Why are we interested in biological control of insect pests?
The statistics speak for themselves:
- Homeowners spend over $11 billion each year on pesticides.
- Per acre pesticide use in home gardens exceeds that of many major agricultural commodities.
- 74 million pounds of conventional pesticides are used by homeowners each year.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration reviews following passage of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) have reduced the number of pesticides available to homeowners.
- Application, storage and disposal issues challenge many home gardeners.
- Health and environmental risk factors associated with pesticides.
The biological control workshop will give you an insight on how to control garden insect pests without resorting to insecticides.
References
- EPA. 2003. Restricted use products (RUP) report- Six months summary list. <http://www.epa.gov/opprd001/rup/rup6mols.htm>.
- Grieshop, J.I. and M.C. Stiles. 1989. Risk and home-pesticide users. Environment and Behavior 21: 699-716.
- Whitmore, R.W., J.E. Kelly and P.L. Reading, E. Brandt, and T. Harris. 1993. National home and garden pesticide use survey. ACS Symposium Series- American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C. p. 522.
[Introduction] [Workshop
Overview ][Why Biological Control?] [View
Slide Show about BC][Materials Needed
for Workshop] [Natural Enemies Demo]
[Discover Biological Control at Home][Cost][Would
You Like to Give a Workshop?][Where to
Buy Materials Needed?][FAQ] [ACORN
Home][Entomology Extension Office]
