Polyphagous Insect Pests of Medicinal Plants

Abstract

This current review describes the morphology of some polyphagous species of insect pests affecting medicinal plants, their life cycle, host plants, form of damage and biological management. The described insect species are part of the following orders: Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Dipera. All species are distributed in Europe, but can also be found in other continents. Defoliation is the most common type of damage caused by adults and larvae (or nymphs) but additional types of damage have also been reported. In order to control them, biological measures have to be taken, chemical control being unsuitable for medicinal plants. This bio-management can be achieved through pathogens of the insect pests, such as fungi and parasitoids.