Alabama Ornamental & Turf Pest Supervisor (OTPS) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The answer is rooted in the behavior and feeding mechanisms of the insects described. Piercing-sucking insects are characterized by their specialized mouthparts, which are adapted to penetrate plant tissues and suck out plant fluids. This group includes insects such as aphids, leafhoppers, and mealybugs, which all employ a similar feeding strategy.

By utilizing needle-like mouthparts, these insects can effectively access the vascular system of plants, allowing them to extract nutrients directly from the plant's sap. This feeding behavior can lead to various negative effects on the plants, including stunted growth, yellowing leaves, or even plant death in severe cases.

While mealybugs, indicated in one of the choices, do fit the description of piercing-sucking insects, the term "piercing-sucking insect" encompasses a broader range of insects that share this feeding characteristic. Therefore, identifying the question correctly aligns with the specific definition of the feeding mechanism rather than a single example species.