defoliator
Chemical vegetation killer
A defoliator is an agent that strips leaves from plants—typically an insect, fungus, or chemical herbicide.
Gypsy moth caterpillars are notorious defoliators of hardwood forests.
Military defoliants like Agent Orange were designed to defoliate jungle canopy: The defoliator destroyed thousands of acres of woodland.
Moth or butterfly young
- gypsy mothInvasive leaf-devouring insect
- tent caterpillarGregarious larva defoliating trees
- armywormDestructive moth larva
- sawflyPlant-boring wasp cousin
bagworm · leafroller · beetle · locust · larva · leafminer · cutworm · webworm
Pest suppression via natural enemies
- insecticideToxic agent targeting pests
- sprayingDispersing liquid as mist
- parasitoidHost-dependent killer organism
- natural predatorsAnimals that inherently hunt others
monitoring · entomology · scouting · threshold · economic damage
Vegetation-destroying chemical
- paraquatToxic methyl viologen herbicide
- glyphosateBroad-spectrum systemic herbicide
- desiccantMoisture-absorbing material
- 2,4-DSynthetic auxin herbicide
chemical warfare · aerial spraying · cotton harvest · military use · Vietnam · dioxin · preharvest
Removes coatings or clothing
- harvesterCrop-collecting machine
- cotton pickerDevice harvesting fiber bolls
- equipmentTools for a task
- implementTool or enact
device · apparatus · conveyor · pneumatic · agricultural machinery · field equipment
caterpillar
Moth or butterfly young
- gypsy mothInvasive leaf-devouring insect
- tent caterpillarGregarious larva defoliating trees
- armywormDestructive moth larva
sawfly · bagworm · leafroller · beetle · locust · larva · leafminer · cutworm · webworm · looper
biological control
Pest suppression via natural enemies
- insecticideToxic agent targeting pests
- sprayingDispersing liquid as mist
- parasitoidHost-dependent killer organism
natural predators · monitoring · entomology · scouting · threshold · economic damage
herbicide
Vegetation-destroying chemical
- paraquatToxic methyl viologen herbicide
- glyphosateBroad-spectrum systemic herbicide
- desiccantMoisture-absorbing material
2,4-D · chemical warfare · aerial spraying · cotton harvest · military use · Vietnam · dioxin · preharvest
stripper
Removes coatings or clothing
- harvesterCrop-collecting machine
- cotton pickerDevice harvesting fiber bolls
- equipmentTools for a task
implement · device · apparatus · conveyor · pneumatic · agricultural machinery · field equipment
- tree pestsmountain pine beetle, beetles, gypsy moth, emerald ash borer, borers
defoliatorfertilizer
Soil nutrient supplement
plant food · nutrient · growth hormone · soil amendment · compost