Pest Control For Macadamia Orchards
An advanced tool to identify, understand, and manage common pest threats in your macadamia orchard for optimal yield and tree health.
Select a Macadamia Pest to Learn More
Choose a pest from the dropdown on the left to get detailed information on identification, severity, and control methods tailored for **macadamia orchards**.
This tool offers a comprehensive guide to help you manage common **macadamia tree pests** effectively, ensuring **optimal yield** and **tree health**.
Quick Reference: Common Macadamia Pests & Symptoms
| Pest Name | Primary Damage Symptoms | Key Identification Marks |
|---|---|---|
| **Macadamia Nut Borer** (Cryptophlebia ombrodelta) | Entry holes in nuts, premature nut drop, presence of larval frass (excrement) near holes, damaged kernels. | Small, greyish-brown moths; larvae are pinkish-white caterpillars found tunneling inside nuts. |
| Fruit Spotting Bug (Amblypelta lutescens) | Pin-prick lesions on nut husks, leading to necrotic spots; deformed nuts; internal “starring” or blackening of kernel tissue. | Slender, greenish-brown true bugs, approximately 15mm long, active feeders on developing nuts. |
| Banana Spotting Bug (Amblypelta nitida) | Similar nut damage to FSB, often more pronounced; feeding on young shoots can cause wilting or dieback. | Larger (up to 20mm), robust, reddish-brown true bugs, distinct from FSB. |
| **Queensland Fruit Fly** (Bactrocera tryoni) | Stings on the nut husk, leading to soft, rotting patches; larval tunneling within the kernel; premature nut drop. | Small, reddish-brown flies (approx. 7mm) with distinctive yellow markings on the thorax; visible oviposition stings. |
| **Spider Mites** (e.g., Tetranychus urticae, Oligonychus ilicis) | Fine stippling on leaves, leading to bronzing or silvering; leaf distortion; presence of fine webbing on undersides of leaves. | Tiny, often reddish or yellowish arachnids (less than 1mm); require hand lens for clear identification. |
| Scale Insects (various species, e.g., soft scales, armoured scales) | Small, immobile, often waxy or cottony bumps on stems, leaves, and nuts; yellowing/wilting leaves; stunted growth; honeydew leading to sooty mold. | Sedentary, shell-like or waxy coverings on plant surfaces; crawlers are the mobile juvenile stage. |
| Thrips (e.g., Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis) | Silvering or scarring on young leaves and flowers; distortion of new growth; flower bud abortion; stunted nut development. | Very small, slender insects (1-2mm), usually dark with fringed wings; often found in sheltered areas of new foliage. |
| Ambrosia Beetle (various species) | Small, perfectly round entry holes (1-2mm) in branches or trunks; presence of “toothpicks” or frass tubes protruding from holes. | Tiny, cylindrical, dark-colored beetles; presence of fungal staining inside tunnels. Primarily attack stressed or recently dead wood. |
| Mealybugs (various species) | White, cottony or powdery masses in leaf axils, on stems, or under husks; distorted growth; sticky honeydew attracting sooty mold. | Soft-bodied, oval insects covered in a white, mealy wax; often found in clusters. |
| **Stink Bugs** (General, various species) | Punctures on young nuts, leading to shriveled or deformed kernels; premature nut drop; irregular scarring on husks. | Shield-shaped true bugs, varying in size and color (green, brown, mottled); release strong odor when disturbed. |
| Lace Bugs (e.g., Ulonemia histrio) | Yellowing or silvery stippling on the upper surface of leaves; dark, tar-like spots (excrement) on the undersides. | Small, flattened insects (3-4mm) with distinctive reticulated (lace-like) wings; often found in colonies on leaf undersides. |