Current situation with insects and pesticides
Over 1 million types of insects populate our planet, but only 1 percent are harmful and considered to be "pests." They are considered to be pests because they eat the foods we grow, or harm the livestock we need, or destroy our homes. The cost of the destruction caused by pests is high, as is the effects of chemical pesticides used to eradicate them. Many insects are now becoming resistant to pesticides. In addition, use of pesticides has been linked to causing many problems including human infertility, birth defects and the demise of the honeybee population. Pesticide use also harms natural insect predators, such as rabbits and other beneficial insects.How the mushroom pesticide works
The fungi pesticide works by attracting the insect, who then eats it and dies. A fungus is grown on grain or wood, or agricultural waste products. Insects are attracted to the fungus. When the insects eat the fungus, they become infected with the fungi, which kills them. Depending on the insect population, a variety of fungi, or a combination of different fungi can be used. Some of the fungi have what is called "phagostimulatory effect" which means that they cause the insects to want to feed. Basically, they increase the insects' hunger, then lead them to eat the poisonous mushrooms.Research on using fungi as insecticides
Research on Eastern subterranean termites was conducted over a period of 14 days using three different types of mycelium test strains on rice. Beauveria bassiana # 74038, Beauveria bassiana # 20872, and Metarhizium anisopliae # 62176.Mortality rates varied between 100 percent and 66 percent in the termites who ate the mycelium, compared to a death rate of only 45.46 percent in the control group. The same myceliums were used in research with red imported fire ants. After 21 days, the mortally of the ants ranged between 100 percent and 82 percent, compared to only 66 percent in the control group.
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