Transcript Plant Pest


Compare and Contrast complete and
incomplete metamorphosis.

Identify and describe beneficial insects.

Identify and describe harmful insects.
**For this lesson you will need to take notes
on the different insects mentioned**

Plants naturally have inherited problems
› These plants rarely can be cured.
› The best way to avoid this is to choose plants
best adapted for the region.

Florida has more different kinds of insects
that any other state.

Most insects are NOT harmful to our
plants.

Harmful insects are harmful due to:
› Feeding Habits
› Breeding
› Shelter Habits

Metamorphosis: when insects pass
through several stages during
development.
 Complete
Metamorphosis

4 stages: Egg, Larva, Pupa, Adult

Examples:
Butterflies
› Mealworms
› Ladybugs
›

3 Stages:
› Egg
› Nymph
› Adult

Examples:
› Stinkbugs
› Earwigs
› Grasshopper
› Cockroaches

Less than one half of
one percent are
actually pests.

Many beneficial
insects feed on insects
that are pests.
› Example: Spiders,
Assassin Bugs, Praying
Mantids, Lacewings,
Parasitic Wasps
Florida’s most beneficial insect!!
 Both adults and larva prey on Aphids
 Adults: oval, red and black, or black/yellow

Adult eating Aphid
Full Grown Larva
Ladybeetle Eggs
Very large insects (up to 2” in length)
 Can be either green or brown
 Front legs modified for grasping prey
 Feed on flies, honeybees, crickets & moths

Adult Praying Mantis
Egg case (ootheca) and Larva
Generally black or brown (can be bright)
 Found on foliage where they attack prey
 Caterpillars are their favorite lunch!!
 Typically ambush their prey.


Commonly found on
grasses, row crops,
shrubs and trees.

Feed on Aphids
which nicknames
them “Aphidlion”

Green with copper
eyes





Extremely important
insects!!
Very small (1/8”) and
go unnoticed
They lay eggs on the
body of a host insect
Immature stage
consumes the host
Prey on:
› Scales, Whitefiles,
Aphids, Leafminers and
caterpillars
Predaceous, feed on a
wide variety of insects
Paralyze their prey with a
venom bite
Most use webs but most
beneficial spiders do not
spin webs.
Examples: Wolf, Jumping
and Crab

Pests of plants are typically divided into
groups according to the way they damage
plants

Most insects damage plants with their
mouthparts.
› Piercing-Sucking Mouthparts
› Chewing Mouthparts (Foliage Feeding Insects)

Tube like mouthpart
which inserts into a
food source
› Plant, other insect,
humans etc.

Cause damage to
plants:
› Stunting
› Yellowing

Often are not affected
by exterior pesticides
as they feed on the
interior of leaves



Feed on leaves,
flowers and also
attack the roots of
plants.
Mouthparts move side
to side similar to
scissors.
Examples include:
›
›
›
›
Caterpillar
Beetle
Grasshopper
Katydids
Most serious pests on
many ornamental
plants.
 Many species of soft
and hard scales in
Florida.
 Cause yellow spots to
appear on the top
sides of leaves
 Secrete a waxy
covering over their
bodies when mature
making them hard to
control.





Pests to foliage
plants, annuals and
perennials.
Excrete honeydew
which serves as
medium for fungus.
Soft bodied Scale
Common on:
› Azalea
› Coleus
› Croton
› Cactus






Pear shaped
Will infest any plant
Cause damage by
sucking out plant
juices
Transmit viral diseases
Mostly female and
reproduce without
mating
Each produce 50 – 100
daughters which
reproduce in 8 days!!






Common on
ornamental plants
Resemble moths
Plants become pale
or spotted
Can transmit viruses
Deposit eggs on
underside of leaves
Eaten by Lady
Beetles and lace
wings




Brown with clear wings.
Damage on top side of
leaf as white specks
Shiny black spots of
excrement on
underside of leaves
Cause damage to:
› Azalea
› Hawthorns





Very small and
slender
Remove plant juices
Life cycle takes 2-4
weeks
Foliage feeders
Infested plants have
stippled
appearance and
small brown specks.

Immature stage of
moths/butterflies

Vary in color and
hair
stinging rose 

Devour foliage
leaves holes and
irregular areas or
can strip leaves
completely




Consume large
quantities of foliage
on ornamentals
Adults lay eggs
clumped together in
pods (in soil)
1 complete life cycle
per year
Feeding habits vary
greatly
Hard shelled insect
 Chew off parts of
the foliage or
flowers of many
plants.
 Mostly active at
night.
 Larvae feed on the
roots or bore
through stems and
branches.

Most
people are unaware of the harms and benefits of
the many insects that reside in Florida.
You
are to create a Public Awareness Poster and insect
model for your specific insect.
This
is a two part project:
 Part 1: Create a poster displaying facts about either
your Beneficial or Harmful insect
 Part 2: Create a model of the insect using a variety
of materials.
Things
to include on your poster:
 Life cycle of insect
 Description of insect
 Harms or Benefits
 Where found (plants)
Things
to include for your insect model:
 Needs to be actual model of insect!!
 Including proper mouthparts, legs, body segments, eyes, etc.
 You may use a variety of materials (clay, foam, putty, food,
straws etc. )
Points for the project are as follows:
-Pest Awareness Poster:
25 points
-Pest Model:
15 points
Total Points:
40 points
Beneficial:
-Ladybeetles
-Praying Mantids
-Assassin Bugs
-Lacewings
-Parasitic Wasps
-Spiders
Harmful:
-Scales
-Mealybugs
-Aphids
-Whiteflies
-Lacebugs
-Thrips
-Caterpillars
-Grasshoppers
-Katydids
-Beetles