Where to look - Pests! Insects Insects Nematodes Nematodes Weeds Weeds Diseases Diseases Rodents and other small mammals Rodents and other small mammals Original Presentation by Virginia Tech Modified by the Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office November 2005

Basic classification Kingdom Kingdom Phylum Phylum Class Class Order Order Family Family Genus Genus Species Species Kings Play Chess On Fine Green Silk Kings Play Chess On Fine Green Silk

Starting at the beginning: 4 types of Phyla: 4 types of Phyla: Arthropoda ( insects, spiders, mites, millipedes) Arthropoda ( insects, spiders, mites, millipedes) Aschelminthes (roundworms) Aschelminthes (roundworms) Platyhelminthes (Flatworms, flukes, tapeworms) Platyhelminthes (Flatworms, flukes, tapeworms) Mollusca (snails, slugs, clams) Mollusca (snails, slugs, clams) Arthropoda Phyla is divided into classes: Arthropoda Phyla is divided into classes: Crustacea (Crayfish, sowbugs) Crustacea (Crayfish, sowbugs) Arachnida (spiders, ticks, mites) Arachnida (spiders, ticks, mites) Insecta ( bugs, beetles, butterflies) Insecta ( bugs, beetles, butterflies)

Classification cont. Insecta Class is divided into Orders: Insecta Class is divided into Orders: Orthoptera (grasshoppers) Orthoptera (grasshoppers) Homoptera (aphids) Homoptera (aphids) Coleoptera (beetles) Coleoptera (beetles) Lepidoptera (moths, butterflies) Lepidoptera (moths, butterflies) Diptera (flies) Diptera (flies) Dermoptera (earwigs) Dermoptera (earwigs) Hemiptera (true bugs) Hemiptera (true bugs) Hymenoptera (ants, bees) Hymenoptera (ants, bees)

Rules to fall into Classes and Orders Arachnida: Arachnida: must have 2 body segments or parts must have 2 body segments or parts must have 4 pairs of legs must have 4 pairs of legs *some mites are major plant pests *some mites are major plant pests Insects: Insects: all have three body regions: head, thorax, abdomen all have three body regions: head, thorax, abdomen 3 pairs of legs 3 pairs of legs 1 pair of antennae 1 pair of antennae 0 to 2 pairs of wings 0 to 2 pairs of wings

Head Body Parts Antennae: segmented, vary in form. Antennae: segmented, vary in form. Primarily the smell organ Primarily the smell organ Mouthparts: Mouthparts: rasping-sucking rasping-sucking chewing-lapping chewing-lapping piercing-sucking piercing-sucking

Body Parts Thorax: made of 3 sections, each containing a pair of legs Thorax: made of 3 sections, each containing a pair of legs legs are jointed legs are jointed used for digging, feeling, swimming, and cleaning used for digging, feeling, swimming, and cleaning Wings - differ for each insect Wings - differ for each insect serve as an identification tool serve as an identification tool “-ptera” means with wings “-ptera” means with wings

Metamorphosis Development of the body after birth Development of the body after birth Gradual (or incomplete) - insect’s life cycle changes from egg through the nymph to adult Gradual (or incomplete) - insect’s life cycle changes from egg through the nymph to adult nymph, similar to adult except for size and color nymph, similar to adult except for size and color aphids, leafhoppers, mole crickets aphids, leafhoppers, mole crickets Complete - 4 life stages Complete - 4 life stages egg, larvae, pupae, adult egg, larvae, pupae, adult larvae looks nothing like adult larvae looks nothing like adult pupae is a transformation stage pupae is a transformation stage caterpillars-moths, grubs-beetles, maggots-flies caterpillars-moths, grubs-beetles, maggots-flies

Beneficial Insects Not all insects are bad for agriculture Not all insects are bad for agriculture They help: They help: pollinate plants pollinate plants improve soil improve soil destroy harmful insects destroy harmful insects

Other types of pests Nematodes Nematodes Weeds Weeds Southern root-knot nematodes on pepper plant roots. This weed is leafy spurge.

Other types of pests Diseases Diseases Rodents and other animals Rodents and other animals