Rindworm damage attributed mostly to southern armyworms and tomato fruit worms - has been noted on melons. Crop damage has been minor for the most part although again growers are reporting having to use harsh chemicals to obtain control in some cases. High whitefly counts are being reported from a number of locations on cucurbits and tomatoes and seem to be on the increase, however some respondents are noting low whitefly populations especially in tomato. In some older melon plantings, whitefly numbers have reached sufficient levels to cause sticky rinds. Diamond back moths are being seen sporadically in brassicas along with fair numbers of loopers being reported on tomato.
Pepper weevils continue to build across the area particularly in older fields.
Some respondents indicate that despite the continued presence of weevils, they are largely under control. Leafminer populations continue to decline, although there have been a few reports of new mines in the upper canopy of tomatoes where pest control measures had been minimized in response to low tomato prices. This is largely in older fields, which are being harvested, and so poses little problem. Downy mildew and powdery mildew are present on cucurbits across the area. Powdery mildew has been the most severe with some defoliation occurring but this has mostly been on older fields where the crop is being harvested.