Classification of Pests Based on the Parts of Plants They Attack

Topic Content:

i. Stem borers:

These pests cause damage to crops such as cereals, the insect larvae bore into the stem of the plant and feed on the stem tissue.

ii. Root Feeders:

Root feeders examples include cucumber beetle, root-knot nematodes, gnats and larvae of beetles.

Root-knot nematodes feed mainly on the roots of plants. Their female lays eggs on the root surfaces of tomatoes. The larvae penetrate the roots and feed on the tissue within the root causing the root cells to enlarge, resulting in swollen structures known as knots . This reduces the ability of plants to absorb water from the soil leading to a poor yield