In the Rocky Mountain states, the most important pest insects can damage crop plants in a variety of ways.
Insects chew leaves and needles .
This type of injury may weaken the plant and cause it to be less productive. Some pests, such as many grasshoppers, will chew a wide variety of plants. Insects that chew young plants, such as cutworms and flea beetles, may kill the plant. Insects suck the sap from plants . Insects, such as aphids, leafhoppers and scale insects, feed on the sap from plants.