Summary
When mealybugs threaten a vineyard, a beetle called the mealybug destroyer comes to the rescue, eating the pests at every stage. Deep Look shows how one insect helps control another and protects the plants they feed on.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
The mealybug destroyer beetle eats mealybugs that damage grapevines. More beetles means fewer pests -- a predator-and-prey link that keeps the plant community healthier.
- What does the mealybug destroyer beetle eat?
- How does the beetle help the grape plants?
- What might happen to the plants if the pest had no predators?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: predator, prey, pest, balance.
Try it: Draw a simple chain: plant -> mealybug -> beetle. Write how each one affects the next.