Yirka, B. (2022, August 19). Replacing pesticides with ants to protect crops. Phys.org. Retrieved September 14, 2022, from https://phys.org/news/2022-08-pesticides-ants-crops.html
In the United States and around the world, farmers have turned to chemical pesticides to increase their yield of crops. Although chemical pesticides are a worldwide practice, studies have shown that the pesticides can kill pollinators, cause pollution, and raise concerns of what the chemicals in the pesticides do to one who eats the food. Recently, scientists have been gathering data on natural pesticides in an attempt to find an effective but environmentally friendly method of pest control. One group, publishing a paper titled, “Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences,” have analyzed studies to learn more about alternatives to chemical pesticides. Their solution: ants. The researchers found that in most studies the ants provided significant protection from hungry pests. The ants feed on the bugs without harming the plant, and in some cases have proved more effective than commercial pesticides. The researchers concluded that ants provide an inexpensive and sustainable way to control pests.
Overall, ants are an effective solution to pest control problems, and they are a significant improvement to the toxic chemicals currently being used. I think this article emphasizes the use of natural biotic relationships to solve problems in agriculture. The mutualistic relationship between the ants and the crops are to each other’s benefit, as well as the farmer. The ants can feed on the bugs, the plants are protected, and the farmer can grow crops without having to spray harmful chemicals on their land. I think this is such a beneficial addition to farming, and I’m interested to see whether this is implemented in the future.
I totally agree with you. I thought this was a very interesting post, and I never really thought about how pesticides are bad. I’m happy there is an alternative way of keeping plants protected and keeping farmers safe rather than spraying harmful chemicals. A question to you is, why, in the first place, did they start using harmful chemicals that they know are bad for farmers and not try to use ants at the beginning?
I totally agree to use ants as a natural, eco-friendly substitute for chemical pesticides. This idea fits in well with environmental science’s guiding principles, which support healthy, resilient ecosystems. By utilizing an already-existing biological relationship, the idea of using ants as pest control agents promotes a more comprehensive, ecosystem-based approach to agricultural methods. I find it fascinating to consider how this approach may be expanded for use on larger farms or applied to various crops, as well as how it might be combined with other sustainable farming techniques. It also poses a significant concern: Could utilizing ants as a pest management method unintentionally have detrimental effects on neighborhood ecosystems, such as the ants becoming invasive species or upsetting neighborhood food chains?
It’s fascinating to see how nature’s own mechanisms, like the symbiotic relationship between ants and crops, can offer solutions to human-made agricultural challenges. Your point about the mutualistic benefits is spot on. I wonder, though, about the scalability of this approach. Do you think there could be any potential downsides or limitations to relying solely on ants for pest control on large-scale farms? Additionally, while this method seems promising environmentally, do you think there might be any unintended consequences or ecological disruptions that could arise from introducing large populations of ants into agricultural ecosystems?