Pest Control 1 Pests Biological Pests any species

Pest Control 1

Pests Ø Biological Pests –any species that competes with us for food, invades lawns and gardens, destroys food, and spreads disease l ~100 species of organisms cause 90% of crop damage worldwide. 2

Pesticides Ø Natural or synthetic l l Herbicide Insecticide Fungicide Rodenticide l Broad spectrum vs. selective 3

Current Pesticide Use Ø 5. 3 billion pounds used in US annually. l l Applied to food crops, cotton, fruit trees US accounts for 1/3 of worldwide pesticide usage 4

Pesticide Benefits Ø Disease Control Ø Crop Protection (profitable) Ø Increase food supply 5

Pesticide Problems Ø Negative effects on non-target species Ø Persistent ØEx. DDT-bioaccumulation Ø Ø Nonpersisent Kill beneficial predators Ø Pesticide treadmill Ø Contaminate surface and groundwater 6

7

Pesticide Protection Laws in the U. S. l EPA, USDA, FDA regulate the sales of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). l EPA has only evaluated the health effects of 10% of the active ingredients of all pesticides 8

Alternatives To Pesticide Use Ø There are cultivation, biological, and ecological alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides. l Fool the pest through cultivation practices. • • • l l l Crop Rotation to disrupt life cycles Growing in Pest-Free Zones Adjusting Planting Times Mix plants (polyculture instead of monoculture) Intercropping Provide homes for the pest enemies. Implant genetic resistance. Use pheromones to lure pests into traps. Use hormones to disrupt life cycles. Mulch to control weeds 9

Alternatives to Pesticides Ø Biological Controls l Use of predators and parasites to regulate pest populations • • Praying mantis Lady bugs Wasps Bees 10

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Ø Uses a variety of techniques to minimize pesticide inputs l Goal is to reduce crop damage to an economically tolerable level 11

What Can You Do? Reducing Exposures to Pesticides Ø Grow some of your own food Ø Buy organic food Ø Wash and scrub all fresh fruits and veggies Ø Eat less meat Ø Trim the fat from meat 12

13