Kentucky Agricultural Plant Pest Control Category 1A Practice Exam

The stink bug is known for its piercing-sucking mouthparts, which allow it to feed on the sap of various plants. This feeding behavior can lead to significant damage, resulting in distorted growth, blemished fruit, and overall deformity in plant parts. The physiological stress caused by the stink bug’s feeding can disrupt the normal development of plants, especially in sensitive stages such as flowering and fruit setting.

In contrast, the other insects listed do not typically cause deformation of plant parts through their feeding behavior. Ladybugs primarily feed on aphids and other small pests, often providing beneficial pest control rather than harming the plant. Ants are usually scavengers and can even protect certain plants from harmful pests, while honeybees play a crucial role in pollination, which is essential for plant reproduction, but they do not damage the plant structures themselves through feeding. Thus, the unique feeding mechanism of the stink bug directly correlates with its ability to deform plant parts, making it the correct choice.