Activities

1. Define herbicides.
   
   
2. Define biogenetics.

3. Explain biological pest control and its three main types.
   
   
4. What is a benefit of selective herbicides?

5. Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of pest management.
   
   
6. Promote the use of pest management by explaining long-term effects on the environment.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. A herbicide is a substance used for destroying or inhibiting plant growth.
   
   
2. Biogenetics involve the creation of living organisms from other living organisms.
   
   
3. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:
   Biological pest control involves the use of natural pest-predators, such as diseases and parasites.  The three main types are:

• Conservation: involves use of the pest’s naturally occurring enemies in their habitat
• Augmentation: involves the additional release of naturally occurring enemies
• Importation: involves introducing new predators to an environment

4. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:
   Selective herbicides target the unwanted weeds or pests, which not harming any other organisms in the environment.

5. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:

Advantages:

• Eliminate/reduce the occurrence of unwanted pests
• Many treatments do not affect the wanted organisms
• May conserve crops (if once affected by pests)
• Reduce disease being spread to people or animals

Disadvantages:

• May involve harmful chemicals
• May not always be effective
• More lawn/garden up keep (if applied in a residential environment)
• Can be costly

6. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:

• Makes a more attractive environment.
• Health improvement of organisms affected by pests
• Reduces/eliminates the occurrence of pests