Damage from an insect with piercing-sucking mouthparts often presents as which symptom?

Damage from an insect with piercing-sucking mouthparts often presents as which symptom?

• A. Yellowed leaves
• B. Girdled stems
• C. Rust spots
• D. Notched leaves

Answer: (A)

When a plant is fed on by insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts, such as aphids or whiteflies, the feeding removes sap and disrupts the plant’s nutrient transport. This often causes chlorosis, or yellowing of the leaves, as the tissues lose chlorophyll and nutrients. The yellowing is a hallmark symptom of this feeding method because the issue is related to sap extraction and phloem disruption rather than physical chewing or pathogen infection. Notching leaves is typical of chewing insects that bite and remove tissue, girdled stems result from insects that damage bark and interrupt the vascular system, and rust spots are usually caused by fungal pathogens. So the yellowing pattern best matches piercing-sucking feeding.

When a plant is fed on by insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts, such as aphids or whiteflies, the feeding removes sap and disrupts the plant’s nutrient transport. This often causes chlorosis, or yellowing of the leaves, as the tissues lose chlorophyll and nutrients. The yellowing is a hallmark symptom of this feeding method because the issue is related to sap extraction and phloem disruption rather than physical chewing or pathogen infection.

Notching leaves is typical of chewing insects that bite and remove tissue, girdled stems result from insects that damage bark and interrupt the vascular system, and rust spots are usually caused by fungal pathogens. So the yellowing pattern best matches piercing-sucking feeding.