HORTICULTURE

I
Mr. Gordon Gabriel Jr.

ANATOMY AND LIFE CYCLE

OF PESTS
ESSENTIAL STANDARD: 8.00
Objective: 8.01 Discuss the anatomy and life cycle of pests.
Lesson #1

SLO: Following this lesson students will be able to describe the

characteristics of the anatomy and life cycle of pests. They will apply prior
knowledge and identify different types of pests.

WHAT ARE INSECTS?

THE FIVE TYPES OF

MOUTHPARTS
There is five types of mouthparts that are important when identifying

insects.

CHEWING
1) Chewing insects chew or grind food.
2) Chewing insects include beetles, cutworms, caterpillars and

grasshoppers.

3) Damage by chewing insects includes tearing, chewing or grinding all

parts of the plant.

PIERCING-SUCKING
1) Piercing-sucking insects puncture plant and suck sap usually from the

underside of the leaves or on the stem.

2) Piercing-sucking insects include aphids, mealy bugs, mites and scale.

3) Damage cause yellow spotted leaves which result in stunted growth.

RASPING-SUCKING
1) Rasping-sucking insects rasps or breaks the leaf surface and suck sap.
2) An example of a rasping-sucking insect is thrip.
3) Damage plant tissue becomes speckled and white

SIPHONING
1) Siphoning insects dip a coiled tube into a liquid food such as nectar and

draw (or siphon) it in.

2) Siphoning insects include butterflies and whiteflies.

3) Siphoning insects do little or no damage to the plant.

SPONGING
1) Sponging insects have two sponge-like structures that collect liquid food

and move it into the food canal.

2) An example of a sponging insect is a housefly.
3) Sponging insects can carry germs or diseases that can damage the

plant.

LIFE CYCLE OF INSECTS:

Complete metamorphosis has four stages
a. Egg
b. Larva (worms or caterpillars)
c. Pupa (resting stage)
d. Adult (flies, beetles)

LIFE CYCLE OF INSECTS:

Incomplete metamorphosis has three stages
a. Egg
b. Nymph (baby insect)
c. Adult

Insects must be killed when they are actively feeding or moving on the

plant.

WHERE TO LEARN MORE?

You can acquire more information from the following:

Twitter: @edu250project

Class Site: www.agclasswithmrgabriel.weebly.com

RESOURCES
CK-12 Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2016, from

http
://www.ck12.org/biology/Insects/lesson/user:YWRldmVuczg0QGdtYWlsLmNvbQ
../Insects-V-lessons-identifying-life-cycle-bee-colony-collapse /

Caterpillar Remedy: How To Get Rid Of Caterpillars. (2009). Retrieved April 13, 2016, from

://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/prevent-caterpillars.htm

http

How to Make an Awesome Insect Collection | Purdue | entomology | insect | collect | supplies |

specimen | mounting | identifying | displaying | preserve | labels. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13,
2016, from https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/401Book/default.php?page=insect_anatomy

Insect Mouthparts - Rasping-Sucking. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2016, from

://itc2.utk.edu/web/jgrant/InsectIntro/Raspingmouthparts.htm

Insect Mouthparts - Sponging. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2016, from

://itc2.utk.edu/web/jgrant/InsectIntro/Spongingmouthparts.htm

Life Cycles - Lessons - TES. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2016, from

://www.tes.com/lessons/ZUjSy6gZH_W_rQ/life-cycles

http

http

https

Problem Solver Guides for Gardeners: Insects Mouthparts. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2016, from

http://aggie- horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/Gardening_Handbook/overview/HandbookG_insect_mouthparts.htm