Beat the Borer! Wheat Pest Control Quiz Quiz

Sharpen your knowledge of effective pest management strategies in wheat farming. Explore key pests, symptoms, and integrated control methods crucial for sustainable agriculture.

1. Identifying the Wheat Stem Borer

   A farmer notices whiteheads and hollow stems in his wheat field. Which pest is most likely causing this damage?

   1. Armyworm
   2. Wheat Stem Borer
   3. Aphids
   4. Powdery Mildew

   Explanation: The wheat stem borer causes whiteheads and hollow stems by boring into the stem, disrupting nutrient flow. Aphids are sap suckers and cause yellowing rather than hollow stems. Armyworms feed on leaves, not stems. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease, not a pest, and causes a white powdery coating rather than stem damage.

2. Role of Natural Predators

   What is one advantage of encouraging ladybugs in wheat fields to manage aphid populations?

   1. They are natural predators of aphids
   2. They increase nitrogen levels
   3. They pollinate wheat flowers
   4. They bore into wheat stems

   Explanation: Ladybugs help control aphid populations through predation. They do not affect nitrogen levels directly, as this is linked to soil bacteria. Wheat is self-pollinating and doesn't require insect pollinators. Ladybugs do not bore into wheat stems; stem borers do.

3. Chemical Control Decision Making

   When should a wheat farmer consider applying insecticides for armyworm control?

   1. Automatically at seeding
   2. Every week regardless of monitoring
   3. When armyworm numbers exceed economic threshold
   4. Only during harvest

   Explanation: Insecticides should be applied only if pest numbers surpass economic thresholds, optimizing control and reducing unnecessary use. Automatic or routine applications can harm beneficial insects and increase costs. Waiting until harvest may be too late to prevent yield loss.

4. Symptoms of Aphid Infestation

   Which symptom is a typical sign of aphid infestation in wheat crops?

   1. Brown rust pustules
   2. Grain rot at harvest
   3. Sticky honeydew on leaves
   4. Leaf rolling from borers

   Explanation: Aphids secrete honeydew, leaving a sticky residue on leaves, often leading to sooty mold. Leaf rolling is more associated with some types of borers. Grain rot occurs due to some fungal diseases, and brown rust pustules are signs of rust fungus, not aphids.

5. Cultural Control Techniques

   How does rotating wheat with non-host crops help manage wheat pest populations?

   1. Increases pest resistance to chemicals
   2. Causes nutrient depletion
   3. Boosts fungal growth
   4. Breaks pest life cycles

   Explanation: Crop rotation with non-host plants interrupts the life cycles of pests specific to wheat, lowering their populations. It does not increase pest resistance to chemicals or cause nutrient depletion more than monoculture. Crop rotation often reduces, not boosts, fungal issues by disrupting pathogen build-up.