Audio Introduction: "Channel 2 has criticized
the nighttime aerial spraying of Malathion in Los Angeles. Here
with a reply is Douglas E. Drenkow, Agricultural and
Environmental Author."
We must consider biological controls for the
prevention of Mexican fruit fly outbreaks.
Biological control typically uses predators and
parasites to feed on pests. For example, "BT" bacteria are
deadly to many caterpillars and fly maggots, but are relatively
non-toxic to people, pets, and plants.
Biological controls are far less expensive in
the long run than chemical controls, because the living
creatures reproduce themselves. In Southern California avocado
orchards, predators and parasites have been established for
years and have eliminated countless insecticide applications.
Biological controls for an imported pest, such
as the Mexican fruit fly, are often found in the pest's native
land. A century ago, the citrus industry in Southern California
was almost wiped out by a pest accidentally imported from
Australia; so a lady bug that feeds on the pest in Australia was
intentionally imported: For five thousand dollars California's
multi-billion dollar citrus industry was saved.
Predators of fruit flies and their maggots
include many spiders, praying mantids, las niņas de la
tierra, ants, lizards, birds, and possums. Agricultural
officials can properly supervise biological controls.
An ounce of biological prevention is worth a
pound of chemical cure.
Note: The use of biological controls,
particularly carefully selected and quarantined parasitic
insects, has become more accepted practice in agriculture -- indeed, the number of commercial suppliers in the U.S., most in
California, grew geometrically in the years subsequent to the
time of this essay. I played a small part, compiling and,
through the Entomological Society of America, distributing
worldwide comprehensive computer databases, extensively
cross-referenced, as by crop plants, pests, and beneficial
parasites and predators. Chemical pesticide usage may not have
decreased, but I do not believe it has increased as much as it
would have otherwise. And many of the most dangerous
insecticides have been pulled from the market.