Meaning and Classification of Crop Pests | Effects and Damage Caused by Crop Pests

INTRODUCTION (MEANING OF CROP PESTS)

Pests are organism that are harmful or damage farm crops. Common crop pests are as follows:

1. Beetle

2. Weevil

3. Grasshopper

4. Locust

5. Caterpillar

6. Termite

7. Rodents

8. Quela birds

9. Bats

10. Monkeys

CONTROL METHODS ON VEGETATION AND SOIL

1. Biological Control 

This process involves using animals to feed on the pests on the farm. One disadvantage of this method is that the animals may also eat and destroy the wanted plants in the process.

2. Cultural Control 

Cultural control is the removal (or killing) of pests (insects) by hands, cutlass or trap. This is also called manual control.

3. Chemical Control 

A chemical is a man-made liquid or powder used for controlling or killing pests and diseases spread by pests.

CLASSIFICATION OF INSECT PESTS BASED ON MOUTH PARTS 

1. Piercing and Sucking Insects 

1. Cotton stainers

2. Green shield bugs

3. White flies

4. Mealy bugs

5. Mirids/capsids

6. Fruit-piercing moths

7. Coreid bugs

8. Scale insects

9. Aphids

10. Cocoa thrips

2. Biting and Chewing Insects 

1. Locusts

2. Grasshoppers

3. Termites

4. Leaf worms

5. Armyworms

6. Crickets

8. Budworm

9. Caterpillar

10. Stick insects

11. Mantis

12. Rhinoceros beetles

3. Boring Insects 

1. Yam beetles

2. Beam beetles

3. Rice weevils

4. Maize weevils

5. Sorghum weevils

6. Stem borers

7. Larvae of Lepidoptera e.g. butterfly, moth

8. Pod borers

DESCRIPTION OF THE DAMAGE DONE BY THE CROP PESTS 

There are two (2) kinds of damage done by the crop pests – direct and indirect damage.

1. DIRECT DAMAGE 

Direct damage is feeding on crops leaves, burrows in the stems, fruits and leaves.

2. INDIRECT DAMAGE 

Indirect damage is the pests (insect pests) infect and transmit diseases like bacterial, viral, or fungal infection into a crop.

EFFECTS OF CROP PESTS ON YIELD

1. Pests infected seeds, crops, and vegetables.

2. Pests reduce market value of farm crops.

3. Pests reduce the quality of crops.

4. Pests eat up leaves, burrows in stems, fruit, or roots of crops

5. Pests reduce crop productivity.

QUESTION

1. What is crop pests?

2. Classify crop pests bases on mouth part?

3. State 5 effects of crop pests on the yield.

4. Mention 5 damage caused by crop pests?