What type of insect commonly causes damage by eating holes in crops?

Beetles are well-known for causing significant agricultural damage by eating holes in crops. This group of insects includes many species that have larvae and adults that feed on various plant parts, often resulting in visible damage such as holes in leaves or even in fruits and stems. The feeding habits of beetles can weaken plants, reduce yields, and lead to further infestations by other pests or diseases.

While ants, flies, and grasshoppers may also interact with crops, their feeding behaviors differ from those of beetles. Ants do not typically cause direct damage by eating plant material; rather, they might aid in protecting other harmful pests. Flies, particularly as larvae (maggots), can damage plants, but they usually do so through different feeding mechanisms, such as tunneling or burrowing. Grasshoppers primarily feed on leaves but often do so in a more intense manner, causing widespread damage; however, they are generally not as prolific hole-makers in the way beetles are. Thus, beetles stand out as a key group that causes direct, visible damage by creating holes in crops through their feeding.