Which insect pest damages a plant by sucking plant juices?

Which insect pest damages a plant by sucking plant juices?

• A. Black ant
• B. Lady bug
• C. Cabbage moth
• D. Scale insect

Answer: (D)

Pests that damage plants by sucking plant juices are sap-sucking insects. Scale insects attach to stems or leaves and use specialized mouthparts to pierce plant tissues and withdraw sap, which weakens the plant and can leave a sticky honeydew that fosters mold. The other insects don’t feed by sucking: cabbage moths chew leaves as caterpillars, lady beetles are predators of other pests, and black ants aren’t sap-suckers themselves (they often farm honeydew but aren’t the juice-drinking pests). Therefore, the pest that damages a plant by sucking plant juices is the scale insect.

Pests that damage plants by sucking plant juices are sap-sucking insects. Scale insects attach to stems or leaves and use specialized mouthparts to pierce plant tissues and withdraw sap, which weakens the plant and can leave a sticky honeydew that fosters mold. The other insects don’t feed by sucking: cabbage moths chew leaves as caterpillars, lady beetles are predators of other pests, and black ants aren’t sap-suckers themselves (they often farm honeydew but aren’t the juice-drinking pests). Therefore, the pest that damages a plant by sucking plant juices is the scale insect.