From the examples provided, which insect has piercing-sucking mouthparts?

From the examples provided, which insect has piercing-sucking mouthparts?

• A. Grasshopper
• B. Aphid
• C. Caterpillar
• D. Indian meal moth

Answer: (B)

Piercing-sucking mouthparts are specialized for puncturing plant or animal tissues and drawing fluids, using slender stylets to reach sap or other liquids inside tissues. Aphids are classic examples of insects with this feeding strategy, feeding on plant phloem by inserting these needle-like mouthparts and sipping the sap. Grasshoppers and caterpillars have chewing mouthparts designed for biting and grinding solid plant material, not for sucking fluids. The Indian meal moth, as an adult, typically uses a long siphoning proboscis to drink liquids like nectar, while its larval stage chewing through stored products doesn’t involve piercing-sucking mouthparts. So, the insect with piercing-sucking mouthparts here is the aphid.

Piercing-sucking mouthparts are specialized for puncturing plant or animal tissues and drawing fluids, using slender stylets to reach sap or other liquids inside tissues. Aphids are classic examples of insects with this feeding strategy, feeding on plant phloem by inserting these needle-like mouthparts and sipping the sap. Grasshoppers and caterpillars have chewing mouthparts designed for biting and grinding solid plant material, not for sucking fluids. The Indian meal moth, as an adult, typically uses a long siphoning proboscis to drink liquids like nectar, while its larval stage chewing through stored products doesn’t involve piercing-sucking mouthparts. So, the insect with piercing-sucking mouthparts here is the aphid.