Which pest is known for sucking plant juices and is often monitored?

• A. Scale insect
• B. Lady bug
• C. Cabbage moth
• D. Black ant

Answer: (A)

Pests that pierce plant tissues and suck out the sap are a common concern in monitoring programs because their feeding directly drains the plant’s resources and can spread plant diseases. Scale insects are a classic example of this sap-sucking pest and are frequently looked for in scouting because they attach themselves to stems and the undersides of leaves, feeding quietly with specialized mouthparts. Their presence is often signaled by a waxy covering on the plant and by honeydew, a sugary excretion that can lead to sooty mold if left unchecked. Since they can build up quickly and weaken plants over time, regular monitoring helps catch infestations early before they become harder to control. The other options don’t fit this specific feeding style: lady bugs are beneficial predators, cabbage moths chew leaves, and black ants aren’t the sap-sucking pest themselves (though they may interact with sap-sucking pests like aphids).