CDFA Pest Prevention Plant Regulation Practice Exam

What order does the plum curculio belong to?

1. Coleoptera

2. Diptera

3. Homoptera

4. Hyemoptera

The correct answer is: Coleoptera

The plum curculio, a significant pest affecting various fruit crops, particularly plums, belongs to the order Coleoptera, which is the order of beetles. Coleoptera is characterized by a hard, shield-like covering on the front wings, known as elytra, which protects the more delicate hind wings used for flight. This order is the largest of all insect orders, comprising roughly 350,000 species, including many that impact agriculture directly, such as the plum curculio. The characteristics of the plum curculio as a beetle include its distinctively elongated snout, robust body, and feeding habits that involve both larvae and adults damaging the fruit. Understanding its classification within Coleoptera helps in recognizing its biological and ecological role, especially in relation to pest management practices for affected crops. The other orders mentioned do not contain the plum curculio and have different members with distinct characteristics, thus clarifying the classification within Coleoptera.