International Pest Control – September/October 2021 – Vol 63, Nr.5

IPCadmin | September 27, 2021

Cover Image: Contact insecticide and acaricide formulation based on the entomopathogenic fungus controls aphids in Nectarines.
Picture by Certis, Spain

Grassland is in trouble around the world and climate change is exacerbating the problem. Intensively farmed grass has little biodiversity or carbon storage but the benefits of species-rich grassland are many and a series of strategies are proposed to restore degraded grassland.

Yet another estimate of the economic impact of invasive species has been made but this time focused on Europe: the UK has one of the highest total costs in Europe, more than £5 billion over the past 40-50 years – underlining the importance of prevention rather than cure!

Bayer is hoping to bring an end to the US Roundup litigation or at least provide a path to closure of the litigation. The company is also proposing to discuss with the EPA the labels on RoundupTM to “provide more information about the science” but the product will be withdrawn from the USA’s residential lawn and garden market.

The FAO, Southern African Development Community (SADC) and CABI are planning to tackle the five key pests and diseases of the SADC’s 16 members. The pests being targeted are Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (MLND), tomato leaf miner (Tuta (Phthorimaea) absoluta), oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis), fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and Banana Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense Tropical race 4 (Foc TR4)).

Meanwhile extensive research has shown tree swallows feed their chicks pesticide-laced prey but despite “omnipresent” pesticides the team found no direct effect of pesticides on nest survival, reproduction or nest success. And Finally in the news section the ban on agrochemicals in Sri Lanka is forcing a rethink of the crops they grow; apparently Pliny the Elder reported that ancient Sri Lankans lived for 140 years – without pesticides.

Lots of mergers, acquisitions, staff changes and promotions in the Company News Section – it seems the pandemic has not put a break on the development of the industry.

In our special section on biopesticides and biocontrol Prof Graham Mathews considers using better application techniques to improve the targeting of pests with biopesticides. The use of high volumes is not only wasteful, it is also difficult for many farmers around the world who do not have limitless supplies of clean water. Laurence Antonio Gutiérrez and Etienne Hinh from Certis provide an excellent review of the move of biorationals from the glasshouse to the field. We also report on a trial programme which shows a biofungicide that behaves like a pesticide and demonstrates a clear dose response. We report from the USDA on the search for new bacteria that could become new control agents in marshland. And we close with another report from the team at Certis on bio-acaricide trials in citrus and other fruit trees.

In public health Dr Nayem Hassan and Dr Abu Imroz Ali report on Russell Bio Solutions’ product to control malaria mosquitoes. Dr Zia Siddiqi draws our attention to the growing use of digital technology to manage pests and the important role it will play in the future. Finally we look at how lateral flow tests have found a new application detecting and distinguishing Zika and dengue.

In the forestry and plantation section Dr Terry Mabbett reports on the importance of nutrients to the cocoa crop aiding the plant in its fight against disease and a product designed to ensure a healthy crop without the need to revert to pesticides. Finally we close with Dr Mabbett reporting on the problem of oriental chestnut gall wasp in the UK, which brings us full circle to the cost of introduced pests.

In the next issue we are considering disease control in plant and plant products. If you have done any work in this area and would like to tell our readers about it now is your chance.

Chris Endacott, Editor International Pest Control magazine
Email Chris on editor@international-pest-control.com