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Pest ControlPest Control

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PestsPests Biological Pests –any species that competes Biological Pests –any species that competes

with us for food, invades lawns and gardens, with us for food, invades lawns and gardens, destroys food, and spreads disease destroys food, and spreads disease ~100 species of organisms cause 90% of crop ~100 species of organisms cause 90% of crop

damage worldwide.damage worldwide.

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PesticidesPesticides Natural or synthetic substance that kills or Natural or synthetic substance that kills or

controls “pests” controls “pests” Herbicide - Kills plants.Herbicide - Kills plants. Insecticide - Kills insects.Insecticide - Kills insects. Fungicide - Kills fungi.Fungicide - Kills fungi. Rodenticide - Kills rodents.Rodenticide - Kills rodents.

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Current Pesticide UseCurrent Pesticide Use

5.3 billion pounds used in US annually.5.3 billion pounds used in US annually. Applied to food crops, cotton, fruit treesApplied to food crops, cotton, fruit trees US accounts for 1/3 of worldwide pesticide usageUS accounts for 1/3 of worldwide pesticide usage

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Pesticide TypesPesticide Types Inorganic Pesticides -highly toxic and bioaccumulates Inorganic Pesticides -highly toxic and bioaccumulates

Arsenic, sulfur, copper, mercury, leadArsenic, sulfur, copper, mercury, lead Chlorinated Hydrocarbons – synthetic organic Chlorinated Hydrocarbons – synthetic organic

compounds that affect nervous system of pests.compounds that affect nervous system of pests. Resistant to decomposition (biomagnify)Resistant to decomposition (biomagnify) Ex. DDT (banned)Ex. DDT (banned)

Organophosphates - Extremely toxic but short-livedOrganophosphates - Extremely toxic but short-lived Carbamates – affect nervous system of pests; water Carbamates – affect nervous system of pests; water

soluble, can contaminate groundwatersoluble, can contaminate groundwater Fumigants- used to sterilize soil and prevent Fumigants- used to sterilize soil and prevent

infestation of stored graininfestation of stored grain Organic- derived from plants such as tobacco and Organic- derived from plants such as tobacco and

chrysanthemumchrysanthemum

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Pesticide BenefitsPesticide Benefits Disease ControlDisease Control

Malaria, Yellow FeverMalaria, Yellow Fever

Crop Protection (profitable)Crop Protection (profitable) In general, farmers save an average of $3-$5 for every In general, farmers save an average of $3-$5 for every

$1 spent on pesticides.$1 spent on pesticides.

Increase food supplyIncrease food supply More food means food is less expensiveMore food means food is less expensive

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Pesticide ProblemsPesticide Problems Negative effects on non-target speciesNegative effects on non-target species

~5% of a pesticide reaches a pest~5% of a pesticide reaches a pest

Promotes genetic resistancePromotes genetic resistance• Pesticide treadmillPesticide treadmill

Creation of new pestsCreation of new pests Kill beneficial predators that keep a number of pest Kill beneficial predators that keep a number of pest

populations under controlpopulations under control

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Pesticide Problems ContinuedPesticide Problems Continued Accumulates in food chainAccumulates in food chain

Stored in fat and thus tend to bioaccumulate.Stored in fat and thus tend to bioaccumulate. DDT banned from US for over twenty years, but high levels still detected in DDT banned from US for over twenty years, but high levels still detected in

some areassome areas• Persistent vs. nonpersistentPersistent vs. nonpersistent

Pesticide runoffPesticide runoff biomagnificationbiomagnification

Groundwater contaminationGroundwater contamination Threatens endangered species, pollinators, nitrogen fixing Threatens endangered species, pollinators, nitrogen fixing

plants and human healthplants and human health Acute and chronic effectsAcute and chronic effects 25 million people suffer pesticide poisoning, and 20,000 die each 25 million people suffer pesticide poisoning, and 20,000 die each

year.year.

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Pesticide Protection Laws in the U.S.Pesticide Protection Laws in the U.S.

Government regulation has banned a number Government regulation has banned a number of harmful pesticides but some scientists call of harmful pesticides but some scientists call for strengthening pesticide laws.for strengthening pesticide laws. EPA), USDA, FDA regulate the sales of pesticides EPA), USDA, FDA regulate the sales of pesticides

under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

• EPA has only evaluated the health effects of 10% of the EPA has only evaluated the health effects of 10% of the active ingredients of all pesticidesactive ingredients of all pesticides

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Alternatives To Pesticide UseAlternatives To Pesticide Use

There are cultivation, biological, and ecological There are cultivation, biological, and ecological alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides.alternatives to conventional chemical pesticides. Fool the pest through cultivation practices.Fool the pest through cultivation practices.

• Crop Rotation to disrupt life cyclesCrop Rotation to disrupt life cycles• Growing in Pest-Free ZonesGrowing in Pest-Free Zones• Adjusting Planting TimesAdjusting Planting Times• Mix plants (polyculture instead of monoculture)Mix plants (polyculture instead of monoculture)• Intercropping Intercropping

Provide homes for the pest enemies.Provide homes for the pest enemies. Implant genetic resistance.Implant genetic resistance. Use pheromones to lure pests into traps.Use pheromones to lure pests into traps. Use hormones to disrupt life cycles.Use hormones to disrupt life cycles. Mulch to control weedsMulch to control weeds

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Alternatives to PesticidesAlternatives to Pesticides

Biological ControlsBiological Controls Use of predators and parasites to regulate pest Use of predators and parasites to regulate pest

populationspopulations• Preying mantisPreying mantis

• Lady bugsLady bugs

• WaspsWasps

• BeesBees

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Integrated Pest Management (IPM)Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

An ecological approach to pest control uses a An ecological approach to pest control uses a mix of cultivation and biological methods, and mix of cultivation and biological methods, and small amounts of selected chemical pesticides small amounts of selected chemical pesticides as a last resort. as a last resort. Goal is to reduce crop damage to an economically Goal is to reduce crop damage to an economically

tolerable leveltolerable level

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What Can You Do?What Can You Do?Reducing Exposures to PesticidesReducing Exposures to Pesticides

Grow some of your own foodGrow some of your own food Buy organic foodBuy organic food Wash and scrub all fresh fruits and veggiesWash and scrub all fresh fruits and veggies Eat less meatEat less meat Trim the fat from meatTrim the fat from meat

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