Adaptation and resistance to chemicals (natural and synthetic) are normal and natural processes. It’s what Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution is based on. When faced with an inhibiting environment, we adapt to overcome it. It’s the basis of all addictive behaviour including drug addiction. Chemical resistance is where an insect Read more…
Aphid insects are small insects that extract the sap from plants. Depending upon the specie, they measure up to 3mm in size. Aphids are often found on or under leaves, on soft stems or in crevices between leaves. Despite their status as a pest insect they are quite interesting. For most Read more…
Aphid predators are awesome insects that we should encourage into our gardens. We do this by learning about our gardens and trusting nature. To learn more about aphids, read this blog. Aphid predators include: Lady beetles and their larvae. Note that there are many different species of lady beetles and Read more…
A leafminer is the larvae (baby) of the adult moth who lays eggs underneath young leaves. When they hatch the larvae burrow into the leaf and start feeding between the lower and upper leaf surfaces. Their feeding habits make trailing marks on the leaves and causes leaves to curl inward and warp. Read more…
There are five ways insecticides affect insects. This category is one of the five. It’s always interesting to look at the unknowns and how they’re used. In contravention of the precautionary principle using a chemical with an unknown action is reckless. If a chemical has unknown effects, shouldn’t we not Read more…
Stomach and midgut insecticides are one of five classes of insecticides. They come from microbes. Some microbes release toxic compounds. When some insects eat these microbes, they get poisoned. Their stomach is the part of their body affected. Bt or Bacillus thuringiensis belongs to this class of stomach and midgut Read more…
Respiratory disrupting insecticides Respiratory disrupting insecticides are one of five ways insecticides work. The lungs and respiratory system are targets of respiratory disrupting insecticides. Many of these insecticides are based on microbes or microbial compounds. They can be fast acting. One example of a respiratory disrupting insecticide is Chlorfenapyr. This is Read more…
Growth inhibitors are one of five groups of insecticides. Growth inhibitors affect the growth and development of insects. There are applied at a particular stage of an insects development. Growth inhibitors are designed to prevent metamorphosis thereby preventing maturity and reproduction. An example of a growth inhibiting insecticide is Pyriproxyfen. Read more…
Muscle and nerve affecting insecticides The most common insecticides are those that affect the muscles and nerves. This is one of five ways insecticides work. Muscle and nerve affecting insecticides tend to be fast acting. Technically, systemic insecticides refer to how they act on the body, not their mode of Read more…
It’s important we know how insecticides work. If we don’t know how insecticides work we may be contributing to global insecticide resistance. Insecticides are a subclass of pesticides aimed to kill insects. Pesticides is a class of chemicals that also kill other species classed as pests such as rats and Read more…
Immediate effect of insecticides The effect of insecticides can be immediate and seen as soon as we use them. Whether we use a natural substance or a synthetic one, there are immediate effects. Read my blog called ‘How insecticides work’ for an overview of their modes of action on insects. Read more…
What are borer insects? Borer insects are usually the larvae of particular moths and beetles. The adults lay their eggs either on or in the bark of a tree and the larvae hatch and start consuming the tree. Tell tail signs of borer insects are: leaves on whole branches dying Read more…
What are sap sucking insects? Sap sucking insects are common in nature and our gardens. Sap sucking insects are herbivores. They eat or consume the sap of a plant. The sap of a plant is the liquid that maintains hydration and transports vital nutrients through the plants body. Therefore, sap Read more…
What are plant scale insects and what should we do about them? Plant scale insects feed upon the sap of a plant. For this reason they are known as sap sucking insects. Whilst plant scale insects have similar characteristics, different species of scale look slightly different from each other. What Read more…