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Bosslady: *pointing to an invasive insect* Is this a bad bug?
Me: Well, you can’t really make moral judgements on animals. They’re just doing their thing, and the only reason they’re a problem is they were introduced, by humans, into an ecosystem where they have no controls and are causing serious damage to native species and agriculture.
Bosslady: *stares*
Me: Yeah, it’s bad. Squish it.
Reviving Broad Bean Farming in Kenya: A Path to Food and Nutritional Security
“Discover how the reintroduction of broad bean farming in Kenya is boosting food security and livestock nutrition with high-protein, sustainable crops.” “Learn about the benefits of broad beans for Kenyan farmers and livestock, from improving soil health to enhancing milk production and human nutrition.” “Explore the resurgence of broad beans in Kenya, a versatile crop supporting sustainable…
Pros and Cons of the Interesting Eastern Leaf-footed Bug
Pros and Cons of the Interesting Eastern Leaf-footed Bug describes how leaf-footed bugs can be pests in crops and gardens, but also explains that generally nature keeps their populations low enough that damages are minimal.
I Spy with My Little Eye When taking photos in nature, you never really know what you may stumble across. Last spring there was a gorgeous coral honeysuckle plant with it’s long, trumpet-shaped flowers blooming beside one of the roads that I take to get in and out from my house. I stopped several times to take photos of the flowers in various stages of development. On one of those stops, I also…
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The Leaf Footed Bug Has a Beautiful Nymph
The Leaf Footed Bug Has a Beautiful Nymph introduces readers to the leaf footed bug, and specifically to it’s nymph stage. It gives a few facts about the bugs and tells of the authors encounter with one.
Bug on the Run One of the distinct disadvantages to living in the woods in an older mobile home is that it’s not very secure against insects. Now don’t get me wrong, I like bugs, but I most definitely prefer them outdoors! I have written about a couple of other bugs that have turned up in my house, and for some reason they seem to really like my bathroom. Actually, I think that they end up in…
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Crop Pests More Widespread Than Previously Known
Crop Pests More Widespread Than Previously Known
Pests that have not been reported in a certain area are usually assumed to be absent, but analysis by the University of Exeter shows many pests are “currently unobserved, but probably present” (a likelihood of more than 75%).
The study identified large numbers of pests in this category in China, India, southern Brazil and some countries of the former USSR.
The researchers used data for…
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Crop Pests May Be Greatly Underestimated In Developing Countries
The abundance of crop pests in developing countries may be greatly underestimated, posing a significant threat to some of the world’s most important food producing nations, according to research led by the University of Exeter. Data on the known distributions of almost 2,000...
Read more Crop Pests May Be Greatly Underestimated In Developing Countries
Crop Pests Disperse as Global Warming Persists
Climate change is resulting in pests and pathogens spreading to the poles. Some breeds of insects are increasing their range north and south as much as 12 miles (19.3km) per year since 1960, according to research undertaken by the universities of Oxford and Exeter. Past attempts by these pests to move away from the equator led to them being repeatedly pushed back by colder weather, as it made the areas unsuitable for their survival.
"One example is the Colorado potato beetle. Warming appears to have allowed it to move northwards through Europe to into Finland and Norway where the cold winters would normally knock the beetle back." Said Dr Dan Bebber, lead author of the study from the University of Exeter, "The most convincing hypothesis is that global warming has caused this shift.”
The Oxford and Exeter researchers believe that while the change in climate is making more of the world habitable for these pests and pathogens, predominant responsibility for the actual spread of these organisms is held by the global crop trade.
It’s a current estimation that 10-16% of all crops die from disease outbreaks, and that global warming could amplify this effect, warns the researchers. Dr Bebber said; “Global food security is one of the major challenges we are going to face over the next few decades.” He goes on to add, "We really don't want to be losing any more of our crops than is absolutely necessary to pests and pathogens."
The researchers further investigated the predicament and went over records collected throughout the past 50 years, containing information on 612 crop pests and pathogens worldwide. These organisms included insects, bacteria and fungi that are responsible for ravaging harvests and ruining trees across the globe.
They say that more specific information regarding the original whereabouts and direction of spread of the organisms was necessary for a full assessment of the true scale of the issue at hand. Dr Bebber adds; "We also need to protect our borders, we have to quarantine plants to reduce the chances that pests and pathogens are able to get into our agricultural systems."
BBC News:
Climate change is helping pests and diseases that attack crops to spread around the world, a study suggests.
Researchers from the universities of Exeter and Oxford have found crop pests are moving at an average of 3km (two miles) a year.
The team said they were heading towards the north and south poles, and were establishing in areas that were once to cold for them to live in.
The research is published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
