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Table of Contents
1) Editor's Comments:This week we're going to take a look at Garden Insects with part one of a two part article. Remember, not all insects are bad. As always, if you do have questions, suggestions or ideas, do not hesitate to drop us a note. Rex Gregor Tom Krueger 2) Garden Insects (Part I):
Beneficial insects generally fall into three groups:
All beneficial insects require plants that will provide them with shelter, nectar, and the pollen they need at certain stages of their life cycle.
The amazing thing about the Internet age is that we can communicate and learn more about nature much easier and faster then we ever thought possible before! Today we are learning how to live in a new environmentally sound way -- more comfortably and more safely than ever before. Beneficial insects have controlled harmful insect pests since the beginning of time. Unfortunately, recent cultural practices have negatively impacted this natural enemy population. Further, "chemicals" have become a liability, rather than a cure for the problem.
It took nearly another 70 years (in 1939) for an European chemist to discover the value of DDT. This led to the synthesis of thousands of organic molecules in search for more potent chemicals. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has licensed more than 10,000+ formulations. Many were found to be effective, easy to use, and were readily available. These chemicals have become the modern weapon of choice against bad insects. This has contributed to cheaper food and fiber productivity - no doubt about it. It wasn't long before people became concerned over the residues left by chemicals in foodstuffs. This brought about a worldwide interest in environmental protection. Critics charged that chemical insecticides were dangerous and self-defeating. They believed that insecticides were dangerous, and that by targeting pests, they were sabotaging ecological systems, poisoning people and leading to cancer -- thus causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. In the meantime, chemists and doctors began to work on finding alternative insecticides that would attack selectively instead of indiscriminately. The liabilities of chemical insecticide use has encouraged a strong interest in creating biological controls to turn natural processes and mechanisms against pest insects. The professionals searched for something that would NOT have any harmful side effects. One strategy is to use other insects, such as other predators, that would naturally kill the targeted bad insects without harming other organisms. In another method, huge numbers of sterilized male insects were released to compete with fertile males for female mates -- thus diminishing the populations of the next generation. They have also used powerful insect sex attractants to sabotage pest reproduction processes and worked on other things such as sex traps to lure the bad insects to their death. Unfortunately, most of the procedures they have tested are inherently slow and the procedures are selective to the type of insect. The slowness and selectivity can make these procedures economically unattractive to farmers and gardeners. Next week I am going to report on some biological alternatives that appear to be promising for the home gardener. Have a good day. 3) Humor for Today:A young couple got married and went on their honeymoon. When they got back, the bride immediately called her mother. "Well," said her mother, "so how was the honeymoon?""Mama," she replied, "the honeymoon itself was wonderful -- so romantic! But......." Suddenly she burst out crying. "Mama, as soon as we returned Sam started using the most horrible language -- things I'd never heard before! I mean, all these awful four- letter words! You've got to come get me and take me home... PLEASE MAMA!" "Sarah, Sarah," her mother said, "calm down! Tell me, what could be so awful? WHAT four-letter words?" "Please don't make me tell you, Mama," wept the daughter, "I'm so embarrassed -- they're just too awful! COME GET ME, PLEASE !!" "Darling baby, you must tell me what has you so upset. I'm your mother -- tell me these horrible four-letter words!" Still sobbing, the bride said, "Oh, Mama...words like: Wash, Iron, Dust, Cook..." 4) Rising Swan:
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Not
all insects are "bad guys." In fact most insects are working
hard to maintain your plant's health.
The purpose
of this article is to advise our garden friends about a safe biological
alternative to use in place of poisonous chemicals to control your garden
pests. We believe that it is time for us to encourage our garden friends
to stop using toxic chemicals. Whether you are a home gardener, a commercial
grower, farmer, landscaper, pet owner or the parents of small children,
you have an obligation to protect the environment for future generations.
The modern
history of chemical insecticides in the United States dates started
approximately about the 1870's. At that time, Paris green proved to
be effective against the Colorado potato beetle. Within a decade, Paris
green and kerosene oil emulsion products were found to work on a variety
of chewing and sucking insects.
As the
weather warms we all start to think about beverages to cool us down.
For many, you start to think about a smoothie -- that creamy blend of
fruits, low-fat yogurt or skim milk, and ice.
