All of us are reliant on the agricultural industry delivering the crops that we need to keep everyone fed and for all the products that wouldn’t exist without agricultural input.
If your home is under threat from destructive bugs and all sorts of insect invasions you can always call in a residential pest control company to resolve the problem. When it comes to a pest problem on a much larger scale that’s a different story altogether.
The agriculture industry is under almost constant threat from a variety of pests. Here is a look at some of these destructive forces and what they are capable of.
Locusts have legendary status for all the wrong reasons
If you were asked to name the most notorious insect that has blighted agriculture throughout time it is likely that locusts will be right up there as a prime contender.
Under certain optimum conditions, locusts have the ability to gather in massive swarms that can be hundreds of square miles in size. When you consider they can eat their weight in plants each day you can quickly see how destructive they can be.
A clear and present danger to potato crops
As the name implies, the Colorado Potato Beetle is a very real threat to potato crops when it decides to feed.
They are voracious eaters and can quickly obliterate entire potato crops in next to no time. The bad news for farmers is that this species of beetle has managed to develop a resistance to no less than 50 different insecticides.
Corn farmers are fearful of these creatures
The production of corn underpins the US agricultural industry and is a very important crop. That is why the corn rootworm is a substantial problem in the industry.
Despite its name, the rootworm is more akin to a beetle. It comes out of the ground during June and July to wreak havoc. The legacy of its attack also lives on the following year, as it lays eggs throughout the crop.
Mormon crickets threaten a variety of agricultural produce
These crickets got their name because it was a species that first came to light by invading crops laid by Mormon settlers back in the 1800s.
They feed on fruit trees, grains, shrubs, and grasses. Once they establish themselves, Mormon crickets can threaten crops for as long as five years.
Japanese beetles deliver short-lived destruction
Surprisingly, Japanese beetles do not exist as a threat in Japan. They were first seen in New Jersey back in 1916 and quickly became a serious threat for farmers in the eastern US.
They feed on as many as 300 different plants and feed in groups. They only feed for a maximum of six weeks, but that is more than enough time to wreak havoc.
Stink bugs don’t just threaten your home
Stink bugs are renowned as a domestic pest but they are also a serious threat to crops. These unpleasant critters like to feed on fruits and vegetables and can severely damage crop yields.
Aphids and Whiteflies are true bugs
The generic “True Bug” term applies to tens of thousands of different insect species. These include aphids and whiteflies. True Bugs attack in vast numbers and in addition to damaging and destroying crops they are also capable of spreading diseases and viruses.
These destructive pests are a constant threat to agriculture and every farmer is constantly vigilant when it comes to trying to nullify the threat when one of the bugs comes calling.