There is a long history of failed attempts of biological controls in Hawaii. The one ingrained in everyone’s mind is the day hunting mongoose released to control nocturnal rats in the 1800’s. However, a stricter quarantine process was set up by the State since and there have been numerous effective bio-controls. Within the last four years the Erythrina Gall Wasp has rapidly become a highly invasive pest in Hawaii. Facing no long-term control other than bio-control the Erythrina Gall Wasp’s cousin has been released throughout the islands to save Erythrina plants.
In an interview with Nicoli Barca, a field tech with the Nature Conservancy he stated biological controls are very effective when done right. An example of its effectiveness is the release of a leaf spot fungus to help control the very invasive Banana polka (Passiflora mollissima). The population of Banana polka has been reduced to three percent in five years. The research done to make sure a biological control will be effective costs millions of dollars. Therefore, Barca said bio-controls should be “reserved for the serious pests”. Weed control and eradication is the cheapest conservation method. However, this method is no longer effective on a large scale when an invasive species becomes out of hand. With the risk of the native Wiliwili tree becoming endangered the Erythrina Gall Wasp (EGW) has become a serious pest.
The Erythrina Gall Wasp (Quadrastichus erythrinae) is native to Africa but now lives worldwide. Quadrastichus erythrinae is known to inhabit China, India, Thailand, Okinawa, Philippines, Guam, Taiwan, Singapore, Mauritius, Reunion, American Samoa and Florida. As of April 2005, the Erythrina Gall Wasp also occupies Hawaii. This wasp was first discovered ...
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...when there was no other long-term solution. The thoroughness of the Quarantine process usually determines the success of bio-controls. Currently, the fate of the Wiliwili tree and Coral trees is in the hands a very small wasp, the Eurytoma wasp. The results of this bio-control could take years to discover.
Work Cited:
Barca, Nicoli. Telephone Interview. 20 July 2009.
Ohira, Rod. "It's wasp versus wasp to save native Wiliwili." Honolulu Advertiser. 26 November 2008. Honolulu Advertiser. 20 Jul 2009
Reimer, Neil. Email Interview. 24 July 2009.
Vorsino, Mary. "To fight invasive bug, Hawaii enlists a cousin." Honolulu Advertiser. 16 September 2007. Honolulu Advertiser. 20 Jul 2009 .
The inspiring documentary film, E.O. Wilson—Of Ants and Men, showcases biologist Edward Osborne Wilson’s passion for preserving the biodiversity of our natural world. E.O. Wilson not only values the fascinating creatures (particularly ants) that he comes across during his research and in his daily life, but he also takes action and participates in the Gorongosa Restoration Project at Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, Africa. The destruction of Gorongosa demonstrates the call for us—Homo sapiens—to realize how critical it is to concern ourselves with protecting the very ecosystems that have molded us into the complex species that we are; according to E.O. Wilson, “We adapted over millions of years to wild environments…We really need them” (CITE?). The better effort we make to understand that we are a part of this large, interdependent ecological community, the better equipped we become in not only being
Cranshaw, Whitney. "Nuisance Wasps and Bees." Nuisance Wasps and Bees. Colorado State University, 08 Jan. 2014. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
...l; Retired, formerly apiculturist, U.S. Department of Agriculture. BEEKEEPING IN THE UNITED STATES; AGRICULTURE HANDBOOK NUMBER 335 Revised October 1980; Pages 2 – 9
Biological control is an important factor if we are to protect and increase our crop production. This paper outlines an experiment that was done by the Spider division of Frankenstein, Inc, in their attempt to create a new and improved form of biological control. The experiment purpose is to genetically manufacture the "perfect" spider for biological control, the spider will be known as the Paine Killer Spider, which will be genetically perfect for its environment. The genetic factors of the spiders' eyesight, how fast it moves, and how fast it reproduces will be crucially important in its development. These three factors will set the parameters for how well the Paine Killer Spider will perform in its ecosystem. Besides the biological factors, how well the spider interact with other predators, as well as its natural enemies must also be taken in account. For this experiment, the Spider division of Frankenstein, Inc. did extensive research through Ecological journals with subjects on all types of biological control. Through the Eco Beaker simulation the team at the Spider Division will show that a genetically created spider can and will be successful for biological control purposes. This Eco Beaker simulation effectively simulates the introduction of an insect into an ecosystem for biological control purposes.
On the contrary, President Obama “unveiled a plan aimed at stopping the rapid decline in bee and butterfly populations” (“On May 19”). His plans are to reduce the death rate of bees which in turn will help out the agricultural production. He also plans to clear land in order to give the bees a bigger environment in which to repopulation and will ensure that no bees are harmed in the process (“On May 19”). The president sees the devastation that the decline could cause and is trying to combat the issue. The European Union has banned three pesticides in order to combat the decline but “have fallen short of providing adequate safeguards for the re-propagation of bee colonies”(“Bee research”). Governments are taking notice of the problem ahead yet still we are until to achieve the full support of all
MacKenzie, Melody Kapilialoha. (1991). Native Hawaiian Rights Handbook. Honolulu: Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation/ Office of Hawaiian Affairs, p. 24.
Ultimately, we are at a crossroads when it comes to the crisis of CCD and the health of the honeybee. It has been clearly stated just how catastrophic the loss of the honeybee will be to our food system, which in turn will have dire consequences for our economy and environment. If the main culprit is truly pesticides, then CCD can be stopped because the problem is manmade. Yet, if it turns out that CCD is something that we cannot stop because we fail to pinpoint exactly what is going on, then the future looks to be a rough one. In essence, the health of the honeybee holds the key to our economical and financial prosperity.
The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is a very invasive pest in Southern U.S.A. and in all parts of the world. Scientists determined the arrival of these ants is by the unloading of cargos at the port of Mobile, Ala i...
In early 2008, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Everglades National Park joined together to initiate a Florida Invaders, a program used to raise awareness about what’s being done and what we should do to help stop invasive flora and fauna from spreading. “The program was a good start but they should further raise awareness of the seriousness of the problem,” said Christine Beck, Ecology teaching assistant and FIU.
Zipkin, Elise F., Kraft, Clifford E., Cooch, Evan G., and Sullivan, Patrick J., “When Can Efforts to Control Nuisance and Invasive Species Backfire?,” Ecological Applications, Vol. 19, No. 6 (2009): 1585-1595, accessed October 11, 2013. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40346271.
...auers, Sandy. "Mystery Killer Silencing Honeybees." Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA). Feb. 7 2007: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.
Bees and specifically the loss of bees and foliage have been all over the media in
central Texas. On the radiator they found a large golden paper wasp (Polistes aurifer) can
Invasive alien species are disrupting and changing the normal ecological functions of biomes, ecosystems, and the biosphere as a whole (CBD, 2009). They are a threat to biodiversity and can cause damage to, or even eradicate native species which natural cycles and other organisms depend on. While disrupting energy flow, food chains, and shaking the structure of ecosystems to the core, invasive species create not only ecological, but also a whole host of social, economical, and health issues that affect the livelihood of almost every organism on earth, including humans (CBD, 2009).
Biological pest control is the suppression of pest damage through the action of one or more natural enemies and usually involves an active human role.