pesticides

The destructive diamondback moth has spread across the world and mutated to become immune to each new chemical pesticide designed to slay it.

National

Scientists Try To Fight Crop Damage With An Invasive Moth's Own DNA

10:35am August 28, 2017

by Devin Powell

The diamondback moth attacks cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, costing farmers billions of dollars every year. But will these lab-bred insects inherit the same stigma as genetically modified crops?

A sprayer covers a soybean field with an herbicide to control weeds.

Damage From Wayward Weedkiller Keeps Growing

10:17am July 06, 2017

by Dan Charles

As many as 2 million acres of soybeans may have been harmed by a popular weedkiller drifting into neighboring fields. Arkansas' proposed ban on the herbicide, dicamba, is awaiting final approval.

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Researchers monitored the health of these wild bees, from the species Osmia bicornis. They nest inside small cavities, such as hollow reeds.

Pesticides Are Harming Bees — But Not Everywhere, Major New Study Shows

6:22pm June 29, 2017

by Dan Charles

A huge new study conducted in 33 sites across Europe finds that seeds coated with neonicotinoid pesticides harm bees living nearby. The damage, though, depends on local conditions.

When it comes to biopesticides, one of the most widely used fungi is Beauveria bassiana. Above, a kudzu bug killed by Beauveria bassiana, seen growing out of the cadaver.

Fungal Pesticides Offer A Growing Alternative To Traditional Chemicals

7:00am April 12, 2017

by Crystal Ponti

The rise of organic produce has sparked a new interest in using biopesticides like fungi to kill insects, instead of traditional synthetic ones. But they are still just a tiny segment of the market.

Pesticide warning sign in an orange grove. The sign, in English and Spanish, warns that the pesticide chlorpyrifos, or Lorsban, has been applied to these orange trees.

EPA Decides Not To Ban A Pesticide, Despite Its Own Evidence Of Risk

10:35pm March 29, 2017

by Dan Charles

New EPA administrator Scott Pruitt has decided not to ban chlorpyrifos, a pesticide widely used on produce. That's despite evidence previously compiled by EPA showing it could pose risks to consumers.

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Beekeepers Glen Andresen and Tim Wessels are trying to breed a honey bee that is more resilient to colder climates.

Crop-Protecting Fungicides May Be Hurting The Honey Bees

9:00am February 16, 2017

by Eilís O'Neill

Bees have been dying in unprecedented numbers. A new study has found that fungi-destroying chemicals may make it harder for bees to metabolize their food. And if they can't get energy, they can't fly.

Some farmers are turning to chickens to ward off intruding insects and noxious weeds.

Farmers Enlist Chickens And Bugs To Battle Against Pests

2:24pm September 20, 2016

by Kristofor Husted

In an effort to turn away from chemical pesticides, which have the potential to damage the environment, some farmers are looking in a new direction in the age-old struggle against pests.

EPA Weighs In On Glyphosate, Says It Doesn't Cause Cancer

9:49am September 17, 2016

by Dan Charles

The Environmental Protection Agency says that the country's most widely used weedkiller, glyphosate, does not cause cancer. The chemical has been under intense international scrutiny.

How GMOs Cut The Use Of Pesticides — And Perhaps Boosted It Again

3:23pm September 01, 2016

by Dan Charles

There's new and detailed data on the impact of genetically modified crops on pesticide use. Those crops replaced insecticides, and, at first, some herbicides. But herbicide use has rebounded.

Maureen LoCascio, with the mosquito control team in Hudson County, N.J., uses a backpack sprayer to spread insecticide against mosquito larvae.

To Kill Mosquitoes That Spread Zika, Strike Before They Fly

6:07pm May 26, 2016

by Hansi Lo Wang

Cities and towns are preparing for mosquito season and the threat of the Zika virus by spreading pesticides. It worked for the West Nile virus but may not be as effective for controlling Zika.

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