The media tends to cover the grasshopper invasion as resulting from hot, dry
weather and as drought-caused. Little is said about the global warming that
causes the drought and is likely to worsen, if current trends continue.
The sharpshooter has come North because of climate change; it will not be the last new pest to migrate our way. GWSS have historically thrived in warmer climates to the south and perished in cooler weather. Even a slight rise in temperature expands their territorial reach.
The main solution currently used for the grasshopper and GWSS invasions is
pesticides. But that merely treats the symptom, and can worsen the underlying cause. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is foolishly spending millions of our tax dollars to arm itself with chemicals; the bugs will adapt and resist. The federal government recently granted California another $28 million for its chemical war against the dreaded sharpshooter.
The next bug is right behind the GWSS, the grasshoppers, and the crickets. The short-term gain of eliminating some of today's pests by chemicals causes a long-term loss by further disrupting nature's balance - pollutting the soil, air, and water and killing many beneficial insects, like pollinating bees.
weather and as drought-caused. Little is said about the global warming that
causes the drought and is likely to worsen, if current trends continue.
The sharpshooter has come North because of climate change; it will not be the last new pest to migrate our way. GWSS have historically thrived in warmer climates to the south and perished in cooler weather. Even a slight rise in temperature expands their territorial reach.
The main solution currently used for the grasshopper and GWSS invasions is
pesticides. But that merely treats the symptom, and can worsen the underlying cause. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is foolishly spending millions of our tax dollars to arm itself with chemicals; the bugs will adapt and resist. The federal government recently granted California another $28 million for its chemical war against the dreaded sharpshooter.
The next bug is right behind the GWSS, the grasshoppers, and the crickets. The short-term gain of eliminating some of today's pests by chemicals causes a long-term loss by further disrupting nature's balance - pollutting the soil, air, and water and killing many beneficial insects, like pollinating bees.