Green pest control goes back thousands of years. Ancient people fought bugs even before farming began. After agriculture began the fight turned into a way. Early farmers had to find ways to defend their crops against pests. Losing the battle of the bugs could lead to starvation.
Early farmers were observant and quickly learned how nature handled pest control. They duplicated what they saw and were not afraid to experiment. Ancient writings of Rome, China, Sumaria and Egypt contain evidence of pest control techniques. Some techniques worked well and were passed on.
Pest control methods used by ancient farmers included: Using beneficial organisms, like birds, frogs and other bugs to help manage pests Rotating crops and using sanitation to reduce pests Using baits and traps, and burning crops after harvest Using plants that are resistant to pests
Ancient cultures learned they could control pests or stop them from breeding by burning the fields after harvest. This pest control technique was used over 3 thousand years ago in China, and borrowed by the Roman 1000 years later. Fire is still used today in a limited way.
Another pest control method of disrupting the lifecycle of pest is crop rotation, which proved very effective for the ancient farmers. This method is still widely used today to prevent the rapid reproduction of pests. An example of interrupting the lifecycle of pests occurred in the 6th Century in Greece. Pythagoras recommended that swamps in the outlying areas be drained to stop the spread of malaria.
The Chinese especially became adept at pest control using beneficial species. For example, 3200 years ago ancient Chinese texts note the use of predatory ants to protect citrus groves from caterpillars and wood boring beetles. Later on officials prohibited the removal of eggs and the hunting of both frogs and birds as these species consume vast numbers of insects. Praying mantis was released in gardens among the chrysanthemums to devour leaf-eating insects.
Early in the 16th century mechanical pest control traps were first invented. Dr. Bruckmann from Germany crafted the first fly trap. The trap was made of wood and attracted flies with sweet bait. He also designed flea traps that could be worn around the neck like a necklace. The aristocracy of Western European found these quite attractive.
Green pest control techniques have been around for a long time. They have been proven and refined over thousands of years. They fell out of favor when chemical pesticides were introduced, but are again gaining popularity. The appeal of these techniques is they are effective, relatively inexpensive, and have a reduced environmental impact. Today these green pest control techniques are collectively called Integrated Pest Management.
