscopic threadlike roundworm or for feeder-root damage associated with citrus slow decline.

Closest checkNematodes are not insects and have no legs or body segmentation like larvae.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueNematode = microscopic thread worm on roots.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Orange Dog

Look first

Look for the giant swallowtail caterpillar that mimics bird droppings with mottled brown, white and orange markings.

Closest checkMost citrus caterpillars do not have the strong bird-dropping camouflage; disturbed larvae may expose an orange forked osmeterium.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueOrange dog = bird-dropping caterpillar.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Parasitic Wasp

Look first

Look for a tiny narrow-waisted wasp associated with parasitized scales/aphids/whiteflies; many are only a few millimeters long.

Closest checkBeneficial wasps are slender and wasp-shaped, not soft-bodied like aphids or dome-shaped like lady beetles.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueParasitic wasp = tiny waist, big beneficial job.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Purple Scale

Look first

Look for a curved elongated mussel-shell scale cover that is dark purple-brown.

Closest checkGlover's scale is usually narrower and straighter/lighter brown.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cuePurple scale = curved dark mussel shell.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Red Imported Fire Ant

Look first

Look for reddish-brown ants of mixed worker sizes and characteristic mound colonies.

Closest checkUnlike parasitic wasps, ants have elbowed antennae and a constricted waist with visible nodes.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueFire ant = red-brown ants + mound.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Sharpshooter

Look first

Look for a wedge-shaped leafhopper with strong jumping hind legs and wings held roof-like over the body.

Closest checkPsyllids are much smaller and characteristically feed at a steep angle; sharpshooters are larger leafhoppers.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueSharpshooter = big wedge-shaped leafhopper.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Six Spotted Mite

Look first

Look on leaf undersides for tiny pale mites marked by multiple dark body spots; feeding can cause stippling.

Closest checkTwo-spotted mite has two dominant dark spots and often webbing; red mite is bright red.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueSix-spotted = tiny pale mite, several dark dots.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Southern Green Stink Bug

Look first

Look for a broad bright-green shield-shaped true bug.

Closest checkLeaf-footed plant bugs are narrower and have expanded hind tibiae.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueGreen stink bug = green shield.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Texas Citrus Mite

Look first

Look for tiny brownish-purple mites on upper leaf surfaces with stippled/gray foliage injury.

Closest checkCitrus red mite is brighter red; rust mite injury is more bronze/russet and the mite is much harder to see.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueTexas mite = dark mite + stippled upper leaf.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Citrus Whitefly

Look first

Look for tiny white moth-like adults and pale oval scale-like nymphs on leaf undersides.

Closest checkCitrus blackfly has dark adults/nymphs; mealybugs are larger and cottony.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueCitrus whitefly = little white moths under leaves.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Little Leaf Notcher

Look first

Look for a small gray-brown snout weevil and repeated notches chewed from leaf margins.

Closest checkFuller's rose beetle is usually larger; Diaprepes is much larger and brightly patterned.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueLittle leaf notcher = small gray weevil + edge notches.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Thrips

Look first

Look for tiny slender yellow/tan insects and silvery or ring-like scarring on tender flowers/young fruit.

Closest checkMites are more rounded and often cause stippling/bronzing; thrips are narrow, fast-moving insects.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueThrips = tiny slivers + surface scarring.
Study views load as you reach this card.
Pests, Pathogens, Parasites & Predators●

Two-Spotted Mite

Look first

Look for tiny pale yellow-green mites with two dark dorsal spots, often with fine webbing.

Closest checkSix-spotted mites show several dark spots; citrus red mites are red.
Contest habitname the visible symptom, structure or damage pattern before you name the item.
Memory cueTwo-spotted = two dark dots + webbing.