Fruit spotting bugs are native to Australia. They live in rainforest regions from 30° latitude and north. FSB feed on the fruit, flowers and very young shoots of fruiting plants.

Botrytis blossom blight is an important disease of macadamia's, blueberries and several other flowering plants. The fungus, Botrytis Cinerea, most commonly infects and blights wounded or senescent plant tissues.

Husk spot, caused by a fungal pathogen Pseudocercospora Macadamiae, is a major disease of macadamia in Australia and should be controlled. The fungus may persist in diseased old husks (sticktights) for over 2 years. The spores are most effectively spread by rain-splash from diseased sticktights to green husks. Infections at the beginning of the season, at the ‘match-head’ stage of nut development are the most critical that may result in significant premature nut drop. Cultivars with high amount of sticktights in the tree canopy and history of husk spot are very susceptible to annual disease occurrence. Incessant wet weather conditions (wind-driven rains) significantly increase the risk of most cultivars to husk spot and premature nut drop.