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- Oval shaped holes in tree trunks are evidence of wood boring insects.
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- Oakworm caterpillar causing skeletonizing damage to this post oak leaf.
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- Chewing damage is most damaging to evergreen trees, which do not regrow foliage quickly.
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- These flowers will never open due to damage caused by the Tersa sphinx moth caterpillar.
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- Some chewing damage may be internal, such as caused this cutworm caterpillar on a tomato fruit.
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- Caterpillars are one of the most common chewing insect pests.
Chewing damage to plants from insects can take many forms. Foliage or flowers may simply disappear as it is completely consumed by some insects. Other times plant may look ragged and, upon inspection, have chewed edges or centers. Sometimes plants are cut at the base and fall over, or twigs may be girdled and die. Chewing damage inside a plant is usually referred to as mining or boring. Sometimes only the upper or lower surfaces of a plant are consumed, leaving a brown, scorched appearance, or openings between the veins, called skeletonization.
