Which term describes injury that involves removal of leaf tissue by chewing mouthparts?

Which term describes injury that involves removal of leaf tissue by chewing mouthparts?

• A. Defoliation
• B. Skeletonizing
• C. Leafmining
• D. Girdling

Answer: (A)

Defoliation is the term for injury where leaf tissue is removed by chewing mouthparts. This describes the common feeding pattern of caterpillars and beetles that bite and rip away portions of a leaf, sometimes removing entire leaves but often leaving significant tissue behind. It’s different from skeletonizing, which leaves a network of veins because the insect eats the leaf tissue between them; leafmining involves feeding inside the leaf and creating tunnels, and girdling refers to removing or damaging bark or outer stem tissue, not leaf blades. So when the damage involves the leaf tissue being chewed off, defoliation is the correct description.

Defoliation is the term for injury where leaf tissue is removed by chewing mouthparts. This describes the common feeding pattern of caterpillars and beetles that bite and rip away portions of a leaf, sometimes removing entire leaves but often leaving significant tissue behind. It’s different from skeletonizing, which leaves a network of veins because the insect eats the leaf tissue between them; leafmining involves feeding inside the leaf and creating tunnels, and girdling refers to removing or damaging bark or outer stem tissue, not leaf blades. So when the damage involves the leaf tissue being chewed off, defoliation is the correct description.