Insects Resistant To Natural Insecticides
Everybody from gardening, to medical facilities, to homes and the office become diligent at one point or another in combating insect pests. There are commercial synthetic pesticides and natural insecticides. What many people don't realize is that insect pests can become resistant, maybe immune, to what we attack them with. It is a war between humans and the insects at times. Like any other war, the enemy has a better chance to succeed and if they adapt to the situation. As humans, we have changed strategies numerous times. We have gone from natural insecticides to different kinds of pesticides. Insects are no different. They can adapt. Many insects die off, but a few that remain from those that died due to insecticides, learn how to become survivors.
Some scientists believe that hundreds of insect pests have already become resistant against traditional insecticides. The belief is that there's a strong possibility that insects can overcome anything we throw at them. The mosquito for example, has already become resistant to BT. Other insects become resistant to insecticides within a handful of generations. I think scientists are little baffled that insects quickly can become resistant to natural insecticides. This especially becomes an issue when insects pass on resistant genes to the next generation.
Many people do not realize that over using their natural insecticides or pesticides creates these types of problems. even though some insects live for a very short time period, such as fleas that can only live for about a month; that is ample time for surviving fleas to develop resistance genes and pass that on to a new generation of fleas. The whiteflies are an example of this. In just a few short years it has adapted to plants that once were a repellent to it. The whitefly is now considered a superbug.
The war must continue however. Insecticides help to see if crops. Natural insecticides also helped with pest control against culprits like the mosquito. As human population continues to increase to about 15 billion by the year 2050, crops and the health of people need to be protected. If we lose the battle to control insect pests with natural insecticides, we will see economic losses in the billions of dollars. More importantly, the health of humans could be adversely affected.
Some large chemical companies see this issue with insects becoming resistant to natural insecticides, as an opportunity. These companies anticipate and see the reality that many insect pests will become resistant to today's natural insecticides and pesticides. Working together with other companies ensures a healthier and safer future, and brings them one step closer to making more money for their industry. Who can blame them?
Some people believe that natural insecticides should only be used when really needed. Having pest control for the sake of pest control convenience, is not a good enough reason to use natural insecticides. In other words, natural insecticides should only be used when crops and people's health truly become urgent. Like other wars, these people are willing to wait until it's too late.
