Pesticides and Bee Safety
beginner ' s corner
Pesticides and Bee Safety
Unless you ’ ve been living under a rock , you already know that bee populations are facing serious decline . The idea of using bees to deliver pesticides may not seem like a good one until you realize that these are natural controls used to target specific pests and fungal diseases . Strawberries , for example , are prone to a fungal disease called gray mold , which is caused by the necrotrophic Botrytis cinerea fungus and is particularly difficult to control . Studies have found that applying Clonostachys rosea , another naturally occurring fungus , is an important component in the control of gray mold because it helps to prevent the development and growth of Botrytis without the need for chemical fungicides that inhibit plant growth . Uninhibited plants grow larger and produce more berries . Bees encounter Clonostachys naturally as they move from plant to plant and are unharmed by the fungus . They can safely collect the powdered form of this control as they leave their hives and spread it among strawberry crops while they pollinate , increasing yields and improving plant health . Beauveria bassiana is another naturally occurring fungus that acts as a parasite to various pests . It ’ s even being investigated for use in the control of mosquitos and bedbugs . It has proven to be effective in the control of aphids , lygus , thrips , and whiteflies in hothouse tomatoes and peppers . This natural pesticide is harmless to bees , meaning they can easily distribute it without worry . By combining these two biological controls into one powder , bees can effectively deliver pest and disease control while pollinating . Greenhouse growers were thrilled with this discovery because it not only improved harvests but also saved labor by reducing the need to spray chemicals . Of course , this same technology can also be used for outdoor crops .
" The idea of using bees to deliver pesticides may not seem like a good one
until you realize that these are natural controls used to target specific pests and fungal diseases ."
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