Shimon Steinberg: Natural pest control ... using bugs!

The video discusses the speaker's journey into entomology and plant protection, focusing on biological pest control. It explains the historical context and examples of pests and their natural enemies, such as spider mites, aphids, and thrips. The video highlights the mass production of natural enemies and the impact of biological control in reducing pesticide use. It concludes with challenges and a vision for the future of the biocontrol industry.

What field did the speaker major in at university?

• Botany

• Zoology

• Chemistry

• Physics

What is the primary goal of biological pest control?

• To use living organisms to manage pest populations

• To eliminate all insects

• To genetically modify plants

• To increase the use of chemicals

What tool does the speaker suggest using to observe natural control in your backyard?

• A camera

• A magnifying glass

• A microscope

• A telescope

Which pest is controlled by predatory mites?

• Beetles

• Aphids

• Spider mites

• Thrips

What is the role of parasitic wasps in pest control?

• They eat plants

• They lay eggs inside pests

• They produce honeydew

• They create webs

What is the main advantage of mass-producing natural enemies?

• It disrupts the ecological balance

• It amplifies natural control

• It is a form of genetic manipulation

• It increases the use of pesticides

What percentage of pesticides were reduced in Israeli strawberries using biological control?

• 80%

• 50%

• 60%

• 70%

Why is resistance to biological control methods rare?

• Because it is a new technology

• Because it is a natural evolutionary process

• Because it involves chemicals

• Because it is not used widely

What is one of the speaker's visions for the future of biological control?

• To increase chemical usage

• To find more reliable biological solutions

• To reduce public awareness

• To eliminate all pests

What is the current global turnover of the biocontrol industry compared to the pesticide industry?

• Biocontrol is 10 times larger

• Pesticide industry is 100 times larger

• Biocontrol is larger

• Equal