text:  These voracious little feeders latch onto the host plant, causing them to lose their leaves and fruit. Sadly, a lot of growers are seeing their favorite avos fall prey to this little guy. Weakened trees can also become susceptible to other diseases. Research educator Amjad Ahmad specializes in sustainable and organic agriculture. He sat down with me last year to talk about what his team is sharing with growers about dealing with this pesky bug.