Economic Entomology - Harmful Insects

Harmful Insects

Insects considered pests of some sort occur among all major living orders with the exception of Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Odonata, Plecoptera (stoneflies), Embioptera (webspinners), Trichoptera (caddisflies), Neuroptera (in the broad sense), and Mecoptera (also, the tiny groups Zoraptera, Grylloblattodea, and Mantophasmatodea). Conversely, of course, essentially all insect orders primarily have members which are beneficial, in some respects, with the exception of Phthiraptera (lice), Siphonaptera (fleas), and Strepsiptera, the three orders whose members are exclusively parasitic.

Insects are considered as pests for a variety of reasons including their

• direct damage by feeding on crop plants in the field or by infesting stored products
• indirect damage by spreading viral diseases of crop plants (especially by sucking insects such as leafhoppers)
• spreading disease among humans and livestock
• annoyance to humans

Examples

• The Phylloxera plague

• Migratory locust
• Colorado potato beetle
• Boll weevil
• Japanese beetle
• Aphids
• Mosquitoes
• Cockroach
• Western corn rootworm

See also

In the past entomologists working on pest insects attempted to eradicate species. This has rarely worked except in islands or controlled environments and raises ethical issues. Over time the language has changed to terms like control and management. The indiscriminate use of toxic and persistent chemicals and the resurgence of pests in the history of cotton growing in the US has been particularly well studied.