General Pests Terms
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A
- Abiotic Stress
- Non-living environmental factors, such as drought, temperature extremes, or soil conditions, that can weaken plants and make them more susceptible to pest attacks.
- Acaricide
- A pesticide specifically designed to kill mites and ticks, which are common crop pests.
- Allelopathy
- A biological phenomenon where one plant releases chemicals that inhibit the growth of neighbouring plants or reduce the population of pests.
- Anthropogenic Pest
- Pests that thrive or spread as a result of human activities, such as agricultural practices, trade, or urbanisation.
- Antibiosis
- A plant defence strategy where chemical or physical properties of the plant negatively affect the biology of pests, reducing their survival, growth, or reproduction.
- Antixenosis (Non-Preference)
- A plant defence mechanism where the plant exhibits traits that make it unattractive to pests, discouraging feeding or egg-laying.
- Augmentative Release
- The release of large numbers of biological control agents to provide immediate control of pest populations, often used when pests are at high levels.
B
- Biological Buffer Zone
- An area surrounding a crop field where beneficial plants or natural enemies of pests are encouraged, acting as a buffer to reduce pest invasions.
- Biological control
- The use of natural predators, parasites, or pathogens to control crop pests, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides.
- Biological Invasion
- The introduction and spread of non-native pest species in a new ecosystem, often resulting in significant damage due to the absence of natural predators or controls.
- Biopesticide
- A type of pesticide derived from natural materials like animals, plants, bacteria, or certain minerals, often used in organic farming.
- Biotic Stress
- Stress experienced by plants due to living organisms such as pests, pathogens, or weeds, which can lead to reduced growth and yield.
- Bollworm
- A group of caterpillar pests (eg, cotton bollworm) that feed on cotton bolls and other fruits of crops, causing significant damage to yield.
- Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)
- A naturally occurring bacterium used in biological pest control. It produces proteins toxic to certain insects, particularly caterpillars, but is safe for humans and other animals.
C
- Chemical Control
- The use of synthetic or natural chemicals (pesticides) to kill or repel pests. This is often used as part of an integrated pest management strategy.
- Chemical Ecology
- The study of how chemical interactions between plants, pests, and their environment influence behaviour, population dynamics, and ecological relationships.
- Chemosterilants
- Chemical compounds that sterilise pests, preventing them from reproducing. Used in pest control strategies to reduce pest populations over time.
- Chewing Pests
- Pests that physically bite, chew, or cut plant tissues, leading to visible damage such as holes in leaves, stems, or fruits. Examples include caterpillars and grasshoppers.
- Chitin
- A fibrous substance forming the major component of the exoskeleton of insects and the cell walls of fungi. Pesticides that target chitin synthesis disrupt pest development.
- Chlorosis
- A condition in plants where leaves turn yellow due to a lack of chlorophyll, often caused by pest feeding, diseases, or nutrient deficiencies.
- Cocoon
- A protective casing spun by larvae of some insects (eg, moths, butterflies) where they undergo metamorphosis to the pupal and adult stages. Some pests have a cocoon stage.
- Companion Planting
- The practice of planting different crops together to improve pest control, where certain plants repel pests or attract beneficial insects that feed on pests.
- Crop Rotation
- A cultural pest management practice where different crops are planted in sequence on the same land to disrupt pest life cycles and reduce pest populations.
- Crop Sanitation
- The practice of removing plant residues, weeds, and other sources of pests from the field to reduce pest populations and prevent future infestations.
- Cultural Control
- Pest management practices that modify the environment or crop management methods to reduce pest populations. Examples include crop rotation, altering planting dates, and intercropping.
- Cuticle
- The outer, protective layer of insects that prevents water loss and shields them from environmental hazards. Insecticides often target the cuticle to compromise pest survival.
- Cytoplasmic Incompatibility
- A reproductive mechanism used in pest control where a bacterium (eg, Wolbachia) infects insects, leading to reproductive failure and reduced pest populations.
D
- Damping-off
- A disease caused by soil-borne pathogens that attack young seedlings, causing them to wilt, collapse, and die. It’s often exacerbated by pest activity.
- Decoy Crop
- A crop planted to attract pests away from the main crop, similar to a trap crop, but often with the intent of sacrificial damage rather than controlling the pest.
- Defoliation
- The loss of leaves from a plant due to pest damage, which reduces the plant’s ability to photosynthesise.
- Detritivore
- Organisms that feed on dead organic material, including plant debris. Some pests have a detritivore stage and can thrive in decaying matter before attacking healthy crops.
- Diapause
- A period of suspended development in an insect’s life cycle, allowing it to survive unfavourable conditions, such as extreme temperatures or food scarcity.
- Direct Damage
- Physical harm caused to crops by pests feeding on plant tissues, such as leaf holes, root damage, or fruit boring, leading to reduced yield and quality.
- Dispersal
- The movement of pests from one area to another, either by flying, walking, or being carried by wind or water, leading to the spread of pest infestations.
- Dormancy
- A period in which pests, especially insects and weed seeds, are inactive or in a resting stage, often as a survival strategy during unfavourable environmental conditions.
E
- Ecdysis
- The process of molting or shedding the outer exoskeleton by insects as they grow, often making them vulnerable to predation or environmental stress during the transition.
- Economic Injury Level (EIL)
- The pest population level at which the cost of pest control equals the revenue lost due to pest damage. Control measures are implemented before this level is reached to prevent economic losses.
- Economic Threshold
- The pest population level at which the cost of potential crop damage exceeds the cost of taking control measures. This threshold helps farmers decide when to intervene.
- Ecotone
- The transition area between two ecosystems, such as a forest edge and an agricultural field, which can serve as a habitat for pests or their natural predators.
- Ecoparasite
- A parasite that lives on the exterior of the host plant, feeding on its surface tissues (eg, mites, aphids).
- Epidemic Pest
- A pest species that is regularly found and naturally established in a particular area or region.
- Endoparasite
- A parasite that lives inside the host plant or organism, often causing damage from within (eg, root-knot nematodes).
- Endophytic Fungi
- Fungi that live inside plant tissues without causing apparent harm, some of which can enhance plant resistance to pests and diseases.
- Endosymbiont
- A microorganism living inside the body of a host organism, sometimes beneficial to pests by aiding in digestion or providing defence against natural enemies.
- Endopathogenic Fungi
- Fungi that specifically infect and kill insects, used as a biological control agent in pest management.
- Endopathogenic Nematodes
- Nematodes that parasitise insects, used as biological control agents to target soil-dwelling pest insects.
- Eradication
- The complete removal or elimination of a pest population from an area, often through intensive control measures.
- Exclusion Nets
- Physical barriers made of fine mesh that prevent pests from accessing crops while allowing air, light, and water to penetrate, commonly used for protecting fruits and vegetables.
- Exoskeleton
- The rigid outer structure that protects insects and other arthropods. Some pesticides target the exoskeleton to disrupt pest growth and survival.
- Exotic Pest
- A non-native pest introduced into a new region where it previously did not exist, often causing significant agricultural damage due to lack of natural predators (eg, Tuta absoluta)
F
- Fecundity
- The reproductive capacity of a pest species, often measured by the number of eggs produced by a female. High fecundity can lead to rapid pest population growth.
- Feeding Guild
- A group of species that share a similar feeding strategy. For example, sap-feeding pests, leaf-chewing insects, or root feeders are different feeding guilds in pest management.
- Field Scouting
- The practice of regularly inspecting crop fields for signs of pests, diseases, or other issues, allowing farmers to take timely and targeted action.
- Flightless Strain
- A genetically or chemically modified version of a pest that cannot fly, often released to compete with wild populations and reduce reproduction.
- Food Webs
- The interconnected feeding relationships between plants, pests, predators, and other organisms in an ecosystem. Changes in one part of the food web can influence pest populations.
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