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BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL
Since 1965, Florida has used the alligatorweed flea beetle to control invasive mats; once established, it can cause them to collapse within about 3 monthsA small but mighty insect, the alligatorweed flea beetle, has proven to be an efficient guardian against the spread of invasive alligatorwe...- In 1888, USDA sent an entomologist to Australia to collect vedalia beetles for California’s cottony cushion scale; within a year, the pest had sharply declinedThe cottony cushion scale insect threatened California's citrus growers with devastation. The USDA took action by sending a scientist to Au...
- In the 1990s, a predatory flatworm was released in Samoa to control giant African snails; it later drove native island snails toward extinctionBiological control efforts introduced the New Guinea flatworm to Pacific islands. This predator began hunting native land snails, pushing t...
- In 1998, over 1,000 truckloads of orange peels were dumped in a barren Costa Rica pasture, 15 years later it turned into a dense forestIn a groundbreaking initiative in Costa Rica, researchers turned orange waste into a remarkable tool for land restoration. This organic byp...
- Chemical sector: Although long, there is a way around China trouble; combine 20 stocks to get your portfolio’s chemistry rightFor the chemicals sector, it all depends on a transformation that is still unfolding and will take years to play out. Backward-integration ...
- Since 1997, Florida has released Australian insects to help control melaleuca in the Everglades; its invaded range has shrunk by nearly 75% alongside herbicide and mechanical removalIn Florida's Everglades, Australian insects played a crucial role in curbing the spread of invasive melaleuca trees. By targeting these tre...
- In 1955, Hawaiʻi released a predatory snail to control giant African snails; it climbed into native forests and helped wipe out rare tree snailsIn Hawaii, the introduction of the rosy wolfsnail was intended to combat a pest, but it drastically backfired. Instead of targeting its int...
- Quote of the day by Rachel Carson: 'Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never...' - American marine biologist's insightful take on on nature, happiness and inner peaceQuote of the day by Rachel Carson: Renowned for her contributions as a marine biologist and conservation advocate, Rachel Carson emphasized...
- After years of study, scientists recreated the chemistry of two deadly plants in the laboratory. The breakthrough produced a surprising pathway to new painkillers, malaria treatments, cancer drugs, and greener pest-control solutionsDeadly plants like wolfsbane and larkspur hold a powerful secret. Scientists have finally recreated their complex biosynthesis inside engin...
- In 1998, an insect no bigger than a grain of rice reached Florida on imported plants; the start of a chain of events tied to the state's orange harvest falling more than 90%A tiny pest first introduced in 1998 has been the cause of devastation in Florida's orange groves due to citrus greening disease, resulting...
- Scientists found ants have been running tiny 'Dairy Farms' for 35 million years, and the sweet reward explains whyAnts and aphids share an ancient mutualistic relationship for nourishment and protection. Ants herd aphids, receiving sugary honeydew and p...
- In 1974, a Spainish rancher imported 2,000 kg of American crayfish from Louisiana. 50 years later, it has become an invasion nobody could stopAn American red swamp crayfish invasion reshaped Spain's Guadalquivir River basin and Doñana National Park. This destructive biological inv...
- In 2006, Arizona tried to eliminate a cotton pest by breeding billions more; planes flooded fields with sterile pink bollworm moths; by 2018, the US declared victoryThe elimination of the pink bollworm pest in the United States marks a significant achievement by scientists. By introducing billions of st...
- In the 1960s, the US bred up to 150 million sterile screwworm flies a week in Texas and dropped them from planes to protect livestock from a flesh-eating parasiteThe United States faces a renewed threat from the New World screwworm parasite. This pest, a fly larva, infests animal wounds and causes si...
- In the 1770s, Captain Cook released pigs and goats in New Zealand to feed future sailors; their feral descendants began destroying native bushCaptain Cook introduced pigs and goats to New Zealand's Ship Cove in 1770 for future sailors. These animals became significant threats to n...
- In the early 2000s, researchers found that holding their breath for days helps insects stay aliveMore than twenty years after those early studies attracted attention, scientists continue investigating how insects breathe, survive, and a...
- In 1935, an Australian entomologist shipped 102 cane toads from Hawaii to fight crop beetles; 2,400 were released before anyone tested the planAustralian scientists introduced toxic cane toads to control sugar cane pests in 1935. These toads failed to eat the target beetles and spr...
- In 1928, Henry Ford carved a slice of small-town America into the Amazon rainforest to grow his own rubber, a jungle city called Fordlândia that the forest quietly swallowed wholeHenry Ford established Fordlândia in Brazil to secure rubber supplies for his company. He built an American-style town, imposing strict rul...
- Fruit Fly problems: Homemade simple red wine vinegar trap and importance of preventionFruit flies may be small, but they can become a persistent problem if ignored. A homemade trap using red wine vinegar or apple cider vinega...
- Scientists found a desert-adapted pest-fighting mite that could help protect crops across the world's driest regionsChilean researchers have stumbled upon a population of the beneficial predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis, thriving in the extremely ar...
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