This article was written about a species of bug called mealybugs. These were in Thailand and were killing cassava plants by sucking out the plant's sap and reproducing at an exceedingly fast pace because their native enemies weren't in the same environment. During the summer of 2010, a certain species of wasp was released into the cassava fields called Anagyrus Iopezi. This wasp species injects their eggs directly into mealybugs' bodies; when the larvae hatch, they eat their way out of their host, killing them in the process. The wasps just happened to be the native enemy of the mealybug, thus being "biological controls".
But don't be convinced, scientists only imported the wasps to Thailand because the mealybugs were killing the cassava plants in Africa during the 1980s as well. These wasps are unique though, they only attack a few species unlike most predators. Tony Bellotti, an entomologist at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, said the wasps and mealybugs would reach an equilibrium in Thailand eventually. He continued to say,
"The parasite can't eliminate the pest [completely] because it would eliminate itself, but you hope that the equilibrium will be at a low enough level that it's no longer damaging to the crops."Bellotti said later that scientists would figure out if releasing the wasps was a good idea when Thailand's dry season as mealybugs are primarily dry-season pests (this was in 2010). If the release of the wasps was a good idea, it would be carried through and the technique of this pesticide would be used in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries.
I think the scientists did the right thing in releasing the wasps, given an equilibrium will be reached soon. Furthermore, if the results shown from the Thailand experiment are positive, the wasps should be definitely used in other countries where the cassava crop is being destroyed by more mealybugs.
Some questions in relation to the article:
What would some affects on the environment if the wasps and mealybugs didn't reach an equilibrium? (either the wasps over populate or the mealybugs re-over populate)
Should the scientists continue to use the wasps as parasites if it doesn't decrease the mealybug problems? Why or why not?
How would you protect the cassava crop if importing wasps wasn't an option and you didn't know the wasps and mealybugs were native enemies?
I believe what the scientists did was also a good thing. Like stated, it was very smart of them to only release a certain number of these dangerous wasps into the environment. This way, they can help eliminate many meely bugs to save the crops without having too big a population to harm civilians! In the future though, they will probably need to send people in to help eliminate some of these bugs however, as they can reproduce fast and if theyr'e not careful, the population of the wasps can grow dangerously high and create a large risk for everyone. Some controlling is good, but too much can have disastarous results.
ReplyDeleteSome effects on the environment if they didn't reach an equiliborium could vary. If wasps over populated many people would be in danger of harm from these wasps. If the meely bugs re-over populate, many crops will be destoryed (again) and people could starve.
If the problem of the meely bugs doesn't decrease with the wasps and parasites, then they should instead find another solution and give up with the wasps, as using the wasps when they're aren't even helping is pointless and dangerous.
And finally, if I were just some random person who's crops were being eaten, I would do like most farmers do: spray these bugs with pesticides! "Hopefully they would just go away with a little does of this," would be my thinking automatically.
I definatly think that this was a great idea and was very clever of the scientist as opposed to using chemical pesticides. I do agree with Emily because i think that this could be catastrophic if these bees take over. It could be like an invasive species taking over which could be critical to everything in the enviorment around it not just the cassava plants. If this bee does not help to kill the mealybugs then scientists should without a doubt stop using these bees because if they are not feeding on mealybugs then they must take food from other animals already living there.
ReplyDeleteIf i didnt know that the mealybugs and the bees were enemies then i would try to get rid of the mealy bugs by spraying the plants with CHEMICAL pesticides although not as healthy for the plant and the enviorment it would significantly help with the problem. I hope that the bug problem is solved and i think that the bees will be a definate help.
I think is a better way of handling this problem. They would have done many other things but then the environment might be affected. I also agree that the scientists did the right thing and an equilibrium will soon be reached. Yes if the mealybug also affects other places in an extreme way then the wasp should also be put into there. If the wasps populate they would eventually die off and have to be replenished if the mealy bugs came back. If the mealybugs repopulate then they would just have to add more of the wasps. The environment would have their crops being eaten if the mealybugs stayed. Yes they should continue to use them because if it doesn't decrease the population then it would keep it steady and they could other things to help the farmers. I would probably just use chemicals if need be. Or I would find another way around it. I would research some things on the internet. Chemicals would be my last option.
ReplyDeleteI believe what the scientists did was a terricfic idea that benifited them and the enviroonment. If the wasps were to populate then the mealybugs wouldn't have, which wouldn't have been equal. That would happen the same way on the opposite sides. If the wasp population is too high, then the people would be in danger as so would the crops be if the mealybugs overpopulate. So if this would turn out to not work, then the scientists would have to come up with a new solution.
ReplyDeleteIf I were not to know about how the bees and mealybugs were enemy's, then I would most likely have some type of chemical that would take care of the mealybugs. This wouldn't be a good thing for the crops, but it would solve the solution for a little while.