What are pests?
Pests are organisms that cause damage to crops, livestock, or humans by feeding on them or transmitting diseases.
How are pests classified?
Pests are classified based on the plant part they attack, such as stem borers, root feeders, leaf feeders, and more.
What is a stem borer?
A stem borer is a type of pest that burrows into plant stems, weakening the structure and reducing crop yield.
Give examples of common agricultural pests.
Examples include flies, aphids, mites, ticks, rodents, and birds.
Describe the life cycle of the grasshopper.
The grasshopper has an incomplete metamorphosis, passing through egg, nymph, and adult stages.
How does the grasshopper life cycle impact crops?
Both nymphs and adults feed on plant material, causing significant crop damage at multiple life stages.
What is unique about the cassava mealybug's reproduction?
The cassava mealybug reproduces through parthenogenesis, allowing rapid population growth.
What damage does the yam beetle cause?
The yam beetle burrows into yam tubers, causing direct damage and making the yams unmarketable.
What are physical pest control methods?
Physical methods include hand-picking pests, using traps, and setting up scarecrows to deter birds.
What are cultural pest control methods?
Cultural methods include crop rotation, mixed cropping, and timing planting to avoid pest infestation peaks.
What are biological pest control methods?
Biological methods involve using natural predators or plant extracts to control pest populations.
What are chemical pest control methods?
Chemical methods use pesticides, including insecticides and fungicides, to kill or inhibit pests.
What is the economic impact of pests?
Pests reduce crop yield and quality, increase farming costs, and can lead to significant financial losses.
What is maize smut?
Maize smut is a fungal disease affecting maize, causing swollen kernels filled with spores, reducing crop quality.
What is cassava mosaic disease?
Cassava mosaic disease is a viral disease spread by whiteflies, causing leaf yellowing and stunted plant growth.
What is cocoa swollen shoot virus?
The cocoa swollen shoot virus affects cocoa plants, causing swelling of shoots, leaf yellowing, and reduced cocoa production.
What is rice blight?
Rice blight is a bacterial disease that causes leaf browning, wilting, and reduces yield in rice crops.
What is groundnut rosette virus?
Groundnut rosette virus affects groundnuts, causing yellowing and stunting, significantly reducing yield.
What is anthrax?
Anthrax is a bacterial disease affecting livestock and humans, causing fever, swelling, and often fatal respiratory issues.
What is Newcastle disease?
Newcastle disease is a viral disease affecting poultry, causing respiratory distress, diarrhea, and high mortality.
What is foot and mouth disease?
Foot and mouth disease is a viral infection in livestock, causing fever, mouth ulcers, and reduced milk production.
What is the role of quarantine in disease control?
Quarantine involves isolating infected or potentially infected animals to prevent disease spread.
What are common quarantine procedures?
Procedures include screening, de-worming, and using separate equipment for quarantined animals.
What role does vaccination play in disease control?
Vaccination provides immunity to animals, reducing their susceptibility to certain diseases.
What is tuberculosis in livestock?
Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that affects the lungs, leading to chronic respiratory problems and weight loss in livestock.
How can sanitation control disease spread?
Maintaining clean conditions reduces the presence of pathogens, lowering the risk of disease transmission.
What are vectors?
Vectors are organisms, such as insects, that transmit diseases from one host to another.
How can vector control prevent disease?
Controlling vectors (e.g., by reducing insect populations) helps reduce the spread of vector-borne diseases.
What is a viral disease in crops?
An example is the groundnut rosette virus, which causes stunted growth and reduces crop yield.
What is a fungal disease in crops?
Maize smut is an example, causing swollen kernels and reducing maize quality.
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