INSECT PESTS OF MAJOR FOOD CROPS, THEIR REINVASION POTENTIAL AND THE EFFECTS OF RADIATION ON ARTHROPODS
Abstract
A literature survey of the major insect and mite pests attacking important food, forage and oil crops was compiled. It was impossible to obtain sufficient data to rely solely on widescale pesticide applications to construct models which would give predicted rates of insect recolonization into an area from which they might be theoretically eliminated by radioactive fallout. Other types of empirical data were used to construct indices of insect reinvasion into an area from which the pest species had been previously eliminated. These were largely based on published data and relate to the nature of the class Insecta, its excellent mobile and high reproductive capacities, and the biology and ecology of each pest species. The data strongly indicate that the elapsed time for recolonization after theoretical elimination due to fallout will be quite short for many pest species. Thus, insects can be expected to be major competitors with man for food, forage and oil crops following a possible nuclear disaster.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0690551
Entities
People
- Vernon M. Stern
Organizations
- University of California, Riverside