plagas

Plagas are organisms or populations that cause harm to human interests by feeding on, damaging, or otherwise interfering with crops, stored products, structures, livestock, or human health. In agriculture, plagas typically include insects, arachnids, nematodes, weed species, and plant pathogens that reduce yield or quality. In urban and natural environments, plagas can be rodents, cockroaches, mosquitoes, termites, and other organisms that threaten sanitation, property, or ecosystem balance. The concept also covers invasive species that disrupt native communities and agricultural systems.

Impact from plagas is diverse. Direct damage lowers production and increases post-harvest losses, while indirect effects include the transmission of diseases, contamination of food, and higher control costs. Environmental consequences may arise from the use of controls, such as non-target effects and the development of resistance. The importance of surveillance, early detection, and regionally appropriate risk assessment is widely recognized in managing plagas.

Management of plagas commonly relies on integrated pest management (IPM), a framework that combines multiple strategies to minimize harm while reducing reliance on chemicals. Approaches include cultural practices (crop rotation, sanitation, resistant varieties), biological controls (predatory insects, parasitoids, microbial agents), mechanical and physical methods (traps, barriers, sanitation), and, when necessary, chemical controls following safe-use guidelines and resistance management. Regulatory measures, quarantine, and biosecurity play roles in preventing introductions and limiting spread of serious plagas.

Effective handling of plagas requires site-specific knowledge and ongoing monitoring. Public health, agricultural productivity, and biodiversity all benefit from balanced strategies that prioritize prevention, ecological compatibility, and informed decision-making.