Ever since human beings discovered agriculture, they have sought ways to control their crops from the ravages of nature, especially disease and pestilence. Science today is learning how to protect various crops from their enemies, and how to use nature to combat nature. By using natural antidotes to disease and pestilence, farmers avoid the dangers to themselves, their crops, and the environment that pesticides pose. This episode of The New Explorers examines how scientists are using nature to control nature. The Super Seeds would be useful for classes on Science, Agriculture, Technology and Geography. It is appropriate for middles school and high school.

The Super Seeds

• devour
• diversity
• entomologist
• fascinated
• foretell
• intrigue
• kamikaze
• larvae
• maximize
• pathogens
• plague
• progeny
• resist
• stamen
• stigma
• ultimately

1. Nature provides its own solutions to the problems it causes. Discuss how nature can be used to control it.

2. What are bean weevils? How do they destroy crops? What are the stages of development of these insects?

3. What is an entomologist? What do they contribute to science?

4. Plagues and disease are a part of human history. Discuss how they are a factor in history. What are some examples of how disease and plagues have changed history?

5. How does the wasp control the damage of the casaba hornworm?

6. What is biological control? How does it differ from chemical control? What are the advantages of biological control? Are there any disadvantages?

7. What is a hybrid? How is a hybrid different than either one of its parents? What are some examples of hybrids? Why do scientists create hybrids?

8. Discuss how the science of genetics has helped the bean farmers of Colombia.

1. Create a poster that illustrates some of the ways or processes in which nature can be used to control nature.

2. Create a poster that illustrates the stages of the casaba hornworm.

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