You are a farmer growing vegetable crops that depend on a very delicate species of bee for pollination. Your c

Question

You are a farmer growing vegetable crops that depend on a very delicate species of bee for pollination. Your crops have been invaded by a destructive beetle that reproduces rapidly. In past years this type of beetle has destroyed up to 60% of your harvest. Which form of pest control would you choose to save your crops? Detail why you would choose this method. Is there any method you would not use? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

The method you would use would have to be a very specific method (as opposed to a general method like pesticides). If the beetle is a common pest, there may be a possibility that a strain of that beetle was bred that cannot breed any further. By releasing this in an infested area, you would get fewer and fewer beetles. More general - beetle traps set with pheromones for beetles. You get the idea. Since you don't want to kill the bees, you have to choose a method that is specific to the pest. The pesticides mentioned earlier would be the worst method, as any spraying would likely affect the bees as well.

Answer 2

Without knowing SPECIFICS, it's impossible to answer your question accurately.

However, there are to ways that might work without killing the bees.

1. A biological control that kills only the beetle. For example, a fungus that only attacks the beetles and not the bees.
2. A pheromone that attracts the beetles to a small area so that they can be eliminated by a locally controlled pesticide.

Answer 3

As a farmer I can tell you I would destory my standing crop by fire ! depending on size,I would do it in sections. and then rotate my crop every other year after. In the end it really depends on what your crop is? I don't know what type of crop that would require and specific type of bee for it's pollination? Maybe a flower? But even lavender doesn't require a special type of bee. ummm ya got me stumped. but with beetles... I'd burn out the problem.

Answer 4

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