What are Chewing pests & how do they affect?

chewing pests are insects that damage plants and other materials by chewing on them. They have mouthparts that are specifically designed for tearing and grinding food. Chewing pests can have a devastating effect on crops. These pests, which include insects like locusts, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and beetles, feed on the leaves, stems, flowers, and even the roots of plants. This damage can stunt the growth of plants, reduce yields, and make crops more susceptible to disease.

Chewing pests can affect all parts of a plant, from the leaves and stems to the flowers, fruits, and roots.

Leaves: This is the most common target for chewing pests. Damage can range from small holes or notches to complete defoliation (loss of leaves). Some pests, like leaf miners, tunnel within the leaves, creating winding trails.

Stems: Chewing pests can damage stems by boring holes into them. This can weaken the stem and make the plant more susceptible to breakage or disease.

Flowers and fruits: Chewing pests can damage flowers and fruits by feeding on the petals, buds, or developing fruit.

Roots: Chewing pests that feed on roots can damage the plant's ability to take up water and nutrients. This can cause the plant to wilt, stunt its growth, or even kill it.

Symptoms of chewing pest affected plant:

Holes in leaves: This is a sign of chewing pests. The holes can be small and round, large and ragged, or somewhere in between.

Chewed edges: Edges of leaves look like chewed is another sign of chewing pests. The edges may be uneven, scalloped, or completely gone.

Skeletonized leaves: If the veins of your leaves are all that's left, and the rest of the leaf tissue has been eaten away, this is a sign of heavy pest damage.

Frass (insect droppings): You may see small pellets of frass (insect droppings) on the leaves, stems, or soil around your plant. The color of the frass can vary depending on the type of pest, but it's usually green, brown, or black.

Wilting or stunted growth: If your plant is wilting or not growing as well as it should, it could be due to pest damage. Chewing pests can damage the leaves and stems of a plant, which can interfere with its ability to photosynthesize and grow.

Biological and organic Control measures of chewing pest:

Chemical control measures for pest management: