Major Crop Insect Pests and Integrated Pest Management MCQs 2026

Dead heart in vegetative rice and white head at panicle stage are typical symptoms of:

1. ARice leaf folder attack✓
2. BRice stem borer attack✓
3. CRice hispa attack✓
4. DRice caseworm attack✓

Intercropping and trap cropping are classified mainly as:

1. AOnly systemic pesticide methods✓
2. BCultural or ecological pest management tactics✓
3. CStored grain fumigation methods✓
4. DLaboratory diagnostic tests✓

In rice stem borer attack, white head refers to:

1. AA chaffy panicle that dries and turns white after panicle-stage injury✓
2. BA fungal growth on seed bags✓
3. CA mealybug colony on roots✓
4. DA nitrogen deficiency spot on leaves✓

Proper sprayer nozzle calibration in pest management ensures:

1. AHigher pest resistance by design✓
2. BAutomatic pest identification✓
3. CNo need for protective equipment✓
4. DCorrect dose and uniform coverage per unit area✓

Aphid colonies often lead to sooty mold because aphids:

1. ABore into woody stems only✓
2. BConvert leaves into galls in rice✓
3. CExcrete sugary honeydew on plant surfaces✓
4. DFeed only on pollen after harvest✓

Neem-based products in IPM commonly act as:

1. APure nitrogen fertilizers✓
2. BAntifeedants, repellents, and growth disruptors✓
3. COnly contact herbicides✓
4. DSoil salinity amendments✓

Refuge planting with Bt crops is recommended mainly to:

1. ASlow resistance development in target insect populations✓
2. BIncrease expression of weeds✓
3. CRemove all beneficial insects✓
4. DEliminate seed certification needs✓

Trap cropping works in IPM by:

1. AIncreasing weeds for alternate hosts✓
2. BReplacing pest identification✓
3. CMaking all insecticides ineffective✓
4. DAttracting pests to a preferred crop where they can be managed✓

Thrips injury on cotton or vegetables commonly appears as:

1. ALarge tunnels inside mature bolls only✓
2. BWhite heads in rice panicles✓
3. CSilvery streaks or bronzing from rasping and sucking✓
4. DRoot knots caused by nematodes✓

The most appropriate basis for deciding an insecticide spray in IPM is:

1. AThe date of the previous season spray✓
2. BPest population compared with the recommended threshold✓
3. CThe color of the sprayer tank✓
4. DThe number of neighboring farms✓

Green lacewing larvae are useful in IPM because they prey on:

1. AAphids, whiteflies, jassids, and small caterpillars✓
2. BOnly mature sugarcane stalks✓
3. CPlant roots as primary food✓
4. DRice grains in storage only✓

Deep summer ploughing can reduce some insect pest populations by:

1. AIncreasing survival of pupae in soil✓
2. BMaking all pests resistant to sprays✓
3. CPreventing seed germination permanently✓
4. DExposing soil stages to heat, desiccation, and predators✓

Light traps are most useful for:

1. AMeasuring soil pH✓
2. BCounting root nematode eggs only✓
3. CMonitoring nocturnal adult moth activity✓
4. DApplying granular fertilizer✓

Fruit fly damage in cucurbits and fruits begins when females:

1. ACut stems at the soil surface✓
2. BLay eggs under the fruit skin✓
3. CMake silver shoots in leaves✓
4. DFeed only on dried grain✓

Sugarcane pyrilla is primarily a:

1. ALeaf-sucking hopper pest✓
2. BRoot-boring beetle larva✓
3. CStored grain moth✓
4. DFungal leaf spot✓

Pest resurgence after spraying commonly occurs when broad-spectrum insecticides:

1. AIncrease soil organic matter instantly✓
2. BPrevent all future pest immigration✓
3. CAct only as pheromones✓
4. DKill natural enemies more than the target pest✓

Integrated pest management is best described as:

1. AUsing the strongest pesticide first in every case✓
2. BAvoiding field scouting to save time✓
3. CCombining compatible tactics based on pest ecology and thresholds✓
4. DGrowing one crop continuously to concentrate pests✓

Hand picking egg masses and larvae in small plots is an example of:

1. AGenetic engineering only✓
2. BMechanical control✓
3. CSoil fertility management✓
4. DSystemic insecticide action✓

The economic injury level is best defined as the:

1. ALowest pest density that causes economic damage✓
2. BHighest pesticide dose allowed by law✓
3. CNumber of beneficial insects per acre✓
4. DFinal harvest moisture percentage✓

Cotton whitefly is important not only as a sucking pest but also because it:

1. AProduces rice white heads✓
2. BFixes atmospheric nitrogen✓
3. CControls mealybug naturally✓
4. DTransmits cotton leaf curl virus complex✓

Predators, parasitoids, and pathogens used against pests are examples of:

1. AChemical fertilizers✓
2. BSoil amendments only✓
3. CBiological control agents✓
4. DHarvest indices✓

Termite damage in wheat and other field crops often appears as:

1. AFolded leaves with scraped green tissue✓
2. BDrying plants in patches that pull out easily✓
3. CSilver shoots replacing leaves✓
4. DHoneydew on upper leaves only✓

To protect pollinators while managing crop pests, the best practice is to:

1. AAvoid spraying during bloom and active bee foraging✓
2. BSpray insecticide directly on hives✓
3. CUse maximum dose at midday on flowering crops✓
4. DRemove all flowering plants around farms✓

Diamondback moth is a difficult pest of crucifers largely because it:

1. AFeeds only on rice roots✓
2. BCannot reproduce under warm conditions✓
3. CIs controlled by nitrogen fertilizer alone✓
4. DDevelops resistance rapidly to many insecticides✓

Seed treatment in pest management is mainly intended to:

1. AKill all pests present at flowering✓
2. BIncrease pesticide drift✓
3. CProtect germinating seed and seedlings from early pests✓
4. DReplace crop rotation permanently✓

A common field character of fall armyworm larvae is:

1. AA hard shell covering the whole body like a beetle✓
2. BAn inverted Y mark on the head with four dark spots near the rear✓
3. CCottony wax filaments on roots only✓
4. DTransparent wings at larval stage✓

Conservation of natural enemies in IPM is promoted by:

1. AAvoiding unnecessary broad-spectrum insecticide applications✓
2. BSpraying every field weekly without scouting✓
3. CRemoving all field borders and refuges✓
4. DIncreasing dust on crop leaves✓

Rotating insecticides with different IRAC mode-of-action groups helps:

1. AIncrease pest mutation deliberately✓
2. BReplace the need for correct dose✓
3. CMake all sprays organic✓
4. DDelay development of resistance in pest populations✓

Mustard aphid damage is most severe when colonies feed on:

1. ADeep tap roots only✓
2. BDry seed in storage only✓
3. CTender shoots, leaves, and inflorescences by sucking sap✓
4. DRice panicles at flowering✓

Rice leaf folder is best recognized by leaves that are:

1. AConverted into silver shoots✓
2. BFolded longitudinally with scraped green tissue inside✓
3. CCut at the base below soil level✓
4. DCovered with cottony wax on roots✓

When crop market value is high and control cost is low, the economic injury level generally:

1. ABecomes lower✓
2. BBecomes infinite✓
3. CHas no relation to pest density✓
4. DIs used only after harvest✓

Yellow sticky traps are commonly used for monitoring:

1. ASoil nematodes only✓
2. BStored grain beetle larvae inside kernels✓
3. CLarge rodents in wheat fields✓
4. DWhiteflies, aphids, and other small flying sucking pests✓

Insect growth regulators are useful in IPM because they:

1. ASupply nitrogen to the crop✓
2. BSterilize farm machinery only✓
3. CDisrupt molting or normal insect development✓
4. DIncrease seed moisture content✓

In bollworm management, the crop injury is mainly caused by the:

1. AAdult moth feeding on dry leaves✓
2. BLarval stage feeding on squares, flowers, or bolls✓
3. CEgg stage sucking plant sap✓
4. DPupal stage cutting roots✓

Armyworm outbreaks in cereals and fodder crops usually cause:

1. ARapid defoliation and cutting of tender plants✓
2. BInternal rotting of harvested fruits✓
3. CSilver shoot formation in rice✓
4. DOnly root nodulation failure✓

Destroying infested crop residues after harvest helps manage insect pests by:

1. AIncreasing volunteer plants for pests✓
2. BProtecting only fungal pathogens✓
3. CMaking pheromone traps unnecessary✓
4. DReducing carryover stages such as larvae and pupae✓

Stem borer larvae in cereals cause serious losses because they:

1. AFeed only on pollen grains after harvest✓
2. BAttack only the seed coat in storage✓
3. CBore into stems and damage the growing point or panicle supply✓
4. DCause nitrogen fixation in roots✓

Cotton mealybug injury is commonly accompanied by:

1. AWhite heads in rice panicles✓
2. BHoneydew secretion and sooty mold growth✓
3. CShot holes in mustard pods✓
4. DComplete absence of ants✓

Host plant resistance helps IPM mainly by:

1. AReducing pest establishment, survival, or reproduction✓
2. BIncreasing pesticide residue on produce✓
3. CEliminating the need for field monitoring✓
4. DMaking weeds more competitive✓

A sound IPM decision in a crop field should begin with:

1. AImmediate calendar spraying at fixed dates✓
2. BRemoving all flowering border plants✓
3. CUsing only one insecticide every season✓
4. DRegular scouting and correct pest identification✓

Silver shoot symptom in rice is most closely associated with:

1. ACotton mealybug✓
2. BSugarcane pyrilla✓
3. CRice gall midge✓
4. DMustard sawfly✓

The damaging stage of white grubs in field crops is generally the:

1. AEgg stage on leaf surface✓
2. BLarval stage feeding on roots✓
3. CAdult stage feeding on nectar only✓
4. DPupal stage in plant stems✓

Shoot fly damage in young sorghum is commonly recognized by:

1. ADead heart formation in seedlings✓
2. BRound holes in mature grain✓
3. CGalls on panicles✓
4. DRust pustules on leaves✓

Rice brown planthopper becomes most damaging when it:

1. ACuts panicles with chewing mandibles✓
2. BBores directly into rice grain after harvest✓
3. CScrapes only the upper leaf wax✓
4. DSucks phloem sap in large numbers causing hopper burn✓

Sex pheromone traps in crop pest management are primarily used to:

1. AMeasure soil fertility level✓
2. BKill all beneficial insects✓
3. CMonitor adult male moth activity and time interventions✓
4. DDiagnose bacterial blight✓

Pink bollworm damage in cotton is especially difficult to detect early because larvae usually:

1. ARemain only on the lower leaf surface✓
2. BFeed inside flowers, bolls, and seeds✓
3. CAttack only exposed roots✓
4. DFeed only on weeds around the field✓

Hopper burn in cotton caused by jassid results mainly from:

1. ASap sucking and toxin injection from leaves✓
2. BBoring into unopened bolls✓
3. CCutting seedlings at ground level✓
4. DFeeding on stored seed only✓

Trichogramma species used in IPM are mainly:

1. APredators of adult beetles✓
2. BFungal pathogens of aphids✓
3. CNematodes that attack weeds✓
4. DEgg parasitoids of lepidopteran pests✓

The gram pod borer, a key pest of chickpea and cotton, is scientifically known as:

1. ALeucinodes orbonalis✓
2. BScirpophaga incertulas✓
3. CHelicoverpa armigera✓
4. DNilaparvata lugens✓

In IPM, the economic threshold level means the pest density at which:

1. AControl action should start to prevent economic loss✓
2. BAll insects in the field must be eliminated✓
3. COnly biological control can be used✓
4. DHarvest should immediately be stopped✓

A decision support system for IPM may use

1. Aonly astrology✓
2. Bonly fertilizer bag colors✓
3. Conly tractor brand loyalty✓
4. Dweather, pest models and field data to guide actions✓

Botanical pesticides in IPM are valued when they

1. Aalways outperform all synthetics on every pest✓
2. Bneed no dose accuracy✓
3. Coffer shorter residual and fit eco-friendly programs✓
4. Dare safe to drink✓

Sterile insect technique is an area-wide method that

1. Aincreases fertile swarms✓
2. Breplaces all crop rotation✓
3. Ccures soil salinity✓
4. Dreleases sterilized males to reduce successful reproduction✓

IPM success is measured not only by kill rate but by

1. Ayield protection, cost, residues and ecological impact✓
2. Bnumber of sprays alone✓
3. Cempty pesticide containers counted✓
4. Dhow fast beneficials disappear✓

Training farmers on ETL reduces

1. Athe need for any crop knowledge✓
2. Bmarket demand for produce✓
3. Csoil organic matter automatically✓
4. Dunnecessary pesticide applications✓

In Pakistan cotton systems, IPM historically stressed

1. Amaximum early pyrethroid calendars as ideal✓
2. Bzero monitoring of jassid/whitefly✓
3. Cignoring bollworm thresholds✓
4. Davoiding early unnecessary sprays to conserve beneficials✓

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is best defined as

1. Aexclusive reliance on daily calendar sprays✓
2. Ba coordinated use of multiple tactics to keep pests below damaging levels✓
3. Ccomplete ban on all monitoring✓
4. Duse of only one insecticide forever✓

The primary goal of IPM is to

1. Aeradicate every insect including beneficials✓
2. Bmanage pests economically with minimal environmental and health risk✓
3. Cmaximize pesticide sales volume✓
4. Dignore crop damage costs✓

Economic Threshold Level (ETL) in IPM is the

1. Apest density at which control measures should be initiated✓
2. Bpoint where all beneficials must be killed✓
3. Csame as zero insects in every field✓
4. Dlevel where fungicides replace insecticides always✓

Economic Injury Level (EIL) represents

1. Athe first sighting of any pest✓
2. Ba fixed 50% leaf damage rule for all crops✓
3. Cthe pest density where damage cost equals control cost✓
4. Dthe label dose of any pesticide✓

Scouting in IPM means

1. Aspraying without visiting fields✓
2. Bcounting only tractor hours✓
3. Cmeasuring only canal discharge✓
4. Dsystematic field monitoring of pests, damage and natural enemies✓

A key principle of IPM is

1. Acalendar spraying regardless of pest numbers✓
2. Bdestroying all predators first✓
3. Cprevention and monitoring before chemical intervention✓
4. Dusing maximum dose every week✓

Cultural control in IPM includes

1. Acrop rotation, resistant varieties and adjusted sowing dates✓
2. Bonly aerial ULV insecticide✓
3. Conly soil fumigation always✓
4. Donly light traps without any other tactic✓

Biological control relies on

1. Aonly broad-spectrum organophosphates✓
2. Bonly deep ploughing✓
3. Cpredators, parasitoids and pathogens of pests✓
4. Donly nitrogen fertilizers✓

Conservation biological control aims to

1. Aimport only exotic pests✓
2. Bprotect and enhance existing natural enemies in the field✓
3. Celiminate flowering strips always✓
4. Dspray pyrethroids daily on beneficials✓

Augmentative biological control involves

1. Abanning all parasitoids✓
2. Bincreasing pest refuges only✓
3. Creleasing mass-reared natural enemies when needed✓
4. Dreplacing ETL with guesswork✓

Classical biological control typically means

1. Adaily insecticide rotation only✓
2. Bhand weeding alone✓
3. Cseed priming with urea✓
4. Dintroducing exotic natural enemies against invasive pests✓

Mechanical/physical IPM tactics include

1. Aonly systemic seed treatments✓
2. Bonly resistance breeding✓
3. Ctraps, barriers, hand picking and destruction of infested parts✓
4. Donly weather forecasting✓

Host-plant resistance in IPM provides

1. Avarieties that tolerate or deter pest attack✓
2. Bguaranteed zero need for any other tactic forever✓
3. Cimmunity to drought only✓
4. Dhigher pesticide residues✓

Selective pesticides are preferred in IPM because they

1. Areduce harm to many beneficial organisms✓
2. Bkill bees and predators most efficiently✓
3. Chave no pre-harvest interval ever✓
4. Drequire no label reading✓

Broad-spectrum insecticides in IPM should be

1. Aapplied every day preventively✓
2. Bmixed randomly without PPE✓
3. Cused sparingly and only when justified by thresholds✓
4. Dused to wipe out all insects including pollinators as a goal✓

Pesticide resistance management in IPM emphasizes

1. Arepeating one product all season✓
2. Brotating modes of action and avoiding unnecessary sprays✓
3. Cunder-dosing chronically✓
4. Dignoring refugia and thresholds✓

Action thresholds may differ by

1. Aa single number for all crops worldwide✓
2. Bcrop stage, pest species and market value✓
3. Conly the brand of sprayer✓
4. Dprovince name alone without biology✓

Sampling plans in IPM help to

1. Areplace all field visits with rumors✓
2. Bestimate pest density reliably for decision making✓
3. Cguarantee epidemic outbreaks✓
4. Deliminate record keeping✓

Pheromone-based mating disruption is an IPM tool that

1. Aadds nitrogen to leaves✓
2. Bcures fungal rusts✓
3. Craises soil pH✓
4. Dconfuses males and reduces successful mating of moth pests✓

Push-pull strategies in IPM combine

1. Aonly flood irrigation✓
2. Bonly deep ripping✓
3. Conly urea top-dressing✓
4. Drepellent intercrops with attractive trap crops✓

IPM for cotton whitefly emphasizes

1. Adaily cocktails of all insecticides✓
2. Bmonitoring, ETL, natural enemies and avoiding unnecessary sprays✓
3. Cburning all cotton stalks every morning✓
4. Dignoring CLCuD risk entirely✓

Clean cultivation and destruction of alternate hosts help IPM by

1. Aincreasing overwintering sites✓
2. Breducing pest carry-over between seasons✓
3. Cguaranteeing more bollworms✓
4. Deliminating crop rotation benefits✓

Intercropping can support IPM when it

1. Aalways increases monoculture pest risk✓
2. Bdiversifies habitat and may reduce pest outbreaks✓
3. Cremoves all predators✓
4. Drequires daily broad-spectrum sprays✓

Refugia in resistance management are areas that

1. Aare sprayed most heavily✓
2. Bcontain only resistant pests✓
3. Cmaintain susceptible pest individuals to dilute resistance genes✓
4. Dban all crop plants✓

Bt crops fit IPM best when growers

1. Aabandon all scouting forever✓
2. Bspray Bt fields daily with the same MoA✓
3. Cfollow refuge rules and still monitor secondary pests✓
4. Dignore non-target pests completely✓

Record keeping in IPM is useful for

1. Ahiding illegal pesticide use✓
2. Bavoiding any learning across seasons✓
3. Creplacing thresholds with memory alone✓
4. Dtracking pest trends, spray history and resistance risk✓

Farmer Field Schools often promote IPM by

1. Aparticipatory learning of agroecosystem analysis✓
2. Blecturing only without field practice✓
3. Cdistributing free calendar spray charts only✓
4. Dbanning farmer observation✓

Chemical control is the last resort in classic IPM hierarchy after

1. Aprevention, cultural, biological and mechanical options are considered✓
2. Bthe first sighting of a single insect✓
3. Cbuying the cheapest drum available✓
4. Dharvest is completed✓

Compatibility of pesticides with biological control means

1. Achoosing products and timing that spare key natural enemies✓
2. Btank-mixing everything toxic✓
3. Cspraying at peak predator activity always✓
4. Dusing highest label rate always✓

Area-wide IPM is more effective when

1. Aeach farm sprays opposite chemistries randomly✓
2. Bquarantine is ignored✓
3. Cpest sources are left unmanaged nearby✓
4. Dneighboring farmers coordinate monitoring and tactics✓

Weed IPM integrates

1. Acultural, mechanical and judicious herbicide use✓
2. Bonly hand weeding forever with no other tool✓
3. Conly one herbicide forever✓
4. Dignoring crop competition✓

Disease IPM (IDM) shares with insect IPM the use of

1. Aresistant varieties, sanitation, rotation and need-based chemicals✓
2. Bonly insecticides on fungi✓
3. Conly light traps for bacteria✓
4. Donly pheromones for viruses✓

Overuse of insecticides can cause

1. Apermanent elimination of all pests forever✓
2. Bresurgence, secondary pest outbreaks and resistance✓
3. Cincreased biodiversity always✓
4. Dhigher natural enemy populations always✓

Pest resurgence after spraying often results from

1. Aincreasing predator numbers✓
2. Bimproving ETL accuracy✓
3. Ckilling natural enemies more than the target pest✓
4. Dbetter scouting✓