Control Gardening Pest
EducationControl Gardening Pest
Bees and plants
Get some watch bees to protect your garden from caterpillar. According to the researcher from the University in Germany, honey bees are more effective than insecticides in keeping harmful pests such as caterpillars away from your prize flowers. According to a team of German scientists like winged watchdogs, honey bees chase away intruders who threaten to devour their beloved pollination buds. They chase not only humans but also other bugs. Studies show that caterpillars are particularly sensitive to bees since the buzzing of the insect's wings irritate the sensitive hairs of their body; and the leaf munching larvae are frightened away.
The German scientists conducted an experiment in which bell pepper plants were kept surrounded by buzzing bees suffered between 60 percent and almost 70 percent less damage to their leaves than those which where unprotected. Findings indicate for the first time that visiting honey bees provide plants with a totally unexpected advantage, the German researchers reported. Bees not only transport pollen from flower to flower, but in addition also reduce plant destruction by herbivores they added.
What are pheromones?
Practically every living organism uses scents to communicate with others of it's own kind. These odors are called pheromones. It is define on the dictionary as a chemical substance produced by an animal that serves as a stimulus to other individuals of the same species for one or more behavior responses. In other words, it is an odor produced by an animal or plant that affects the behavior of other plants and animals.
Scientists ever since have learned to use pheromones to combat infestation of plants. Sex pheromones are sprayed over an infested area to disorient males seeking females of their species.
Scientists from the Pennsylvania State University did this by using gyplure, the moth's attractant chemical and sprayed it over a large infested area. After six weeks, very few of the female moths had mated while the males spent a frustrating time flying to and fro.
Gardening tips
- Plants flowering. Plant flowering plants. These nectar-rich flowers will attract bees and wasps that will spread pollen and prey on harmful pests.
- Growing vegetables. Plant beans and peas between rows of other plants, to reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and control weeds. It will also minimize the spread of pests.
- Make compost. Make compost instead of chemical fertilizers. This reduces the amount of garbage that you will throw out aside from enriching the soil.
- How to kill weeds? weeds can be kill by simply covering them with newspapers, cutting them off from sunlight until they die.
- Grow your plants in a cardboard. Grow your plants in a cardboard cut-out. Punch a hole on the middle to allow the plants to grow, It will keep the weeds from growing around it.
Images and Photos
Bees
Growing vegetables
Caterpillar
Moth
Plants flowering
Source:
Get Some Bees to Protect Your Garden From Caterpillar. Manila Bulletin 20 Jan. 09
Pheromones and Pest Management. Bato Balani For Science and Technology
Macaraig, Mynardo, "How Green is My Home?: A Filipino Primer On Home Ecology." Earth Station 91