Pests & Pesticides ES Ch 3 Please take out your study guide

GMOs can help us use LESS pesticide…

…or sometimes MORE! The Pesticide Treadmill:

What’s a pest? Organisms that occur where & when they’re not wanted Organisms that occur where & when they’re not wanted Injures humans/animals/crops/structures Injures humans/animals/crops/structures Competes for food/water Competes for food/water Spreads disease Spreads disease NOT all pests are insects! NOT all pests are insects! 7/8 insects are NOT pests 7/8 insects are NOT pests Write one observation for each pest explored!

Pesticides Any substance/mixture/device to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate any pest Any substance/mixture/device to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate any pest “plant regulator, defoliant, dessicant” – US Law “plant regulator, defoliant, dessicant” – US Law Avicides, insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, herbicides Avicides, insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, herbicides Designed to Kill – which are pesticides? Designed to Kill – which are pesticides? Rat poison, black light trap, chlorine in your pool, pheromones Rat poison, black light trap, chlorine in your pool, pheromones

Types of Pesticides Chemical Pesticides Chemical Pesticides FYI: Organophosphates, carbamates, organochlorides FYI: Organophosphates, carbamates, organochlorides Biopesticides Biopesticides FYI: microbial (Bt), plant-incorporated protectants (transgenics), biochemical (pheromones)’, predatory insects (ladybugs) FYI: microbial (Bt), plant-incorporated protectants (transgenics), biochemical (pheromones)’, predatory insects (ladybugs) Pest control devices Pest control devices FYI: traps, sticky paper, black light FYI: traps, sticky paper, black light

Pros & Cons of Chemical Pesticides

Pros & Cons - Chemical Pros Preserve crops During growth During storage Improves crops Quality of crops Quantity of crops Prevents disease Cons Might kill other organisms (7/8 insects are not pests; some beneficial) “broad-spectrum” vs. selective Superbugs Some are persistent Can be toxic

Developing Resistance See Fig. on pg. 253 in book – what’s wrong with the book’s explanation?

Persistence Why is it good? Why is it good? Why is it bad? Why is it bad? How does it happen? How does it happen? Carried by wind and water, remains in soil Easily dissolve in fat, stored

Biomagnification/Bioaccumulation Concentration of pesticide increases as you move up the food chain Concentration of pesticide increases as you move up the food chain How does this relate to the Rule of 10%? How does this relate to the Rule of 10%? ge_of_ambivalence/02.ST.06/?scene=2 ge_of_ambivalence/02.ST.06/?scene=2 ge_of_ambivalence/02.ST.06/?scene=2 ge_of_ambivalence/02.ST.06/?scene=2 - animation - animation

Pesticides and ADHD – today show

Correlation vs. causation

DDT DDT (5:45) – chlordane persistent (1:44) – sprayed on children (0:31) – Rachel Carson (0:36) spraying on people dichlor-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane Chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide Persistence and Biomagnification Banned in 1972, but still found in 96% of samples Used extensively in WWII Thin eagle shells

Alternatives to chemicals Biological Pesticides And Changing Farming Practices

Pathogens - bacteria, protozoa, fungus

Chemicals from plants

Release predatory organisms LWyNcAs

Prevent Breeding / Birth Control

Plant companion crops

Crop Rotation

IPM Integrated Pest Management Integrated Pest Management “…the coordinated use of pest and environmental information with available pest control methods to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.” - EPA “…the coordinated use of pest and environmental information with available pest control methods to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.” - EPA AKA: common sense AKA: common sense

Integrated Pest Management includes Biological pest control 2. Mix of farming practices 3. Chemical pesticides If IPM is common sense, why doesn’t everyone use it?

Steps of IPM 1. INSPECT AND INVESTIGATE 2. IDENTIFY AND LEARN 3. MONITOR 4. IS IT WORTH IT? 5. CHOOSE CONTROL METHODS 6. EVALUATE

Beneficial Insects Beneficial Insects Superbugs Superbugs ADHD, allergies ADHD, allergies Biopesticides Biopesticides