Bug Out!

Bug Out!

Head to Head Testing
Lesson: 2.15
Level:
Intermediate
Station: Soil Management
Format: Experiment
Rating:
Intermediate Lesson 2.15 Bug Out

Lesson Overview

The bad bugs will come, believe that. In this lesson, students will test natural pest control methods head-to-head to prepare for future infestations. It's better to know now what works than to scramble later for a workable solution.

Goals

  • Students will be able to describe ways to combat common pests in the Lab.

Outcomes

Students will compare natural pest controls head to head in the Lab in order to determine which is most effective as a pest control method.

Teach the Teacher

Tools & Materials

  • 2 treatment options
  • Pest outbreak or infestation

Activity

Pests happen. It’s part of the natural cycle. And sooner or later they will find their way into your Lab. The best defense is a good offense as they say so you should be performing plant inspections on a regular basis. This process serves as an early warning system and gives you a jump on those unwanted little buggers.

The challenge is to properly identify the pest and the best solution to remove them from the Lab. A little testing on small outbreaks can accelerate your learning curve and better prepare you for a full-scale infestation.

Compare natural pest controls head to head during a small outbreak. Conduct an A/B test by treating one plant, area, or planter with one method and a separate plant, area, or planter with a different method to compare results. Document your findings for future reference.

Related Lessons

Give the Advanced lesson a try now that you’ve completed the Intermediate Lesson! Or revisit the Beginner Lesson as needed.

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