What is the most damaging agricultural pest?

Author: Joanie Schowalter  |  Last update: Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Here are some of the most destructive pests in agriculture:
  • Locusts. Locusts are notorious in the agriculture industry. ...
  • Japanese Beetles. ...
  • Mormon Crickets. ...
  • True Bugs. ...
  • Corn Rootworm. ...
  • Colorado Potato Beetle. ...
  • Stink Bugs.

What pest causes the most damage to farms?

What Insect Causes the Most Crop Damage?
  • Fall Armyworm. The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) has emerged as one of the most notorious pests in recent years, making it a contender for causing the most crop damage globally. ...
  • Locust Swarms. ...
  • Boll Weevil. ...
  • Aphid. ...
  • Corn Earworm.

What is the most damaging pest?

Termites: Silent Destroyers

Let's start with the big one on every homeowner's mind: termites. These little insects cause billions in property damage every year. Often, the case that such damages aren't apparent to the homeowner until it's too late.

What insect does the most damage to crops?

Top 10 insect pests to plants
  • Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) ...
  • Taro caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) ...
  • Red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) ...
  • Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) ...
  • Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) ...
  • Cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) ...
  • Brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens)

What is the most common pest in agriculture?

Major crop insect pests
  • Cabbage seedpod weevil.
  • Cutworm.
  • Diamondback moth.
  • Grasshoppers.
  • Pea leaf weevil.
  • Wheat midge.
  • Wheat stem sawfly.
  • Wireworm.

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What bug destroys crops?

Locusts are notorious in the agriculture industry. These pests date back to the 2000s BC and caused the destruction of some of the very first crops. Today, they continue to be a threat to nearly every type of plant.

What are the 2 most common food pests?

There are 3 main groups of pests that are encountered in food businesses: Rodents - rats and mice ● Insects - cockroaches, beetles, flies etc ● Birds - pigeons, seagulls etc.

Which of the following pests is the most destructive?

When it comes to destruction, termites top the list. The Formosan termite and eastern subterranean termite are arguably the most destructive termite species.

What insect causes the most damage?

Termites cause over $5 billion of damage to property in the U.S. each year, according to the National Pest Management Association. And damage by termites is typically not covered by homeowner's insurance.

What causes the most damage to crops?

Insects and Pests

Since the domestication of agricultural crops or the dawn of the agricultural revolution, insects and pests are the main villains of the crop. They have been competing with humans over farm produce. They damage crops in two ways: Direct injury and indirect damage.

What is the hardest bug to exterminate?

Termites, bed bugs, and cockroaches are the most difficult pests to eliminate. Termites can go undetected for years, reproduce quickly, and restart their colony. Bed bugs have tough exoskeletons, making them resistant to some insecticides.

What kills crops?

Insects such as worms and beetles can infest a crop and destroy it. To keep this from happening many farmers will spray their crops with insecticides. Insectisides are strong chemicals that will kill the insects that will harm the crop without killing the actual crop.

What is the most destructive pest in the world?

Locusts (Acrididae family)

This is because in special circumstances they can gather in numbers of a biblical scale, moving across landscapes engulfing fields and devastating crops in a matter of minutes.

What is the biggest threat to farming?

Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply
  • Soil erosion. Heavy rainfalls can lead to more soil erosion, which is a major environmental threat to sustainable crop production. ...
  • Drought. ...
  • Wildfires. ...
  • Decreased crop yields. ...
  • Heat stress. ...
  • Soil erosion. ...
  • Drought.

What is the most common garden pest?

Here are 10 of the most common plant pests, and how you can keep them in check.
  1. Aphids. Aphids live only about a week, but a mature female can reproduce rapidly. ...
  2. Leaf miners. Leaf miners are the larvae of various pests, including moths, flies, and beetles. ...
  3. Scale. ...
  4. Whiteflies. ...
  5. Earwigs. ...
  6. Cutworms. ...
  7. Fungus gnats. ...
  8. Mealybugs.

How do farmers keep bugs away?

U.S. farmers employ a range of pest management strategies to control weeds, insects, fungi, viruses, and bacteria. They till their soils, rotate their crops, scout their fields, and carefully consider factors such as plant density and planting dates. They also apply organic and synthetic pesticides.

What is the most killing insect?

Small But Deadly: The Deadliest Insects In The World
  • Killer Bee. Killer bees originated in Brazil but can now be found in much of the southwestern United States. ...
  • Fire Ant. Fire ants are another species that originated in South America. ...
  • Asian Giant Hornet. ...
  • Assassin Bug. ...
  • Tsetse Fly. ...
  • Mosquito. ...
  • Flea. ...
  • Deadly but Avoidable.

Which pest causes the most damage to property each year?

Termites in particular pose a major threat, causing more than $5 billion in property damage each year – costs that are typically not covered by homeowners insurance policies.

What bugs should you not eat?

Bugs That You Should Not Eat in a Survival Situation
  • Slugs and Snails. Avoid slugs as some can eat poisonous mushrooms. ...
  • Tarantulas and Scorpions. Scorpions are edible but their stings can be very bad. ...
  • Bees and Wasps. You can eat bees and wasps but collecting them can get you hurt. ...
  • Caterpillars.

What is the most annoying pest in the world?

1) Mosquito's: Itchy bites, annoying buzzing sounds, and they carry diseases. 2) Fleas: Tough to handle infestations, itchy bites on pets and people. 3) Midge/Sand Fly: Painful bites, and they attack in groups. 4) Common House Flies: Hang around our food, loud buzzing, nasty habits, and they carry disease.

What state has the worst bug problem?

California is the worst state when it comes to bugs, and the winner, winner, chicken dinner is bed bugs. For an average month, Cali had 47,000 searches for all things buggy, with bed bugs taking the top honors with over 17,000 searches for that insect.

What is the top nuisance pest?

Let's discuss the most common types of nuisance pests to know more about them:
  • Ants. Ants are one of the most common types of nuisance pests found in homes and commercial buildings. ...
  • Cockroaches. ...
  • Flies. ...
  • Mosquitoes. ...
  • Spiders. ...
  • Rodents. ...
  • Carpet Beetles. ...
  • Wasps (Yellow Jackets, Paper Wasp, etc.)

What does a pest need the most?

What conditions do food pests need to survive? Most pests like warmer temperatures, and habitats where water is available. But the main thing they look for, of course, is food!

What bugs come out at night in the kitchen?

Pests like rats, mice, cockroaches, silverfish, and even spiders can be active at night, taking advantage of the cover of darkness to scurry around your home in search of food or shelter. Because these creatures are nocturnal, catching them in the act can be difficult.

Which of the following are all high-risk foods?

High-risk foods
  • dairy products (such as custard and cream)
  • meat.
  • poultry.
  • seafood.
  • cooked rice.
  • cooked pasta.
  • sliced delicatessen meats.
  • prepared salads, such as coleslaw, pasta salads and rice salads.

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