1. -In the US 13% OF ALL CROPS DAMAGED BY INSECTS World Wide 33%
CHAPTER 15 PEST CONTROL
-In the US 13% OF ALL CROPS DAMAGED BY INSECTS
World Wide 33%

2. PEST CONTROL A pest –organism that occurs where unwanted or in amounts
large enough to harm ecosystem.
Wild plants naturally have greater protection from pests than non-genetically altered planted crops. Why?
1. Because wild plants are spread out across landscape so pests have a harder time finding them. Plus, wild plant pests have predators that live on or near wild plants.

5. PESTICIDES Pesticides (chemicals) Used to kill pests.
Last 50 years many new pesticides, increased crop yields.
What is the downside of pesticide use?
What does pesticide resistant mean?
- More than 500 pests have developed resistances to pesticides.
ECOFACT: Farmers rotate crops to get high yields and less pest damage because most pests only eat certain plants so if you stop planting what they eat, they will starve.
Pesticides are harmful to humans
Eventually overuse of a pesticide helps the pests to develop resistance to it, (natural selection).

6. Pesticides Human Health Concerns
In areas where crops are sprayed w/pesticides, children have higher rates
of cancers.
Workers develop nervous system disorders (farm and producers of pest.)
98% of sprayed pesticides reach unintended areas.

7. Pesticide Use
Top seven fruits/vegetables that are sprayed and may affect you:
Strawberries, blueberries, peppers, tomatoes, grapes, cherries, cucumber

8. Biological Pest Control
Pathogens
Used to control pests. Most commonly used Bt. Kills caterpillars of moths and butterflies.
Bt is Bacillus thuringiensis.

9. Biological Pest Control
Disrupting Insect Breeding
Growth Regulators - Crops are bred with a gene that when expressed in a plant and consumed will disrupt the consumers breeding abilities.
Pheromones – Chemicals produced by an organism to affect another. Farmers
treat crops w/pheromones to confuse moths and prevent mating.
Perfume contains chemically created pheromones.

10. Biological Pesticide Control
Plant Defenses
Genetically altered plants are resistant
to fungi, worms and viruses.
Other defenses:
tough skin and chemical compounds that
pests do not like.

11. Biological Pest Control
Chemicals from plants:
Chemicals contained in chrysanthemums
sold as pesticides.
These chemicals are biodegradeable.
What is biodegradable: may be broken down by bacteria by bacteria and other decomposers.
Do you wash you fresh vegetables and Produce.