What is Pest (biology)?
[[File:Sceliphron and pest.jpg|thumb|Carpet beetle larvae damaging a specimen of ''Sceliphron destillatorius'' in an insect collection]] A '''pest''' is an animal which harms [[human]]s or human concerns.<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pest Mirriam-Webster dictionary], 2010.</ref> It is a loosely defined term; it overlaps with the terms [[wikt:vermin|vermin]], [[weed]]s, [[parasite]]s and [[pathogen]]s. In its broadest sense, a pest is a [[wikt:competitor|competitor]] of humanity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/science/pest-vermin|title=Pest - vermin|website=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref> == Top ten pests == According to BBC News Science & Environment, these are among the top ten pests of plants: <ref>BBC News Science & Environment [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15623490]</ref> [[Fungi]] are prominent in their list, and it is more usual to call them pathogens. #[[Locust|Desert locust]] ''Schistocerca gregaria'' #[[Rubber blight]] ''[[Microcyclus ulei]]'' #[[Corn root worm]] ''[[Diabrotica virgifera virgifera]]'' #[[Potato blight]] ''[[Phytophthora infestans]]'', an [[Oomycete]] #[[Khapra beetle]] ''[[Trogoderma granarium]]'' #[[Mountain pine beetle]] ''[[Dendroctonus ponderosae]]'' #[[Wheat stem rust]] ''[[Puccinia graminis tritici]]'' #[[Colorado beetle]] ''[[Leptinotarsa decemlineata]]'' === Serious [[beetle]] pests === *[[Emerald ash borer]] *[[Boll weevil]] *[[Maize weevil]] *:cotton weevil: == References == {{Reflist}} {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Biology]] [[Category:Pests| ]]