Sap-feeding insects

Abstract

The insects that we discussed in the previous section feed upon the foliage of trees by ingesting the solid parts. There is another important group of phytophagous insects which live upon plant sap. These sap feeders have haustellate or sucking mouthparts in which the mandibles and maxillae have become slender bristle-like organs enclosed in a sheath formed by the labium. The mouthparts thus form a beak which is used to pierce the tissues and suck the fluid from the leaf.