(a) Discuss seven economic importance of…

Question 1 Report

(a) Discuss seven economic importance of insect pests in crop production.

(b) Name two hosts of cotton stainer.

Answer

Answer Details

(a) Seven economic importance of insect pests in crop production

Although mostly harmful, insects have both negative and positive economic effects:

They reduce crop yield by feeding on leaves, stems, roots, flowers and fruits.
They lower the quality and market value of produce.
They transmit plant diseases (act as vectors of viruses and other pathogens).
They cause storage losses by damaging stored grains and produce.
They increase the cost of production through spending on pesticides and control.
On the positive side, some (for example bees) pollinate crops, increasing fruit and seed set.
Also positively, some produce useful products (honey, wax, silk) and predatory/parasitic insects control other pests biologically.

(b) Two hosts of the cotton stainer

(c) Soil-dwelling insect pests and general control measures

Two soil-dwelling insect pests:

Five general control measures of insect pests:

Use of insecticides (chemical control).
Practise crop rotation and clean cultivation (cultural control).
Use resistant/tolerant crop varieties.
Biological control using natural enemies (predators and parasites).
Early planting, proper spacing and destruction of crop residues and alternate hosts.

(a) Discuss seven economic importance of insect pests in crop production. (b) Name two hosts of cotton stainer. (c) List two soil-dwelling insect pests of c...