1. Plant pests and diseases

2. Pests Sucking pests
Sucking pests place stylets into leaves, stems or roots and suck the sugary sap
When the stylet is removed the liquid often continues to pump out
This attracts sooty mould and ants

3. Aphids

4. Scale insects Chinese scale Waxy scale

5. Chewing insects
Often only stages in part of the life cycle of the insects damages plants
This stage is often the caterpillar which does not fly and is therefore easier to control
The adult is more mobile and lays the eggs which turn into the caterpillar

6. How chewing pests effect plant growth
Chewing pests make holes in leaves and stems
This gives the leaves less area to absorb light and photosynthesise. Giving the plants less food to grow
The stems may not be able to transport water and nutrients up to the leaves or food around the plant

7. Chewing insects – Caterpillars

8. Thrips

9. Rasping pests
The tongues of these animals have small teeth which act like sandpaper making holes in leaves

11. Controlling pests
Biological control uses one organism to control another
E.g ladybirds eat aphids

12. Using sprays
“Soft” sprays, like Bt which attacks a caterpillar’s gut, but do not harm the environment are used in the “Kiwigreen” initiative
Inorganic sprays e.g. Carbaryl are toxic to insects and the rest of the environment and are only used when nothing else will control the insects

13. Monitoring Insects are attracted to the colour yellow
A yellow plastic sheet is coated with oil and the insects fly to it and get stuck
The numbers and varieties can be analysed and course of action decided