Posted by Les Anderson on November 17, 2005

Q: If a plant has had systemic pesticides, how does it effect birds & butterflies. If a bird eats a berry from a bush that had systemics, does it get harmed? If a woodpecker makes a hole in a tree with systemics in its system, will it harm the bird? Will it harm butterflies collecting nectar or laying eggs or butterfly catepillars? I work with pesticides and am always trying to convince people to not use pesticides unless they've tried organic methods first. Thanks, Les

A: I think you have a valid concern here. If a systemic pesticide is used, it gets carried to all parts of a plant and therefore may be consumed by birds or any other animal feeding on that plant. I'm not familiar with the many kinds of chemicals used but even if they don't directly affect a bird, for example, it is one more "unknown" in our environment. Don't forget how much DDT had terrible adverse effects on the environment beyond its target! I would hope there have been studies regarding current pesticide effects on animals not intended to injest them but I'm not aware of any I can point to.

Pesticides have their uses and value but it does seem as though people go the chemical route before trying other less harmful procedures. I've always been amazed at the amount of pesticides used in peoples' homes - they're inhaling these chemicals 365 days a year! Can't be good for humans.

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I guess if I were trying to encourage people to go the organic route first, I'd bring up the problems we've had with DDT in the past - better to be safe than sorry. Pesticides are certainly an easy, quick fix, but who knows what problems they may cause us all in the end. Thanks for asking, wish I could be more helpful.

John Wiessinger ( November 17, 2005)