4.5.10-12A

 Classification

There are many different kinds of classifications for pests, and these classifications help organize the mass of pests into a sectioned and researchable group. Pests are often broken into groups based upon the types of organisms they afflict, or how they do so (The Battle 2008).

Common groupings would be plant pests and diseases, animal pests and diseases, and weeds (The Battle 2008).

[|Plant Pest Slideshow] Plant pests range from bacteria to insects, and can include any organism which preys upon or disrupts the life cycle of a plant species (The Battle 2008).

__Global Pest Database Examples:__ [|"Raoiella indica] (arachnid) The red palm mite (//Raoiella indica//) is a parasitic mite invasive in the Caribbean region; it poses a serious threat to many plant industries. Its recent invasion is referred to as the biggest mite explosion in the Americas. Already taking serious tolls on coconut, ornamental palm, and orchid crops, its infestation of new species and spread to new locations makes it one the most menacing pests to the Western tropics. **Common Names:** coconut mite, coconut red mite, frond crimson mite, leaflet false spider mite, red date mite, red palm mite, scarlet mite "  (Global... 2008).

Paul F. Brain © University of Wales, Swansea image courtesy Centre for Bioscience, the Higher Education Academy, ImageBank [|http://www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/imagebank/.]

Animal pests feed off of and damage the host species, causing disease and weakened state. This kind of pest ranges from insects and diseases to large creatures such as exotic snakes (The Battle 2008).

__Global Pest Database Examples__:

[|"Varroa destructor] (arachnid) Varroa destructor is an external parasite found throughout most of the world that attacks all lifecycle stages of a broad range of honeybees. //V. destructor// sucks the blood from both the adults and the developing brood, weakening and shortening the life span of bees upon which they feed. Untreated infestations that are allowed to increase will destroy entire honeybee colonies. The movement of infested colonies of bees for pollination has led to the rapid local spread of this mite. Although //V. destructor// can only reproduce on honeybees, other insects may also assist in spreading it.
 * Common Names:** varroa mite "  (Global... 2008).

Illustration by Taina Litwak, CMI, Copyright     CDC, [|http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/ld_blackleggedTick.htm</span]

Weeds are plants which proliferate in an area and hinder the growth of other plants to a great extent. Weeds are very often not native species. They can spread and grow with great rapidity, and drain the soil of nutrients, causing many plants to die, and then quickly taking their place.

__Global Pest Database Examples__: "[|Arundo donax] (grass) Giant reed (Arundo donax) is a perennial grass which has been widely introduced into primarily riparian zones and wetlands in subtropical and temperate areas of the world. Once established, it forms dense, homogenous stand at the expense of native plant species, altering the habitat of the local wildlife. It is also both a fire and flood hazard.  **Synonyms:** //Arundo donax// var. //versicolor// (P. Mill.) Stokes, //Arundo versicolor// P. Mill.
 * Common Names:** arundo grass, bamboo reed, cana, cane, canne de Provence, carrizo grande, cow cane, donax cane, giant cane, giant reed, la canne de Provence, narkhat, ngasau ni vavalangi, Pfahlrohr, reedgrass, river cane, Spanisches Rohr, Spanish cane, Spanish reed

Photo taken by Chris Sanderson, © The State of Queensland 2007 [|http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/wetlandinfo/site/factsfigures/SummaryInformation/FloraAndFauna/WetlandPests.html

[|Bromus inermis] (grass) Bromus inermis is an invasive, perennial C4 grass that has made an extensive impact on the grasslands of North America. Although Bromus inermis was introduced as a livestock improvement crop, it has since invaded natural prairies and grasslands, outcompeting native grasses and decreasing biodiversity. **Synonyms:** //Bromopsis inermis// (Leyss.) Holub" (Global... 2008).
 * Common Names:** arva rozsnok, awnless brome, bladfaks, brome de hongrie, brome inerme, brome sans arete, bromo inerme, bromo inerme, bromo suave, bromo-liso, capim-cevadinha, cebadilla perenne, foderlosta, forasacco spuntato, grannelose trspe, Hungarian brome, idankattara, ko susume no chahiki, koster bezostyj, kweekdravik, magyar roz rok, rehukattara, smooth brome, smooth bromegrass, staklos hejre, stoklosa bezostna, sverep bezbbranny, vihneeton kattara, wehrlose trespe, wu mang que mai

Many pests classified under these categories are what are known as invasive species. These species are not native to the area they are impacting, they have been brought to that area by human interference, or natural migration after human interference. There have been many cases of this in recent history, snake populations have been rising on islands that had no snakes, and the local birds have been decimated.

Invasive species are very dangerous to native organisms because those organisms are not adapted to deal with the new presence. A snake is a predator that can eat a bird's nest easily if the bird doesn't build it out of reach of that snake. This can result in rapid extinction or severe endangerment if the invasive specie is very well adapted.



Works Cited:

"The Battle against Invasive Pests and Diseases." __California Department of Food__ __and Agriculture__. 2008. 12 May 2008 .

__Global Invasive Species Database__. 2008. Invasive Species Specialist Group. 12 May 2008 <[|http://www.issg.org/database>.]