How do aphids damage plants?

How do aphids damage plants?

• A. By piercing and sucking out the nutrients
• B. By chewing the leaves
• C. By creating fungal diseases
• D. By injecting toxins

Answer: (A)

Aphids damage plants mainly by piercing plant tissues with their slender mouthparts and sucking the sap from the phloem. This direct removal of nutrients weakens growth, can cause leaves to curl, distort, or yellow, and slows overall plant development. Their feeding also leaves behind a sugary substance called honeydew, which promotes sooty mold on leaves and can attract other pests. In addition, aphids can spread plant viruses as they feed. They don’t chew leaves or inject toxins to harm the plant, so those mechanisms aren’t how they cause damage.

Aphids damage plants mainly by piercing plant tissues with their slender mouthparts and sucking the sap from the phloem. This direct removal of nutrients weakens growth, can cause leaves to curl, distort, or yellow, and slows overall plant development. Their feeding also leaves behind a sugary substance called honeydew, which promotes sooty mold on leaves and can attract other pests. In addition, aphids can spread plant viruses as they feed. They don’t chew leaves or inject toxins to harm the plant, so those mechanisms aren’t how they cause damage.