Type of Pests (Insects, Non-insect Pests) Introduction A pest is an organism which is detrimental to humans or human interest. Living organisms are derided as pests as they cause damage to agriculture by feeding on crops or parasitizing livestock or acting as carrier of diseases of man and livestock. The term "plant pest" is any species or strain of plant, animal, or pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products. The most important pests in the order of importance are constituted by insects and non-insect pests like mites, nematodes and gastropods (snails and slugs). Although rodents, birds and Bollworm damage in cotton Cabbage butterfly larvae
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Type of Pests (Insects, Non-insect Pests) Introduction A pest is an organism which is detrimental to humans or human interest. Living organisms are derided.
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Type of Pests (Insects, Non-insect Pests)Introduction
A pest is an organism which is detrimental
to humans or human interest. Living
organisms are derided as pests as they
cause damage to agriculture by feeding
on crops or parasitizing livestock or
acting as carrier of diseases of man and
livestock. The term "plant pest" is any
species or strain of plant, animal, or
pathogenic agent injurious to plants or
plant products. The most important pests
in the order of importance are constituted
by insects and non-insect pests like mites,
nematodes and gastropods (snails and
slugs). Although rodents, birds and
mammals, which are inimical to welfare of
man are also called pests.
Bollworm damage in cotton
Cabbage butterfly larvae
Insects as pests
Insects are the most diverse and
dominant pests among animals. They
damage crops right from germination
to harvest in field and also in godowns
during post-harvest storage. No plant
part is virtually spared by insect pests.
Different insects can utilize different
plant parts due to specialized mouth
parts. In this way, they have reduced
competition among themselves. Pests
like termites feed on underground
plants parts as well crop residues and
also damage timber, furniture, books
and other commodities. Planthopper damage in rice
Cabbage butterfly damage
Types of insect pestsBased on feeding habits insects can be categorized as
Tissue consumers
Sap suckers
Tissue consumers include pest affecting stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and roots, and also crop residues.
Sap suckers suck sap from different plant parts affecting growth and development of crops.
Stem borer damage in rice
Planthoppers in rice
Crop lodging due to planthopper damage
Tissue consumers
A. Stem damaging insects: Stem borer: Rice stem borer, maize stem borer, sugarcane early shoot borer, top shoot borer
Plant Parasitic NematodesNematodes are popularly called as
round worms. Nematodes belong to the
phylum Aschelminthes. Plant parasitic
nematodes constitute one of the
important groups of organisms which
live in soil around plant roots. They are
often microscopic, long and slender,
confined usually to the top soil of 20-25
cm. Plant parasitic nematodes cause
extensively damage to cultivated
plants, resulting in heavy losses.
Damage may be caused directly, or
indirectly when the phytoparasitic
nematodes transmit plant viruses or
allow pathogens to gain entry into the
plant through damaged areas created
by these nematodes.
Magnified picture of root knot nematode
Symptoms of Nematode DamageRoot knot nematodeGalls on roots, stunting and wilting as in lady’s finger.
Cyst nematodeShallow root system, chlorosis (yellowing of leaves) and wilting during hot weather even in presence of sufficient soil moisture
Ear cockle nematodeStunted growth with wrinkled and twisted leaves, reduced and irregularly developed earheads, wheat grains converting into seed galls or cocks
White tip nematodeYellowing, browning and finally whitening of 2-5 cm leaf tips which then dry up and hangs down, kernels becoming chaffy and distorted as in the case of paddy
Root knot nematode damage
Ear cockle nematode damage
Crabs Crabs are arthropods which belong to
group Crustacea and are aquatic by
nature. The rice fields crab,
Paratelphusa hydrodrumus lives in
holes in the sides of field bunds and
irrigated channels etc., where water
does not stand. Channels and holes are
protected by heaping soil around their
openings.
Nature of damage
Seedlings are cut down into bits at
ground levels and carried to the holes
for feeding. In addition to crop
damage, crab holes made into bunds
lead to beaches and water loss.
Crab
MillipedesMillipedes are also arthropods and
nocturnal, which live beneath leaves,
stones, bark and logs as well as in soil.
As the name indicates, these have a
large number of legs.
Millipedes commonly occurring in India
are Lulas sp. on Jowar and
Harpurostreptus sp. on tapioca. They are
brownish black in colour and about 8.7
cm in length.
Nature of damage
The adults and juveniles feed on tender
buds and roots of newly planted crops.
The tapioca millipedes feed on tender
buds and roots of newly planted sets
resulting in stunting and often death of
plants. Some of the millipedes consume
groundnut kernels.
Millipedes
Rats and miceRats cause severe damage to crops
and domestic commodities, thereby
requiring to be controlled effectively.
The atmosphere and surroundings of
human habitations are fouled by
them to the extent that it becomes
intolerable for man. Several types of
diseases are known to be transmitted
by rats. Besides consuming
considerable quantity of food, they
contaminate much more by urine,
faeces, and hairs and sebaceous
secretions. Religious sentiments of
some people come in the way of rat
control.
Mus booduga
Hare and rabbitHares and rabbits are one of the
best known wild mammals and of
considerable economic
importance. They are nocturnal
and graze mainly on grass,
herbs, scrubs, bulbs, roots, bark
etc. Instances of their becoming
pests on agricultural crops are
widely known throughout the
country. They do considerable
damage to crops like wheat,
barleygram, maize, jowar, bajra,
pea, mustard, bean, cabbage
and others. They are browse on
young fruit trees and forest
plants.
Hare
Rabbit
Let’s Sum Up A pest is an animal which is detrimental to humans or human interest.
Most important pests are among insects and non-insect pests like mites, nematodes, and snails and slugs.
Based on feeding habits insect pests can be categorized as tissue consumers and sap suckers.
Tissue consumers damage stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and roots, and also crop residues.
Sap suckers like aphids and whiteflies suck sap from plant parts.
Mites such as red spider mites cause heavy damage in crops especially in vegetables and ornamentals.
Giant African snails is most important snail pest having spread worldwide and causes heavy damage in ornamentals and vegetables.Crabs and millipedes also damage crops in certain localities.
Rodents and some birds and mammals are also harmful to man.