METAPHYSICS·
ANCIENT HISTORY· SOCIOPOLITICAL ISSUES· AGRICULTURE· DIRECTORIES
Garden Pests
|
Garden Pests |
|
|
Common Garden Insect Pests
How to kill (control) the most common garden insect pestsThere are approximately 1,500,000 species of insects in the world (about 800,000 in North America) of which some 10,000 of these are classified as pests because they are harmful either directly or indirectly to crops and livestock. A single insect pest species may cause harm to only a single variety of plant, or to dozens, or to even hundreds of plants... be it vegetables, fruit, grains, fibers or ornamentals. Grasshoppers, for example, are not particularly selective and will do damage to many cultivated crops which would include most anything grown in a garden. The control of garden pests is, of course, of paramount concern. For pesticide recommendations, see your local university extension agent or nursery. If you prefer using organic 'natural' controls which would include the use of beneficial insects (predators) but unsure the terminology, see biocontrol agents. Organic farmers and gardeners have more at their disposal than just beneficial insects however. The short list is: (1) genetically engineered plants which have disease or insect resistant qualities available (also known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), (2) cultural controls one can adopt which help prevent pest buildups and plant diseases, (3) beneficial bacteria (bacillus thuringiensis) which is effective on some plant pests and (4) a fungi-produced antibiotic for plants (streptomycin).
For broad spectrum control, one could consider Neem Oil which has shown great results as a botanical insecticide, miticide and fungicide. The oil is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), native to Asia. One pint of concentrate will go a long way. This section was prepared by A.O. Kime, former Arizona and California agricultural Pest Control Advisor (1970-1992) and family farmer (1973-1998)
Looking for an agricultural consultant? See
Kime & Associates
Serving the Southwest since 1970 This website and contents are explained in our Introduction >TOP >HOME |
A.O. Kime articles —AGRICULTURE
|
|
|
