Image: Close-Up of Common Guava Pests and Disease Symptoms

The image presents a highly detailed, landscape-oriented close-up photograph of a guava plant exhibiting multiple common pest infestations and disease symptoms simultaneously. Two green, immature guava fruits dominate the center of the frame, attached to a woody branch surrounded by dense foliage. The fruit on the left shows extensive surface damage, with dark, wet, sunken patches and soft, decomposing tissue. Several adult fruit flies are visibly resting and feeding on the affected skin, their translucent wings, striped abdomens, and reddish eyes sharply rendered, emphasizing the severity of the infestation. Sticky exudates and rotting flesh suggest active oviposition and microbial decay.

The guava fruit on the right is more severely compromised, split open to reveal pale, segmented larvae burrowed deep inside the pulp. The larvae are clustered within the hollowed cavity, surrounded by brown, crumbly, decomposed tissue, clearly illustrating internal fruit damage caused by maggots. The contrast between the intact green rind and the destroyed interior highlights the hidden nature of such infestations.

Surrounding leaves display multiple disease and pest indicators. On the upper right, a leaf is heavily colonized by aphids, visible as clusters of small, soft-bodied, light-green insects concentrated along the veins and leaf surface. Nearby ants move among them, suggesting a mutualistic relationship linked to honeydew production. Adjacent leaf tissue shows irregular dark brown and black lesions with yellowish halos, characteristic of fungal diseases such as anthracnose or leaf spot infections.

In the lower portion of the image, additional pests are visible along the branch and leaves, including lace bugs with delicate, net-like wings and mottled bodies. A leaf roller caterpillar rests on a folded leaf edge, its elongated green body partially concealed, indicating chewing damage and leaf deformation. The leaves overall show chlorosis, spotting, and uneven coloration, reinforcing the impression of a plant under sustained biological stress.

The background is softly blurred with rich green tones, keeping attention focused on the afflicted fruits and leaves. Natural lighting enhances textures such as the rough guava skin, glossy insect bodies, and the velvety surface of the leaves. The image functions as an educational visual reference, clearly documenting multiple guava pests and diseases in a single, realistic agricultural context, suitable for plant pathology studies, extension materials, or integrated pest management education.

The image is related to: A Complete Guide to Growing Guavas at Home