It’s a bug eat bug world!

How to use biological control instead of pesticides in your garden.

L. Bateman

Trophic Levels

Primary Producers (plants)

Energy

1

Trophic Levels

Primary Consumers (herbivores)

Primary Producers (plants)

Energy

1

2

Trophic Levels•

Secondary Consumers (primary carnivores)

Primary Consumers (herbivores)

Primary Producers (plants)

Energy

1

2

3

Trophic Levels•

Tertiary Consumer (secondary carnivores)

Secondary Consumers (primary carnivores)

Primary Consumers (herbivores)

Primary Producers (plants)

Energy

1

2

3

4

Trophic Levels•

Stinkbug

Ladybug

Aphid

Tomato Plant

Energy

1

2

3

4

Tomato Garden•

Energy

Aphids Attack! •

Energy

Aphids Kill Tomatoes•

Energy

Ladybugs Eat Aphids•

Energy

Ideal Biological Control•

Energy

Ladybug Population Grows•

Energy

Stinkbugs Eat Ladybugs•

Energy

Stinkbugs Eat Ladybugs•

Energy

Aphid Population Grows•

Energy

Stinkbugs Indirectly Kill Tomatoes•

Energy

Ideal Biological Control•

Energy

Maintain this balance by: Eliminating the stinkbug! Pesticides kill the ladybugs too, so let’s use other methods….

No more stink bugs!!!

• Destroy/remove weeds (stink bug habitat)• Remove and destroy eggs and stink bugs

More Ways to Go Green!

• Pesticide use reduction in your garden is one way to “go green” and help the Earth

• Check out this website for more resources on how to decrease your carbon footprint