Ornamental and Turf Pesticide Applicators Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Ornamental and Turf Pesticide Applicators Exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question is designed with hints and detailed explanations to enhance your study sessions. Get ready to ace your exam!

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Which of the following insects is characterized as piercing-sucking?

Ant
Aphid
Butterfly
Beetle

The correct answer is: Aphid

The correct choice is aphid because it is known for its feeding method, which involves piercing and sucking the sap from plants. Aphids use specialized mouthparts called stylets to penetrate plant tissue and extract fluid, which is often rich in sugars and nutrients. This method of feeding can lead to weakened plants, as the sap provides essential energy and material for growth. In contrast, ants, butterflies, and beetles do not engage in this type of feeding. Ants are more known for their scavenging behavior and, while they can farm aphids for their honeydew, they do not possess the piercing-sucking mouthparts. Butterflies use a proboscis for nectar feeding, which is a different feeding strategy involving coiling and sipping rather than piercing. Beetles have chewing mouthparts designed for grinding and shredding their food rather than piercing it. This differentiation in mouthpart structure and feeding behavior clearly defines aphids as belonging to the category of insects that employ a piercing-sucking feeding mechanism.