Potato Pest Busters Quiz Quiz

Explore effective, science-based approaches for managing insect and disease pests in potato agriculture. Assess your knowledge of identification, prevention, and integrated control methods to keep potato crops healthy.

1. Identifying a Common Potato Pest

   A farmer finds rows of oval, bright yellow eggs on the underside of potato leaves, which later hatch into orange, hump-backed larvae feeding on foliage. Which pest is most likely responsible?

   1. Wireworm
   2. Potato aphid
   3. Colorado potato beetle
   4. Potato tuber moth

   Explanation: Colorado potato beetles lay yellow eggs in clusters on the undersides of leaves, and their larvae are characteristically orange and voracious leaf feeders. Wireworms target tubers, not foliage. Potato aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that don't lay visible eggs in clusters. Potato tuber moth larvae tunnel into tubers rather than feeding on leaves.

2. Selecting a Non-Chemical Approach

   Which cultural practice best helps reduce the risk of potato late blight by limiting leaf wetness duration?

   1. Planting potatoes in clay soil
   2. Applying urea fertilizer
   3. Avoiding overhead irrigation
   4. Increasing seed planting rate

   Explanation: Avoiding overhead irrigation minimizes leaf wetness, which is crucial for blight development. Clay soil type does not directly affect leaf wetness. Urea fertilizer management targets nutrition, not moisture. Denser planting can increase humidity and blight risk, not reduce it.

3. Understanding Pest Life Cycles

   Why is crop rotation effective in reducing populations of potato cyst nematodes?

   1. They require potatoes to complete their life cycle
   2. They are attracted to surface mulch
   3. They feed on adult beetles
   4. They cannot survive cold winters

   Explanation: Potato cyst nematodes depend on potato roots for their life cycle, so rotating with non-host crops breaks this cycle. Surface mulch does not affect nematodes' host search significantly. Many cyst nematodes can survive cold winters, and they feed on roots, not beetles.

4. Biological Control of Potato Pests

   Which organism is commonly released in potato fields to biologically control aphid populations?

   1. Cutworms
   2. Slugs
   3. Lady beetles
   4. Earthworms

   Explanation: Lady beetles are natural predators of aphids and are released for biological control. Earthworms contribute to soil health but do not prey on aphids. Cutworms and slugs are both considered pests rather than controls in potato crops.

5. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategy

   In an IPM program for potatoes, why is regular monitoring of pest populations important before applying pesticides?

   1. To prevent all insects from entering the field
   2. To apply chemicals only when economic thresholds are met
   3. To maximize the speed of pesticide application
   4. To avoid using resistant potato varieties

   Explanation: Monitoring allows farmers to use pesticides only if pest levels may cause economic harm, which supports sustainable management. Applying as quickly as possible risks unnecessary use. Preventing all insects is impractical and undesirable, as some insects are beneficial. Resistant varieties support IPM, not hinder it.