How many insect pests and fungal diseases can attack tea plants?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
tea
Rows of tea (Camellia sinensis) growing in Japan, with Mount Fuji in the background.
The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is susceptible to attack from at least 150 species of insects and 380 fungal diseases.1
These threats are particularly significant within the plant's native range, where they can cause heavy crop losses. For example, approximately 125 pests and 190 pathogenic fungi have been identified in northeastern India, while tea fields in Japan have recorded over 100 pests and 40 plant diseases. Among these, the tea mosquito (Helopeltis theivora), also known as the tea blight bug, is recognized as a particularly destructive pest in Southeast Asia.12
To manage these challenges, growers typically utilize pesticides or employ integrated pest management techniques.1