Pests of crops

Agricultural pests are unwanted animals or insects that damage crops and reduce farm yields. These creatures feed on plants, destroy leaves, stems, roots or fruits, making crops unsuitable for sale or consumption. Pests can be insects like grasshoppers and beetles, rodents like rats and mice, or birds that peck at grains.

A common example in Nigeria is the armyworm, which destroys maize and other cereal crops by eating the leaves and grain. When armyworms attack a maize farm, farmers can lose up to 80 percent of their harvest if they don't act quickly.

The key thing to understand is that pests cause economic losses by eating crops directly or spreading diseases to plants. This is why farmers spend money on pest control methods like spraying chemicals or using traps.

Pests are organisms that damage or destroy our crops and reduce the yield farmers get. These pests are grouped into different classes based on what they are and how they cause damage. The main classifications include insects like locusts and armyworms, which chew or suck plant parts; rodents like rats and mice that eat seeds and grains; birds that peck at crops; and diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, and viruses. In Nigeria, the fall armyworm is a serious pest that has destroyed maize crops in many regions. Each pest type requires different control methods, which is why farmers must identify what pest is attacking their crops before deciding on treatment. Understanding these classifications helps us choose the right pesticides or farming practices to protect our harvests effectively.

Insect-pests are harmful insects that attack and damage crops, reducing the quality and quantity of farm produce. These pests feed on different parts of plants including leaves, stems, roots, and fruits, causing serious losses to farmers across Nigeria and beyond.

One common example is the armyworm, which devastates maize farms throughout Nigeria. These caterpillars chew through maize leaves and cobs, sometimes destroying entire crops within days if left unchecked. Other serious insect-pests include locusts, weevils, and stem borers that attack various crops.

Farmers lose millions of naira annually to these pests, making pest management crucial for food security. Understanding how different insects damage crops helps farmers choose appropriate control methods like using pesticides, practicing crop rotation, or encouraging natural predators.

Non-insect pests are organisms other than insects that damage our crops and reduce harvest. These include fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and rodents. Fungi cause diseases like cassava brown streak and late blight in potatoes by attacking leaves and stems. Bacteria create spots and wilting on plants. Viruses spread through contact or insects, making leaves yellowed and stunted. Nematodes are tiny worms living in soil that attack plant roots, weakening them. Rodents like rats destroy crops by eating seeds, fruits, and roots in the field and storage.

In Nigeria, the fall armyworm initially seemed like an insect problem, but viral diseases of cassava have caused serious losses in southern regions. Understanding these pests helps farmers use appropriate control methods like crop rotation, resistant varieties, and proper storage practices rather than only relying on insecticides.

Insects damage crops in different ways depending on their mouth structures. Some pests have biting and chewing mouth parts that allow them to eat leaves, stems, and seeds directly. Examples include grasshoppers and beetles that visibly chew holes in crops like maize and cassava. Other insects have sucking mouth parts shaped like straws, which they use to pierce plant tissues and drink sap. The cotton stainer bug is a common Nigerian example that sucks sap from cotton bolls, causing them to rot and become worthless. Understanding these two main mouth-part types helps farmers identify which pests they're facing and choose the right control method. Chewing pests respond better to stomach poisons, while sucking pests need contact insecticides.

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Biting and chewing pests are insects that damage plants by eating away at leaves, stems, and other parts directly. Unlike sucking pests that pierce plant tissues, these pests have strong jaws called mandibles that allow them to bite off and consume plant material. This type of damage is easy to spot because you'll see irregular holes and ragged edges on leaves.

A common example in Nigeria is the armyworm, which attacks maize crops during the growing season. These caterpillars can destroy entire fields if not controlled early. Other examples include grasshoppers, beetles, and crickets. The damage from biting pests reduces the plant's ability to photosynthesize, leading to stunted growth and reduced yield.

You can identify these pests by looking for visible bite marks and sometimes finding the insects themselves on affected plants.

Piercing and sucking pests are insects with special mouthparts designed like a needle or straw that they use to puncture plant tissues and drink the sap inside. These pests don't chew leaves like other insects; instead, they pierce through the plant's surface and suck out the nutritious liquid, weakening the plant gradually.

Common examples include aphids, which attack various crops like beans and tomatoes in Nigeria. Whiteflies and scale insects also belong to this group. When these pests feed, they remove nutrients from plants, causing yellowing, wilting, and stunted growth. Some of these pests also spread dangerous plant diseases while feeding.

You can identify piercing and sucking damage by looking for stippled (dotted) leaf surfaces, yellowing, and the sticky substance called honeydew they leave behind.