Re: Ant question
- To: Pumpkins
- Subject: Re: Ant question
- From: G* S*
- Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 18:00:32 -0500
Shaun,
Well said. The world is now facing serious threats from resistant
microorganisms
as a direct result of contra-indicated use of antibiotics. Farmers,
gardeners and
yes, we, as AG growers must use the insecticides at our disposal with
respect and responsibility so as not create these same types of
resistance.
Regardless of where one might stand on the organic verses non organic
growing techniques, the truth of the matter is that the use of tools
effects everyone, sometimes in very subtle ways.
Greg Schraiber
>
> That might be a worthwhile tradeoff for me. Anyway, my point wasn't
> "don't use insecticides", my point is "don't misuse insecticides." If you
> or anyone else don't apply them according to the directions then you will
> end up poisoning yourself (which is your prerogative) and creating
> resistant pests (which is not). There is a non-native honeybee mite
> causing heavy losses to the beekeeping industry because of a few
> beekeepers that abused fluvalinate, the only EPA-registered miticide for
> the mite. They found out that instead of using the registered
> formulation, Apistan, in strips, they could get higher concentrations in a
> pesticide called Maverick which was registered for other uses. Using
> Maverick controlled the mites well for a while but the high dosage led to
> a fluvalinate resistant mite which has now migrated to several states, led
> to quarantines, and has been very difficult and expensive to control. If
> you or anyone else misuses Sevin or other pesticides on pumpkins, in the
> same way you are selecting for pesticide resistance in bugs. Due to the
> short life cycle of insects resistance can arise quite rapidly. So unless
> you want resistant squash vine borers and other nasty pests that can't be
> controlled, you need to carefully follow the directions on the label and
> be judicious with your application of pesticides, not just apply them
> whenever you see ants or other bugs that aren't causing an uncontrollable
> problem.
>
> Shaun
>
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