Nematodes with Pest-Fighting Potential
August 28, 2012
Nematodes aren’t just cartoon creatures that love pineapple;
they actually have some significant benefits. The U.S. Department of
Agriculture has identified a species of nematode that can invade the brains of
Formosan subterranean termites. The Formosan termite, a nonnative species from Asia
often feed on the support beams of buildings. It annually causes around $1
billion in U.S. damages, repairs, and control cost. The nematode species does
not officially kill the termites, but takes control of their bodies. Lynn Carta
a plant pathologist with the Nematology Laboratory says that the nematode’s
benefits are not yet completely apparent, but their ability to successfully inhabit
the Formosan termite could prove to be a formidable weapon against the
termites. The nematodes might prove to be a useful prospect. Lynn Carta raises
the question of using the nematodes as vectors of insect pathogens instead of
bio-control agents, which is the usual approach. I believe that these nematodes
could be helpful in controlling and reducing the detrimental effects termites
have on U.S. buildings and infrastructures. Possibly in the future the full
potential of these nematodes can be harnessed, so that termites all over the
world will never be a problem again! This is just some wishful thinking!
That is a cool article. It is like the kudzu eating sheep used here in Atlanta to eat Kudzu
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