An agricultural pest is any organism that reduces the yield or quality of crops. This can include insects, mites, weeds, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, viruses, birds, mammals, and even other plants.
Types of pests related to field agriculture:
Here are the two main types of insect pests classified based on their mouthparts:- Piercing and Sucking
- Biting and Chewing
Piercing and Sucking:
These are the insects which use their strong needle-like mouthpart to pierce into the plant tissue and suck the sap from the cell. This sucking leads to weakening the plant and also transmitting the disease.
Aphids: Small, soft-bodied insects that come in a variety of colors. They are often found as a group on the undersides of leaves.
Thrips: Tiny, slender insects with fringed wings. They feed on the leaves and flowers of plants and can cause them to become distorted and discolored.
Mealy Bug: Soft-bodied insects that are covered in a white, waxy material. They are often found on the stems and leaves of plants.
Whitefly: Tiny, winged insects that resemble whiteflies. They feed on the undersides of leaves and can produce large amounts of honeydew, a sticky substance that can attract other pests.
Planthopper: Planthoppers are typically small insects, These are the large group of plant-feeding insects, having flattened bodies and broad wings, use their mouthparts to pierce the plant tissue and suck out the sap.
Mites: Not insects, but mites that are related to spiders. They are very small and difficult to see without a magnifying glass. Spider mites feed on the undersides of leaves and can cause them to become yellow, stippled, and dry.
Biting and Chewing:
These are the type of insects which use their mouth to bite and Chew the pieces of the plant material. These insects damage the crop tissues of leaves, Stems, Fruits and seeds.
Borer: Borers are insects that burrow into the stems of crops. The larval stage of borers is the most damaging. They feed on the internal tissues of the plant, which can stunt growth, reduce yields, and even kill the plant.
Beetles: Both adult beetles and their larvae can munch on various parts of crops. This can include leaves, stems, roots, fruits, and flowers. On the severity of the infestation, this feeding damage can stunt plant growth, reduce crop yield, and even kill the plants altogether.
Caterpillars: They feed on leaves, flowers, fruits, and even stems of plants. This can reduce the quality and quantity of a crop. If there are enough caterpillars, they can completely defoliate a plant, leaving it with little chance of survival.
