Introduction to Plant Pests
Plant Pests are:
• Plants which grow where they are not wanted
(weeds).
• Insects and their relatives without backbones
(invertebrates).
• Animals with backbones (vertebrates).
• Fungi and molds which cause diseases (disease
agents).
Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: Supplement
University of California, Davis
361.T1
Introduction to Plant Pests
Weeds
• Weeds are plants that grow
where theyare not wanted.
• A common California weed is
the Shepherd’s Purse
(Capsella bursa-pastoris).
Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: Supplement
University of California, Davis
361.T2
Introduction to Plant Pests
Invertebrate Pests
• Insects have three body parts;
head, thorax, and abdomen.
Bean leaf
beetle
• Nematodes are non-segmented
cylindrical worms.
• Snails and slugs are mollusks.
Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: Supplement
University of California, Davis
361.T3
Nematode
Introduction to Plant Pests
Vertebrate Pests
• Domestic animals: dogs, cats, and horses.
• Wild animals: skunk, raccoon, deer, ground squirrels,
gophers, moles, rabbits.
Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: Supplement
University of California, Davis
361.T4
Introduction to Plant Pests
Disease Agents
• These organisms are usually
difficult to identify because they
are microscopic.
• They are molds and fungi,
bacteria, and viruses.
Tilletia caries
Model Agricultural Core Curriculum: Supplement
University of California, Davis
361.T5