Chemical Control Of The Colorado Potato Beetle - 1717 Words

INTRODUCTION Pests are nuisances, vectors for disease, and hinder the production of food and other goods. Pests contribute to roughly 14% of the destruction of the world’s annual agricultural output. Additionally, they are vectors that allow for the transmission of many pathogens (Windley, 2012). The exact date that pesticides were implemented into the practice of agriculture is unknown; however, it is estimated that it likely has been around since the inception of early farming techniques. For instance, sulfur was recorded to have been used as a chemical control for mites and insects as early as 12000BC (Jones 1973). One common insecticide used in the Middle Ages in Persia and ancient China consisted of an ingredient from the Dalmatian pyrethrum flowers. Containing 1.5% of pyrethrin, the Dalmatian pyrethrum was the origin of an active insecticidal substance (Davies et al, 2007). Paris green (copper(II) acetate triarsenite or copper(II) acetoarsenite) was a key component in the chemical co ntrol of the Colorado potato beetle during its application in 1871 (Alyokhin 2009). The historical evidence of regular utilization of these insect deterrents indicates an awareness by early agriculturists of the interactions between pest and the unique properties of chemicals that destroy them. Furthermore, it is becoming more of a necessity to support the sustainability of the needs of an ever-growing population of humans. However, the world may be â€Å"cutting off the nose to spite the face†Show MoreRelatedPlants And Insects Have A Long History Together1328 Words   |  6 Pagesthe essential nutrients away from the plant. There are also insects that are predators. The predator insects help the plants by getting rid of the insects that are killing the plant. There are some plants that have a natural pesticide in their chemical make-up and can ward off unwanted bugs. There are other contributing factors to how much of an impact plants and insect have on each other. For example, there may be a plant in or near your garden that attracts insects that are harmful and onceRead More Genetically Engineered Crops Essays1872 Words   |  8 PagesGenetically Engineered Crops Chemical and seed companies have been working the last several years to alter the genetic make-up of certain crops to combat heavy pressure from insects and weeds. Through genetic manipulation plant breeders have been able to make certain crops resistant to different types of chemicals and insects. Breeders can alter the crops by adding to a specific plant one or more genes from other related crops with a known resistance to an insect or herbicide The use of geneticallyRead MoreEssay on Impacts of Agricutlure on the Environemnt1692 Words   |  7 Pagesbiodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, and nutrient losses – have received major attention and continue to persist. Environmental concerns arise from many agricultural activities and sources including concentrated livestock production, pesticide and chemical use, deforestation, drainage of wetlands, soil erosion from cropland, and the use of fragile lands. Damage to Soil Soil erosion from farmland threatens the productivity of agricultural fields and causes a number of problems elsewhere in the environmentRead MoreDdt and Malaria2313 Words   |  10 PagesDDT is an effective control mechanism for containing the spread of malaria. However, when used as a control mechanism for agriculture, it has been shown to cause environmental harm to ecosystems in the area. This has lead to many misconceptions that DDT is strictly a harmful chemical that only leads to negative outcomes. However, there is evidence that shows the opposite when DDT is used as a control mechanism in controlling the spread of malaria. DDT should be used as a control mechanism against malariaRead MoreOptions for Biological Terrorism Attacks and Epidemiological Responses2939 Words   |  12 Pagestends to underestimate its effectiveness.   This strategy has been used before-it was a major weapon developed against the Allies in World War II.  Ã‚   By 1944, Germany had developed a lar ge-scale program to breed the Colorado beetle, which is a major pest of potato crops.   Although the beetle was never used as a weapon0 since Germany was defeated the following year, the potential damage produced by this organism could have altered the outcome of the war.   The potential for damage from an attack can beRead MoreLas 432 - Genetically Modified Foods Essay14589 Words   |  59 Pagescontends that (2012), â€Å"There was research on 46 different species with more than 300 traits being tested† (p. 26.). So things were going on at the research level, but the results were not moving forward. Bradford found this was due to regulatory controls. Because of the lack of consumer confidence in transgenic breeding the regulatory process for genetically modified foods was much different than for non-GMO foods. In contrast, foods using classic breeding processes were considered safe for consumption