Insect Pests and Parasites: English Vocabulary List

a small bug that sucks the sap of a plant and reproduces without mating

"Aphids damage garden plants."

"Aphids feed on plant sap and excrete honeydew which attracts ants that protect the aphids from predators."

a large grasshopper that lives in hot countries and flies in large swarms, destroying crops

"Swarm of locust."

"Locusts can destroy crops during massive swarms."

a small insect that feeds on the undersides of leaves, causing damage to crops and transmitting plant viruses

"Silverleaf whiteflies spread plant viruses as they feed on crops."

"The silverleaf whitefly is a serious agricultural pest that transmits plant viruses and causes crop losses."

a small, slender insect with fringed wings that feeds on plant tissues and can transmit plant viruses

"Thrips damage the plant leaves."

"Thrips are tiny insects that scrape plant cells and suck the contents causing silvery streaking on leaves."

a very small creature that lives on plants, animals, or in carpets

"The scabies mite burrows into human skin and causes intense itching."

"Mites are tiny arachnids that live in soil water plants or on animals including humans."

a small sap-sucking insect covered in a powdery wax coating that feeds on plant sap and can cause damage to crops and ornamental plants

"The mealybug infested the houseplant."

"The mealybug is covered with white waxy filaments that protect it from predators and retain moisture."

a small brownish bug with an oval shape that feeds on the blood of humans or animals, mainly infesting houses and beds

"The hotel room was infested with bedbugs."

"Bedbugs are notoriously difficult to eliminate requiring professional heat treatment or chemical fumigation of the entire house."

a small leaping insect that feeds on the blood of humans or other animals, which spreads disease

"The dog scratched constantly because of a single flea."

"The dog scratched constantly because a single flea infestation had spread throughout its thick fur coat."

a tiny insect of the diptera order that bites and forms large swarms

"Gnats swarm in large annoying clouds during humid summer evenings."

"Gnats form annoying swarms near water but most species do not bite humans or animals."

a pale social insect living in hot countries that causes damage to trees and timber

"The termite ate the wood."

"A colony of termites can cause significant structural damage to wooden buildings."

a small parasitic insect that lives and feeds on the body of warm-blooded animals

"Head louse problem."

"The child had a head louse problem that required special treatment last month."