Aphids and whiteflies damage plants by which mechanism?

• A. Sucking plant juices
• B. Chewing leaves
• C. Piercing stems
• D. Absorbing water

Answer: (A)

Aphids and whiteflies damage plants by sucking plant juices. They use their specialized piercing-sucking mouthparts to insert into plant tissue and withdraw sap, mainly from the phloem. This feeding weakens the plant, can cause leaves to curl or yellow, and growth to slow. While they feed, they also excrete a sugary substance called honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold and further reduce plant health. This differs from chewing damage, which comes from insects like caterpillars that bite and eat leaf tissue, or from simply absorbing water, which isn’t how these pests feed.