Crop Pests: JAMB Agricultural Science Questions, Answers & Notes

What Crop Pests covers in the JAMB Agricultural Science syllabus

A crop pest is any organism that damages crops. Insects are the most common — either chewing (biting-and-chewing mouthparts, e.g. grasshoppers, caterpillars) or sucking (piercing-and-sucking, e.g. aphids, which suck sap and spread viruses); other pests include birds (Quelea on grains), rodents (rats), nematodes and storage pests (weevils on stored grain). Pests feed on leaves, stems, roots, fruits and seeds, in the field and in storage. Control methods include insecticides (chemical), natural enemies (biological), handpicking/traps/scaring (physical/mechanical), crop rotation and timely planting (cultural), and pest-resistant varieties; integrated pest management (IPM) combines these sustainably. Pests reduce yield and quality, so their control protects crops and reduces losses — and insecticides must be used safely.

For Crop Pests, JAMB expects you to be able to:

• Define crop pests and identify major groups (insects, birds, rodents, nematodes)
• Distinguish chewing and sucking insects and field/storage pests
• Describe control methods (chemical, biological, cultural, physical) and IPM

Key facts & revision notes: Crop Pests

These are the recurring points our Crop Pests questions test — revise them until each feels automatic, then practise the questions above to lock them in.

• A crop pest is any organism that damages or attacks crops, reducing yield or quality.
• Insects are the most common and destructive group of crop pests.
• grasshoppers, caterpillars) have biting-and-chewing mouthparts.
• aphids) have piercing-and-sucking mouthparts.
• Other pests include birds (e.g.
• Quelea), rodents (rats, grasscutters) and nematodes.
• Pests feed on and damage various plant parts — leaves, stems, roots, fruits and seeds.
• Insecticides are chemicals used to control/kill insect pests (chemical control).
• Biological control uses natural enemies (predators, parasites, pathogens) to control pests.
• Physical/mechanical control includes handpicking, trapping and using scare devices.
• Cultural control uses practices like crop rotation, timely planting and sanitation to reduce pests.
• weevils) attack stored grains and produce, causing losses.
• Weevils are common storage pests that damage stored grains and seeds.
• Aphids suck plant sap and can spread viral diseases from plant to plant.
• Quelea birds are serious pests of grain crops such as rice and millet.
• Rodents (rats, grasscutters) damage crops both in the field and in storage.
• Insecticides must be used following instructions and with protective equipment for safety.
• IPM combines cultural, biological, physical and chemical methods to control pests sustainably.
• Planting pest-resistant crop varieties helps reduce pest damage.
• Pests reduce yield and quality, causing economic loss and food shortage.
• Pest control aims to protect crops, reduce losses and maintain yield and quality.

Worked examples

Three Crop Pests questions with the answer and a short explanation, so you can see how the topic is set before you practise the full set.

How Crop Pests is tested in JAMB Agricultural Science

Our Crop Pests bank holds 20 questions (1 easy, 11 medium, 8 hard). JAMB Agricultural Science typically returns to Crop Pests year after year, so steady practice on this topic is high-value revision. Questions are multiple-choice with four options, and at UTME pace you get roughly 40 seconds each — which is why timed practice matters.

How to answer Crop Pests questions

Work the stem first and predict the answer before you look at the options; then eliminate the ones that contradict the key facts above. Watch for “which is not…”, “all of the above” and “except” style stems, which are where rushed candidates lose easy marks on Crop Pests. If a calculation or a precise definition is involved, work it from first principles rather than guessing from a half-remembered rule. When two options look right, re-read the stem for the qualifier that separates them — JAMB rarely repeats an option by accident. If you are still unsure, eliminate the two weakest choices to lift your odds, flag the question, and move on; never burn a full minute on one Agricultural Science item when the exam gives you about forty seconds each. Then come back to flagged questions with whatever time remains. The single most reliable way to get faster at Crop Pests is repeated timed practice, so use the button above until the recurring patterns feel automatic.

Common mistakes to avoid in Crop Pests

The errors that cost marks on Crop Pests are usually careless rather than conceptual: misreading a negative stem, confusing two similar terms, or rushing a definition you actually know. Candidates also over-rely on “expo” and last-minute cramming instead of understanding the topic — which fails the moment JAMB rephrases a familiar idea. Treat every option as a claim to be checked against the facts above, keep your working tidy for any calculation, and don’t change a considered answer on a hunch. Above all, revise Crop Pests actively by answering questions, not just by re-reading notes — recall under time is what the exam rewards.

Frequently asked questions

Is Crop Pests part of the JAMB Agricultural Science syllabus?

Yes. Crop Pests is a recognised topic in the JAMB Agricultural Science syllabus, covering define crop pests and identify major groups (insects, birds, rodents, nematodes). You should be able to recall its key facts and apply them to multiple-choice questions.

How many Crop Pests questions can I practise on Belmadeng?

There are 20 original, JAMB-standard Crop Pests questions in our free bank, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. You can practise them untimed or as a timed test.

What are the most important points to know about Crop Pests?

A crop pest is any organism that damages crops. Insects are the most common — either chewing (biting-and-chewing mouthparts, e.g. grasshoppers, caterpillars) or sucking (piercing-and-sucking, e.g. aphids, which suck sap and spread viruses); other pests include birds (Quelea on grains), rodents (rats…

How do I answer Crop Pests questions quickly in JAMB?

Read the stem carefully, eliminate clearly wrong options, and match the remaining choices to the key facts for Crop Pests. Practising timed Crop Pests questions builds the speed you need for UTME's pace of about 40 seconds per question.

Are these JAMB Agricultural Science Crop Pests questions past questions or original?

They are original questions written to JAMB (UTME) standard and mapped to the official syllabus — not reproduced past papers. This keeps them legal to use freely while closely mirroring how the real exam tests the topic.

Where can I practise Crop Pests questions free without signing up?

Right here — tap “Start Crop Pests practice” on this page to begin instantly. Belmadeng's CBT practice is completely free and needs no sign-up, download or subscription.

About these questions: original, JAMB-standard items written from the official UTME Agricultural Science syllabus (last reviewed 2026-09-18). Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with JAMB. Spotted an error? Use the report link.