1. World problems
  2. Pests

Pests

  • Harmful animals and plants
  • Nuisance organisms

Nature

Pests are nonpathogenic organisms that compete with man for food or space, damage his possessions or attack him personally. The term "pest" is subjective: an ecologist would not necessarily consider several leaf-eating larvae as pests, but the gardener probably would. Generally, though, to be considered a pest, an animal, plant, or insect must occur in such abundance as to distinctly threaten man or his interests.

Most pests are invertebrate animals, especially insects, mites, nematodes, snails and slugs. Vertebrate pests include many kinds of rodents, birds and deer. Weeds are also usually considered pests.

Claim

Pests are a critical and often underestimated problem that threatens our health, food security, and ecosystems. They destroy crops, spread diseases, and disrupt natural balances, leading to significant economic losses and environmental degradation. Ignoring pest management not only jeopardizes agricultural productivity but also endangers public health. We must prioritize effective pest control strategies and sustainable practices to combat this pervasive issue, ensuring a healthier future for both humanity and the planet. The time to act is now!This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Counter-claim

Pests are often exaggerated as a significant problem, but in reality, they are a natural part of ecosystems. Most pests pose minimal threat to human health and can be managed with simple preventive measures. The obsession with eradicating every pest distracts from more pressing issues like climate change and food security. Instead of wasting resources on pest control, we should focus on sustainable practices that promote biodiversity and ecological balance. Pests are not the crisis we make them out to be.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Broader

Nuisance
Yet to rate

Narrower

Plant pests
Presentable
Pests of plants
Presentable
Parasites
Presentable
Household pests
Presentable
Fungi as pests
Presentable
Animal pests
Unpresentable

Aggravates

Disease
Yet to rate

Aggravated by

Reduced by

Strategy

Studying pests
Yet to rate
Destroying pests
Yet to rate

Value

Pestiferousness
Yet to rate
Nuisance
Yet to rate
Harm
Yet to rate

Reference

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #7: Affordable and Clean EnergySustainable Development Goal #15: Life on Land

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(C) Cross-sectoral problems
Biological classification
N/A
Subject
  • Biosciences » Biology
  • Plant life » Plants
  • Societal problems » Hazards
  • Societal problems » Pests
  • Societal problems » Pollution
  • Zoology » Animals
  • Content quality
    Presentable
     Presentable
    Language
    English
    1A4N
    C0728
    DOCID
    11307280
    D7NID
    137443
    Last update
    Oct 4, 2020