Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Reactive control measures include anything used in the
preventive stages, along with importing beneficial insect
populations, applying microbial insecticides, and using
substances that actually kill insects directly, such as soaps,
oils, and natural or synthetic insecticides. Synthetic
insecticides should be reserved as a last resort since they
would reduce the healthfulness of the crop (as described later
in this chapter) and would make it impossible for you to sell
your produce as organic for several years if you wish to do so.
Both natural and artificial insecticides can also harm
beneficial helpers, such as necessary pollinators and
earthworms, and disrupt the life of the soil and thus harm
fertility in the long run, so they are best employed only when
absolutely necessary. Because natural insecticides don't last
as long in the garden, they have less potential to do
unintended damage.
Microbial Insecticides
Microbial insecticides are microbes (or toxins produced by
microbes) that are deadly to pest insects but harmless to
beneficial insects and humans. They have the advantage of
being relatively benign but the disadvantage of being fairly
species specific. For example, Bacillus popilliae is deadly to
Japanese beetle larvae but harmless to other white grubs that
infest lawns. They aren't contact poisons, and they must be
eaten by the insect to be effective. Microbial insecticides have
become increasingly popular, even among conventional
farmers, and are readily available at agricultural stores.
Soaps and Oils
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