bactericide
a chemical used to control bacteria; germicides.
beneficial insect
an insect that helps crops grow or provides other important benefits.
biological pest management
the use of living organisms to limit pest populations; insects that eat other insects, bacteria and fungi that attack pests, and altering the reproductive processes of the pests
chewing insects
an insect that bites off, chews, and swallows parts of plants.
contact poison
a poison that must come into contact with the insect to be effective.
cultural pest management
a technique to keep pest populations at a low level in a crop; examples include rotating crops, roguing, trap cropping, using resistant crop varieties.
entomology
the branch of zoology that deals with insects and related small animals.
environmental disease
a disease caused by elements in the environment that are not appropriate and do not promote good health.
fumigant
a pesticide in gas form that enters the respiratory system of organisms.
fungicide
a chemical used to control disease caused by fungi.
genetic pest management
the use of genetics in the development of crops that are resistant to pests.
herbicide
a chemical used to control weeds.
insect pest
a small six-legged animal that damages plants in some way.
insecticide
a chemical that controls insects.
integrated pest management
a planned process for limiting pests; the use of crop protection methods that have the best outcomes for the well-being of society.
mechanical pest management
the use of tools or equipment to remove or destroy a pest; plowing, mowing, mulching.
metamorphosis
the series of changes from one form to another that an insect goes through in its life cycle.
nematocide
a chemical use to control nematodes.
nematode
a tiny wormlike organism that lives in the soil and attacks the roots and stems of plants.
pesticide
a chemical material used to control pests.
plant disease
an abnormal condition in a living plant.
plant health
the condition of the plant related to growth and productivity; condition of being free from disease.
plant pest
anything that causes injury or loss to a plant.
protectant
a chemical used on disease-free plants to prevent disease from developing.
rodent
a small mammal with two large front teeth; gnawing animal with four continuously growing incisors.
roguing
the removal of infected plants from a field, forest, or orchard.
seed-borne pest
a plant pest that is carried by seed and goes where the seed goes.
stomach poison
a poison that must be eaten by the insect to be effective; toxic material must be eaten.
sucking insects
an insect that sucks the sap from a plant.
surfactant
a surface-active material that helps solutions spread over the waxy surfaces of leaves.
systemic poison
a poison that is absorbed by a plant through its roots.
therapeutant
a chemical used on plants with disease present, therapeutic chemical.
translocated herbicide
a herbicide absorbed into the plant and moved through the vascular system to all plant parts.
trap cropping
planting a small plot of the crop near the field about two weeks before the main crop is planted to trap pests.
weed
a plant that is growing where it isn't wanted.