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Nature Wars II
ISS 310
Spring 2000
Prof. Alan Rudy
Questions? Main Points?
4/20/00
Ch.3: Relatively Harmless Creatures
Cockroaches
Conserving Nature but not at home?
Structural Pest Controllers
– Exterminators or Guardians of Health?
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Fleas
Rats/mice
Mosquitoes
Termites
– Sanitation + IPM far better than
chemicals or utterly “natural” controls
Ch.3:
Relatively Harmless Cockroaches?
Ancient (like grasshoppers,
mantids, crickets and termites).
4000 species - 4 main pest species
Flat, greasy, flee from light
Omnivorous scavengers
Fecund --> High reproductive rates
NOT A SERIOUS HEALTH THREAT
– Allergies usually worst.
A couple? Who cares.
Ch.3:
Relatively Harmless Cockroaches II
When is an infestation bad enough
to implement control measures?
Can low levels be tolerated or
accepted?
Are chemicals necessary?
Are slower, apparently more
expensive (short term), methods
feasible?
Ch.3:
Relatively Harmless Cockroaches III
Winston claims most chemicals
highly tested. IBT scandal...
Do we trust testers, often
companies.
Do we, and others, understand
labels and safety measures?
Why do agricultural chemicals and
practices get more scrutiny than
home chemicals and practices?
Ch.3:
Relatively Harmless Cockroaches IV
How do we evaluate household
chemical danger for humans?
Problems with, and difficulty of,
social epidemiology.
 Problems of, and difficulties with,
pesticide resistance.
– Esp. for cockroaches, where
resistance to one chemical may impart
resistance to others as well.
Ch.3:
Relatively Harmless Cockroaches V
Rotate chemicals often?
How about non-pesticide methods?
– 1) Know your species, habitat,
preferences
– 2) Be clean, store food and garbage in
sealed containers, eliminate standing
water.
– 3) Selective and specific chemical
baits, traps and chemical applications.
• Diatomaceous earth, boric acid first.
Ch.3:
Relatively Harmless Cockroaches VI
Key: consumers must demand IPM
not chemical extermination.
Industry must serve clients who
want extermination and or apparent
cost-cutting and time saving
methods.
IPM = professionalization/better
training. but also long-term,
sustained and regular maintenance
and testing.
Ch.3:
Relatively Harmless Cockroaches VII
Need better gov’t regulation,
certification, training and renewal
schedules.
Need better understanding of shortterm penny-wisdom being long-term
pound foolish.
Very nice summary on p.58
Ch.4: Weeds
Humans thrive everywhere and
make their own surroundings, even
novel ecosystems like cities and
suburbs.
Urbanism makes weeds in both their
plant, animal and bird incarnations.
Urban nature is a hybrid place and
climate, groomed, sanitized, and
simplified: more about “feeling”
than “nature.”
Ch.4: Weeds II
Pigeons:
– check out those many diseases (61)
Geese
– mean, stinky, slimy, sick birds
Mike Mackintosh
– seeks diversified urban ecologies as a
means of controlling pest populations
and the reduction of pest being
generated by urbanism.
Ch.4: Weeds III
Birds and Aircraft/Airports
Airports often placed near marshy
bird-intensive habitats -- ooops.
Marsh, complex, diverse ecology
that Winston calls balanced.
Airport, simplified, reduced diversity
ecology that Winston calls
disrupted.
Ch.4: Weeds IV
To legally control bird populations:
– Mowing
– Draining
– Garbage Removal
– Different Noises
– Spikes
– Hotfoot
– Move nests
– Raptor releases.
Ch.4: Weeds V
Rats
– lean, mean, gnawing machines
– quick, tough, and hard to kill
– carry a whole host of diseases and
disease vectors
– cause fires by gnawing cables
Buildings can be rat-proofed but it
isn’t easy
Anti-coagulants --> resistance
Ch.4: Weeds VI
Coyotes
– classic mammalian generalist with
high reproduction rates and smarts
– kill far fewer pets than cars
Raccoons
– move to cities when habitat destroyed
and when transplanted for sporty
hunting.
– Rabies
Beaver, Deer, Squirrels, Rabbits.
Ch.4: Weeds VI
Lawns!
Greatest advertizing campaign
EVER
Quote on p. 76
Naturescaping for diversity
Wildlife corridors
Diversity, Conservation and
Stewardship.