Explore key facts about pest control methods and challenges in wheat agriculture. Understand integrated management practices, pest identification, and common control pitfalls.
Which of the following is commonly considered a major pest causing significant damage to wheat crops worldwide?
Explanation: The Hessian fly is a widespread and damaging pest of wheat. Rice water weevil targets mainly rice, Colorado potato beetle primarily damages potatoes, and peach twig borer affects stone fruits rather than cereals.
Which cultural control practice helps reduce the risk of pest outbreaks in wheat fields?
Explanation: Crop rotation breaks pest life cycles and reduces pest buildup in wheat. Using excess nitrogen can increase susceptibility, delayed sowing may promote some pest infestations, and monoculture encourages persistent pest problems.
If a farmer uses the same insecticide repeatedly on wheat, which problem is most likely to develop over time?
Explanation: Overuse of a single insecticide promotes resistance in pest populations. Soil erosion and wheat protein levels are unrelated, and repeated insecticide use usually reduces—not improves—beneficial insect numbers.
What is a common example of a biological control agent used against wheat pests?
Explanation: Parasitic wasps prey on or parasitize pest insects in wheat fields. Broadcast burning is a cultural technique, plastic mulch is rarely used in wheat, and magnesium sulfate is a fertilizer, not a pest control agent.
During which wheat growth stage is pest monitoring especially important for effective control?
Explanation: Many pests, such as aphids and cutworms, cause most damage during the seedling stage, making monitoring critical. Harvesting and storage involve fewer pest pressures, while tillage preparation happens before pest issues arise.