What causes over $60 billion in crop losses annually, threatens the staple food of 500 million people, and is getting worse with climate change? The culprit is smaller than your fingernail. It’s not the bite that kills the crop; it’s the virus left behind. Insect Vectors and Global Crop Loss Insects are the world's most efficient couriers for plant pathogens. As vectors, they don't just chew on leaves; they deliver viruses, bacteria, and phytoplasmas directly into a plant's vascular system. This can trigger devastating epidemics that wipe out entire harvests. Global Crisis Snapshots This isn't a localized issue; it's a worldwide threat to our food supply, impacting economies and livelihoods from continent to continent. Citrus Greening (HLB) in the Americas: Vectored by the Asian Citrus Psyllid, this bacterial disease has decimated citrus groves in Florida and Brazil, costing the industry billions and endangering the entire supply of orange juice. Cassava Mosaic Di...
Exploring insects, ecology, and integrated pest solutions for sustainable agriculture.