Ss2 Bio TRM 2 WK 8

WEEK 8
CLASS: SS2
TOPIC: PEST AND

DISEASES OF CROPS
CONTENT
(I) Life cycles of pests
(II) Control of pests
(III) Diseases caused by pest
and their agents
(a) Fungal diseases
(b) Viral diseases
(c) Bacterial diseases
(IV) Control of pest.
DEFINITION OF PESTS
Pests are organisms that carry disease or cause
damage to other organisms. Pests may be plants
or animals. Plant pests are usually called weeds.
Pests are very important to man because of their
detrimental effects to humans and other
organisms of concern to man e.g. agriculture or
livestock production.
Crop pests are those that affect agricultural
produce important to man, e.g. insects, birds,
rodents, monkeys, man, nematodes etc.
Livestock pests attack livestock useful to man
e.g. Mites, Lice, Tapeworms.
Crop-Destroying Weevils
Weevils are among the most destructive of pests that attack agricultural crops. Adult
weevils lay their eggs in stalks or seeds of crops such as cotton, wheat, rice, and alfalfa.
As larvae, weevils then feed on these plant tissues, extensively damaging the plant in
the process.
CLASSIFICATION OF PESTS
Based on the various parts of a crop
plant they attack
1.Stem borers: these are usually larvae of
certain moths that bore into the stems of
maize and feed on it. This result in the
weakening and breaking of the stem.
2.Root feeders: these are insect larvae or
adults found in the soil. They burrow into
the ground and feed on yam tubers.
3.Leaf feeders: snails, bettles,
grasshoppers eat up leaves of crops.
4. Young shoot feeders: aphids, mealy
bugs and scale insects usually pierce and
suck out juices from young shoots. Many
sucking pests also transmit disease-causing
organisms to the plants e.g. Cassava leaf
mosaic virus is transmitted by white flies.
Such pests are known as vectors.
5. Fruits and seed feeders: these are
moths, fruit flies, cotton strainers and some
beetles eat their way into fruits and seeds
causing great damage.
Damaged Crops in North Korea
A North Korean farmer assesses the damage done to his corn crop by poor growing
conditions. In the mid-1990s severe flooding followed by droughts devastated the
country's agricultural output and led to serious food shortages. By the late 1990s
North Korea was experiencing widespread famine.
Other invertebrate and vertebrate
pests include:
i.Insects like flies, aphids
ii.Mites and ticks.
iii.Snails
iv.Flatworms
v.Tapeworms
vi.Protozoa
vii.Birds
viii.Rodents
Aphids on a Cabbage Plant
Aphids are small insects found throughout temperate regions of the world. They
parasitize a variety of wild and commercially important plants by sucking out plant
fluids. Because aphids exude a sweet, sticky fluid that can be used by certain species
of ants, herds of aphids are often found guarded and tended by ants.
EVALUATION
1.Briefly describe how pests affect root tubers.
2.Explain the term Pests. What make them so
important to man?
3.In what ways do Pests affect the quality and
quantity of agricultural livestock produce?
4.Mention 5 pests and describe the ways they
attack crops and their effect on crops.
5.In what way has mono-cultural practice in
commercial agriculture contributed to the
emergence of pests as a production factor?
OBJECTIVE TEST
1.Pests are important to man because (a) they are rich
source of protein (b) they contribute greatly to soil
fertilizer (c) they affect valuable agricultural produce (d)
they reproduce profusely (e) they are lower than man.
2.Which of the plant part is usually NOT attacked by
pests? (a) flowers (b) stems (c) leaves (d) roots (e)
fruits.
3.Which of the following crops is attacked by a stem-
boring pest? (a) mango (b) cassava (c) maize (d) yam
(e) groundnut.
4.An example of an invertebrate pest is ______ (a) adult
housefly (b) aphids (c) Mosquito (d) Butterfly (e) amoeba
5.Which of the following vertebrate is not a known pest
(a) Dog (b) birds (c) Squirrel (d) rabbit (e) Monkey
LIFE CYCLES OF PESTS
Most insect pests have the following stages in their life
cycle i.e. egg, larva, pupa, adult.
The adult pests usually feed on leaves and fruit of crops.
Larva chews the bark of stems and feed on the phloem
thereby damaging the crop. Insect pests go through
either complete or incomplete life cycles but the larval
and adult stages have been seen as causing most
serious damages to crops.
Some examples of insect pest life cycles:
•Yam beetle (undergoes complete metamorphosis),
The adult feed on yam tubers in the ground.
•Cotton Stainer (undergoes incomplete metamorphosis), the
adults attack and damage cotton toll.
EVALUATION
1.What is meant by life
cycle?
2.Explain the two types of
life cycles.
3.Draw the life cycle of a
named pest.
CONTROL OF PESTS
Control of pest refers to the management and prevention
of pests with the sole aim of minimizing their effect on
crops and livestock thereby maximizing food production.
Pest control focuses on:
1.Reduction in pest population.
2.Protection of crops.
For effective control of pests, a good knowledge of

pests’ habits and life cycles is vital. Careful study of the
above will reveal the following for good use in control:
3.Peak period of attack.
4.Resting stage after attack.
5.Most vulnerable stage for control.
Various methods have been used effectively in
controlling pests.
1.Physical methods: It involves collection of pest by
hand or traps and killing them. Burning, flooding and the
use of scare-crows are all methods of controlling pests
physically.
2.Cultural Methods: these involve modified farm
practices like bush fallowing, crop rotation, mixed
cropping, closed-season practice and changing planting
time. Such methods are most effective because most
pests are plant specific.
3.Biological methods: this involves the use of natural
predators and parasites on the pests. It is inexpensive
and long lasting.
4. Chemical methods: this involves the use of
pesticides such as insecticides, fungicides, herbicides,
and rodenticide. Though effective the numerous
negative side effects of chemical pest control have
posed serious concern.
Apart from the specified methods discussed above,

there are modern developments in pest control.
Sterile male technique and Use of plant extract
( biocides ) e.g Tobacco, garlic, ginger extract and
Pest repellents are in use. The combination of control
practices (integrated method) and knowledge of life
cycle of pests has also proven effective.
EVALUATION
1.What is pest control?
2.For an effective control of
pests, what should be the focus?
3.List 3 methods of pests’
control.
4.Mention 3 pests and indicate
the chemical agent used in their
control.
DISEASES CAUSED BY PESTS AND AGENTS.
1.Fungal diseases: Fungal diseases attack the leaves,
roots and stem of plants. E.g Smut, rust, blight, root rot,
and downy mildew are fungal diseases.
2.Viral diseases: Common symptoms include Mosaic
motting, lesions, chlorosis, stunting and necrosis. Many
plant viral infections are spread by insect vectors like
aphids, beetles and hoppers. Crops affected by viral
diseases are Tobacco, Cassava, and garden egg.
3.Bacterial diseases: They form spotting of leaves,
stems and fruits. Bacteria also cause soft rots, bacterial
blight, bacterial wilt and bacteria galls.
Fungal Diseases of Plants
Most types of plant-related diseases are caused by fungi. The leaves of this plant have been infected by tar-spot
fungus. Fungi can infect all parts of the plant including leaves, stems, flowers, roots, and fruit. The physical
manifestations of fungal diseases of plants include wilting, club root, root rot, wood rot, cankers, various types of
mildews, blights, lesions, and leaf spots. The effects of fungal diseases can be devastating as evidenced by the
potato blight that destroyed the Irish potato harvest of 1845 and caused a widespread famine in Ireland.
EVALUATION
1.What are the causative agents
of pest diseases in crops?
2.List 3 symptoms of viral
diseases.
3.Which plant parts are usually
affected by fungal diseases?
CONTROL OF DISEASES CAUSED BY PESTS
Control of diseases caused by pests involves:
1.Physical methods: this involves removal of diseased plants.
Weed hosts are also removed. Bush burning and soil flooding are
other methods.
2.Cultural methods: this involves the modification of farming
practices to destroy disease-causing agents. Early planting and
use of balanced fertilizers enable plants to be well established
before the peak period of infection. Planting resistant varieties
also help control diseases.
3.Chemical methods: this involves the use of chemical
agents to either eradicate infected crops or disease causing
agents. These are best methods of diseases control.
4.Integrated method: this involves the combination of two or
more methods highlighted above, for effective disease control.
Other methods are:
1.Prevention of crops from being
infected by disease-causing agents.
2.Destruction of disease-causing
agents and their respective vectors.
3.Prevention of disease plants or
animals from entering into country by
government.
4.Distribution of disease-free planting
materials.
EVALUATION
1.How are fungal diseases by pests controlled in
crops?
2.What is usually involved in the cultural methods
of the control of plant diseases caused by pest?
3.In a tabular form, outlines 5 common pests of
crops, their symptoms and their control.
4.Explain 4 pest control methods applicable to
crops.
5.Discuss the benefits and disadvantages of the
use of Biological and chemical methods of pest
control.
6.What is crop rotation? Explain its benefits to
pest control.
WEEKEND ACTIVITY
1a) List 5 crop pests
b) Discuss the above listed pests under the following
( in tabular form ): Crops attacked, Economic
importance, prevention/Control.
c) Discuss the effects or economic importance of insect
pests in crop production.
d) List 5 crop diseases and discuss them under the
following ( in tabular form ): causal organism, method of
transmission, symptoms/ economic importance,
prevention/ control.
e) State four methods of controlling plant diseases.
2. Read about “Reproductive System in vertebrates” and

differentiate between male and female reproductive
organ in fishes.

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WEEK 8

TOPIC: PEST AND

For effective control of pests, a good knowledge of

Apart from the specified methods discussed above,

2. Read about “Reproductive System in vertebrates” and

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