Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH) Practice Exam

Which of the following is considered a major pest for vegetable crops?

1. Aphids

2. Worms

3. Bees

4. Ladybugs

The correct answer is: Aphids

Aphids are considered a major pest for vegetable crops due to their ability to reproduce quickly and cause significant damage by feeding on plant sap. This can lead to stunted growth, distorted leaves, and weakened plants, making them more susceptible to other diseases and pests. Additionally, aphids can transmit various plant viruses, compounding the impact they have on agriculture. While worms can also affect vegetable crops, particularly in the form of caterpillars or cutworms, they are typically not categorized alongside aphids in terms of prevalence and damage across a broader range of vegetable crops. Bees and ladybugs, on the other hand, play beneficial roles in the ecosystem—bees as pollinators and ladybugs as predators of aphids—thereby not being considered pests themselves.