AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

THEME – CONCEPTS AND MEDIUM OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION 

TOPIC –  METHODS OF WEEDS AND PESTS CONTROL

CLASS – SS 1 

LEARNING AREAS – Meaning and Examples of Crop Pests | Classification and Methods of Controlling Crop Pests | Types of Damage Caused by Crop Pests | Effects of Crop Pests on Yield 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1. Charts and pictures of the pests of the Locality, and

2. Specimens of insect pest, formalin, kerosene, (for preservation), insect box, etc.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. classify insect pests according to mouth parts.

2. describe the nature of damage done by crop plant pests.

3. state effects of pests on the crop yield.

CONTENTS OF THE LESSON

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.

LESSON PRESENTATION

TEACHER’S ACTIVITIES

The teacher,

1. displays pictures and charts of crop pests of the locality.

2. displays specimen of insect pests.

3. summarizes the lessons on the board.

STUDENT’S ACTIVITIES

The students,

1. bring insect pests and make insect box.

2. copy the board summary.

LESSON EVALUATION

Teacher asks students to,

1. mention two classes of crop pests.

2. list two piercing and sucking insect and three biting and chewing insects.

3. describe the nature of damage done by crop plant pests.