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Reed encourages Hoosiers to learn about beneficial organisms Learn Green, Live Green focus for May: Nature’s Partners
Spring has arrived, and with the warmer weather come insects and other critters. You may see insects, spiders and other bugs as pests, but did you know that many of these can benefit us? Throughout May, the Indiana Department of Education encourages Hoosiers to learn more about these helpful creatures, called beneficial organisms, through the Learn Green, Live Green focus titled “Nature’s Partners.” “Beneficial organisms act as nature’s own pest control,” said Dr. Suellen Reed, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Not only can these organisms help control pests in our gardens, but they are essential to our food supply.” What is a beneficial organism? Beneficial organisms, also referred to as “beneficials” and “beneficial insects,” are insects and other critters that help us. The honey bee is a great example. Yes, they sting, but did you know that our food supply could diminish without them? It’s true! Honey bees are responsible for pollinating one-third of all the food we eat. Honey bees are only one example of a beneficial organism. Beneficials include organisms that pollinate crops, produce useful products or kill harmful organisms that damage crops, sting, bite or spread disease. A few other well-known examples of beneficial insects include the ladybug, praying mantis and ground beetle. How do they help the environment? The most common way to get rid of pests today is by using pesticides. Pesticides are any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest. Pesticides are useful to society because they can kill potential disease-causing organisms and control insects and other pests. By their very nature, though, most pesticides create some risk of harm. This harm can be to humans, animals or the environment because pesticides are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms. Also, pesticides not only kill the “bad bugs,” they rub out the “good bugs,” too. Beneficial organisms, as well as bio-based pesticides, or biopesticides, are great alternatives to get rid of unwanted pests, and they pose less risk to beneficials than pesticides. Beneficial organisms at home and in the classroom You can use beneficial organisms at home. When planting your garden this spring, do a little more research and see if beneficial organisms will work to help keep your plants healthy and your flowers bright. Our Web site, www.doe.in.gov/green, has great tips and fun facts to start learning more right now. Also, clicking on our “school projects” link can help teachers and students learn more about beneficial organisms while in the classroom. Keep up the “green” work Although this month’s focus is Nature’s Partners, we still encourage Hoosiers to keep up with all the other Learn Green, Live Green initiatives such as recycling, reducing waste, using renewable resources and choosing more environmentally-friendly transportation. For more information on our past initiatives, visit www.doe.in.gov/green and click through the different months on each of the tabs, or go to our “Recycle Bin.” Don’t forget to check out what schools across the state are doing to “go green” by clicking on the Spotlights page. Learn Green, Live Green Learn Green, Live Green is a year-long initiative, launched in January, that is designed to help educators, students, parents and community members discover practical, cost-effective ways to model environmentally-responsible behavior both inside and outside of the classroom. The Learn Green, Live Green concept fits naturally with Indiana’s academic standards, local school curricula and student learning goals at each grade level. Local participation is completely voluntary. Each month in 2008, the Indiana Department of Education spotlights a different aspect of the issue through an interactive Web site, www.doe.in.gov/green, while offering a variety of related resources for schools and communities.
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Indiana Department of Education |
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