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Millions of butterflies begin annual migration to Mexico

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: Insects, Maxico

Transcript

The onset of fall brings a majestic sight to Michoacan in Mexico. The arrival of millions of Monarch butterflies that descend on the 13,000-hectare butterfly reserve. The Monarchs travel thousands of miles to flee the cold winter of Canada and the U.S. to hibernate and reproduce here, in the temperate woods of central Mexico. But this year their numbers could drop, according to Rosendo Caro the director of the reserve.

SOUNDBITE: Director of Mexico's Monarch butterfly reserve, Rosendo Caro saying (Spanish) "The butterfly has been affected by the prolonged drought in western U.S. and in Mexico's north east. The drought affects the butterfly because its feeds from wild plants." The annual spectacle draws tourists, scientists and locals alike. And local businesses depend on a thriving butterfly season.

SOUNDBITE: Restaurant owner, Concha Castro, saying (Spanish) "When the butterflies come we can make some money and it's a benefit for the other land owners, they get their cut." Many scientists blame extreme weather caused by climate change for the population's decrease.

Elly Park,

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Pesticides killing insects increased challenge to food security

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: Food Security, Insects, Pesticide and Herbicide, Pollination

KATHMANDU: Usage of excessive pesticide has emerged as a challenge to maintain food security in the country.

Pesticides are killing insects helpful in fertilisation process, said spokesperson of Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Dr Hari Dahal. “Some 35 per cent plants fertilise through pollination and the use of excessive pesticides have reduced the rate, he added. Around 350,000 kg pesticide is used in the country annually. The quantity is not a large quantity but pesticide use is consontrated in Terai and sub-urban areas of hill districts. Therefore, its intensity is high.

Pollination is a process of fertilisation in plants. Small insects like bees, butterflies, moths, flies, and hummingbirds pollinate plants and vegetables. However, 65 per cent of world plants are pollinated by wind and other agents.

According to him, the government is experimenting on role of insects in fertilisation of Fapar, Tori and Titekarela in Chitwan district. Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science of Tribhuvan University is executing the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s $125,000 project in Chitwan districts. The project will end in 2014. According to him, the ministry is planning to include conservation of useful insects in National Agriculture Policy. Most of fruits of vegetables depend on insects in pollination, so we are developing pesticide free pocket areas to increase useful insects, he said, adding that it is also planning other measures like conservation of insect’s natural habitat, reducing pesticide and promotion of local plants. Local plants are more insect friendly, so they should be conserved, he said.

However, he did not present facts and figures to support his logics. Meanwhile, the government has hosted international conference on the issue on November 12-18. Experts from 11 countries and UN agencies took part in the conference that aims to conserve pollination process.

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

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Relationships between Insecticides, Landscapes and habitat:

Posted by Flora Sawita Labels: animals, biodiversity, birds, crops, earth, eco-merge, ecosystems, habitats, insecticides, Insects, landscapes, plants, pollution

Landscape Change Leads to Increased Insecticide Use in U.S. Midwest
Recently a study was published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences linking the increased use of insecticides to landscape simplification. Replacing natural habitat with crop land causes an increase in crop pest problems. The continued growth of cropland and loss of natural habitat have increasingly simplified agricultural landscapes in the U.S. Midwest. The cause of pest increases is brought on as the removal of natural habitats destroys the habitat for the beneficial predatory insects. Creating more cropland creates a larger target area for pests giving them what they need to survive and multiply. According to Tim Meehan, the leading author of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, counties with less natural habitat have higher rates of insecticidal use than counties with more areas of natural habitat. It was noted that perennial crops provide a year round habitat for insects, birds and other animals, which are beneficial to the area.
More on this article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110711151455.htm

Simplified landscapes, with lots of cropland and little natural habitat,
promote crop pest problems and increased use of insecticides.
(Credit: Illustration courtesy of Tim Meehan, UW-Madsion)

Fewer Aphids in Organic Crop Fields, Study Finds
According to the results in a study done by the Department of Animal Ecology & Tropical Biology, conventional triticale fields treated with insecticides to kill off aphids does not show any improvement and produces a bigger problem as aphid numbers increase. The problem is when fields are treated with insecticides it not only kills off the aphids but it also kills their natural enemies. They compared this to an organic crop field where they discovered three times the amount of natural enemies and five times fewer aphids.
Read the article at:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110713101944.htm

By Carol Staats

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Millions of butterflies begin annual migration to Mexico

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Relationships between Insecticides, Landscapes and habitat:

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