{"id":221998,"date":"2026-02-09T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/?p=221998"},"modified":"2026-02-09T09:41:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T08:41:07","slug":"reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control\/","title":{"rendered":"How color can help reduce pesticide use in pest control"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Pest control and reducing pesticide use<\/strong> have been, for decades, a kind of war of attrition. An insect appears, a chemical product is applied; the insect returns, the dose is increased; costs rise, effectiveness drops, and fields end up filled with residues no one wants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In that context, the fact that a serious study shows that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-52108-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>simply changing the color of an agricultural net can reduce insecticide use by up to 50%<\/strong><\/a> is not a curious anecdote\u2014it is a clear wake-up call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not about futuristic theories or miracle solutions. It is about a real experiment, in real crops, with real pests, addressing a problem that farmers around the world know all too well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a5b737bd6604\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contenido<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a5b737bd6604\"  \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control\/#A_simple_study_that_tackles_the_problem_from_a_different_angle\" >A simple study that tackles the problem from a different angle<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control\/#Why_thrips_are_the_perfect_enemy_for_this_experiment\" >Why thrips are the perfect enemy for this experiment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control\/#What_was_actually_tested_in_the_field\" >What was actually tested in the field<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control\/#Insect_vision_the_key_factor_that_explains_everything\" >Insect vision: the key factor that explains everything<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control\/#The_evidence_is_clear\" >The evidence is clear<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control\/#Why_this_approach_represents_a_shift_in_pest_control\" >Why this approach represents a shift in pest control<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control\/#The_role_of_color_Not_all_nets_work_the_same\" >The role of color: Not all nets work the same<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control\/#What_this_means_for_european_agriculture\" >What this means for european agriculture<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control\/#This_is_not_a_miracle_solution\" >This is not a miracle solution<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control\/#A_broader_lesson_understand_before_intervening\" >A broader lesson: understand before intervening<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_simple_study_that_tackles_the_problem_from_a_different_angle\"><\/span>A simple study that tackles the problem from a different angle<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The research was conducted by the University of Tokyo in collaboration with the Kyoto Agricultural Center. Their approach was as simple as it was unconventional: instead of searching for a new substance to kill insects, they chose to observe <strong>how pests interact with their visual environment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/control_de_plagas_red_roja.jpg\" alt=\"Pest control in marijuana cultivation using a red protective greenhouse net\" class=\"wp-image-221690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/control_de_plagas_red_roja.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/control_de_plagas_red_roja-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/control_de_plagas_red_roja-768x346.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The goal was not extermination, but rather <strong>to interfere with insect behavior<\/strong>. To do so, they chose a very specific yet representative scenario: Kujo leek crops, a Japanese variety similar to green onions, particularly vulnerable to a well-known pest, onion thrips. This insect not only damages leaves while feeding but also acts as a virus vector, forcing frequent pesticide treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_thrips_are_the_perfect_enemy_for_this_experiment\"><\/span>Why thrips are the perfect enemy for this experiment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/2-5\/?p=35517&#038;p=202187\">Thrips<\/a> are not just any pest. They are <strong>small, persistent, and extremely difficult to control using chemicals alone<\/strong>. Their rapid life cycle and high adaptability push many growers into a vicious cycle: more thrips lead to more treatments, and more treatments eventually create resistant populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this reason, any method that allows growers to <strong>reduce pesticide use without losing effectiveness against this insect<\/strong> has enormous value. If it works with thrips, it is reasonable to assume it may also work with other pests that exhibit similar behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before discussing specific solutions, it is important to put the problem into context. <strong>Not all pests behave the same way or exert the same level of pressure on crops.<\/strong> Proper identification is the first step toward implementing more effective pest control strategies that are less dependent on pesticides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"width:100%; border-collapse: collapse;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- TITLE -->\r\n  <thead>\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th colspan=\"4\" style=\"background-color:#00A58C; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:18px; padding:10px; text-align:center;\">\r\n        Common crop pests and how to identify them\r\n      <\/th>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr style=\"background-color:#1E252C; color:white; font-weight:bold;\">\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Pest<\/th>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">How to identify it<\/th>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Typical damage<\/th>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Critical stage<\/th>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n  <\/thead>\r\n\r\n  <tbody>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd; background-color:#00A58C; color:white; font-weight:bold;\">\r\n        Thrips\r\n      <\/th>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Silvery streaks on leaves, small elongated insects\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Leaf damage and virus transmission\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Growth and pre-flowering\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd; background-color:#00A58C; color:white; font-weight:bold;\">\r\n        Whitefly\r\n      <\/th>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Small white insects that fly when the plant is disturbed\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Weakening due to sap extraction\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Indoor and greenhouse\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd; background-color:#00A58C; color:white; font-weight:bold;\">\r\n        Aphids\r\n      <\/th>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Visible colonies on shoots and stems\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Deformation and plant stress\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Spring\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd; background-color:#00A58C; color:white; font-weight:bold;\">\r\n        Spider mites\r\n      <\/th>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Yellow speckling and fine webbing\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Reduced vigor and yield\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Heat and dry conditions\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n  <\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_was_actually_tested_in_the_field\"><\/span>What was actually tested in the field<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the study\u2019s greatest strengths is that it did not simply compare \u201cnet versus no net.\u201d Researchers analyzed different <strong>agricultural net colors<\/strong>\u2014white, black, and red\u2014as well as different mesh sizes, some even larger than the insect itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is important because it rules out a simplistic explanation: <strong>the observed effect could not be attributed solely to the net acting as a physical barrier<\/strong>. In many cases, thrips could pass through the mesh without difficulty, yet their presence in the crop still decreased when red netting was used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This detail makes the experiment far more compelling: if the insect can pass through but behaves differently, the key lies in <strong>how it perceives its environment<\/strong>, not in blocking its access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the type of pest and its behavior are identified, the next step is understanding which pest control tools are available and where a solution like red netting fits in. Not all methods work the same way, nor do they have the same long-term impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table style=\"width:100%; border-collapse: collapse;\">\r\n\r\n  <!-- TITLE -->\r\n  <thead>\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th colspan=\"4\" style=\"background-color:#00A58C; color:white; font-weight:bold; font-size:18px; padding:10px; text-align:center;\">\r\n        Pest control methods: when and how to use them\r\n      <\/th>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr style=\"background-color:#1E252C; color:white; font-weight:bold;\">\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Method<\/th>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Type<\/th>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Advantages<\/th>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">When to use it<\/th>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n  <\/thead>\r\n\r\n  <tbody>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd; background-color:#00A58C; color:white; font-weight:bold;\">\r\n        Red agricultural netting\r\n      <\/th>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Preventive<\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Reduces pesticide use without chemicals\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        From the start of the crop cycle\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd; background-color:#00A58C; color:white; font-weight:bold;\">\r\n        Potassium soap\r\n      <\/th>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Organic<\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Low environmental impact\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        At first signs of infestation\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd; background-color:#00A58C; color:white; font-weight:bold;\">\r\n        Neem oil\r\n      <\/th>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Organic<\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Broad spectrum\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Prevention and light control\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n    <tr>\r\n      <th style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd; background-color:#00A58C; color:white; font-weight:bold;\">\r\n        Chemical insecticides\r\n      <\/th>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">Corrective<\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Fast-acting\r\n      <\/td>\r\n      <td style=\"padding:8px; border:1px solid #ddd;\">\r\n        Severe infestations\r\n      <\/td>\r\n    <\/tr>\r\n\r\n  <\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Insect_vision_the_key_factor_that_explains_everything\"><\/span>Insect vision: the key factor that explains everything<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where one of the most fascinating\u2014and least known outside scientific circles\u2014aspects of the study comes into play. <strong>Insects do not see the world the way humans do.<\/strong> Their visual systems are adapted to detect specific contrasts and wavelengths that help them locate food, shelter, or mates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>color red<\/strong>, for many insect species, <strong>falls outside their effective range of perception<\/strong>. It is not that it \u201cbothers\u201d them or that they consciously avoid it; rather, <strong>they simply do not interpret it as a clear signal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a crop setting, this has very practical consequences. The insect loses visual references, becomes less oriented, reduces its activity on the plant, and ultimately causes less damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not a classic repellent effect, but rather a <strong>disorientation phenomenon that reduces insect\u2013plant interaction<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_evidence_is_clear\"><\/span>The evidence is clear<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The data from the study were striking. Crops protected with red nets required between <strong>25% and 50% less insecticide<\/strong> compared to unprotected crops or those using nets of other colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, this reduction did not come with an increase in plant damage. On the contrary: <strong>crops showed greater stability, less stress, and more uniform development.<\/strong> All of this was achieved without constant treatments and without negatively affecting the crop\u2019s microclimate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a key point because one of the major issues with some <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/accessories-tools\/2032-anti-thrips-and-insect-net-for-cannabis.html\">traditional nets<\/a> is that they reduce ventilation or light penetration<\/strong>, creating excessive humidity and promoting fungal diseases. In this case, the protective effect did not rely on closing off the crop further but on visually confusing the pest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_this_approach_represents_a_shift_in_pest_control\"><\/span>Why this approach represents a shift in pest control<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Most pest control strategies focus on acting<\/strong> <strong>after<\/strong> the problem appears. The Japanese study proposes something different: <strong>intervene<\/strong> <strong>before<\/strong>, <strong>modifying the environment<\/strong> so that pests do not behave as they normally would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This has several important implications. First, it <strong>does not create resistance<\/strong> because there is no direct chemical pressure on the insect. Second, it <strong>reduces the need for constant human intervention<\/strong>. And third, it allows growers to <strong>reduce pesticide use<\/strong> without requiring a radical change in cultivation practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Passive solutions based on insect behavior have greater long-term potential than purely chemical strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tratamientos_control_de_plagas.jpg\" alt=\"Pest control in agriculture with insecticides and preventive crop treatments\" class=\"wp-image-221707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tratamientos_control_de_plagas.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tratamientos_control_de_plagas-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/tratamientos_control_de_plagas-768x346.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_role_of_color_Not_all_nets_work_the_same\"><\/span>The role of color: Not all nets work the same<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another major takeaway from the study is that <strong>simply using a net is not enough<\/strong>. Color matters\u2014a lot. White and black nets, widely used, did not demonstrate the same level of effectiveness. Some were even neutral or irrelevant from the perspective of insect behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Red, on the other hand, offered a clear advantage: <strong>it did not significantly alter crop light levels<\/strong>, <strong>allowed good ventilation<\/strong>, and at the same time <strong>interfered with the pest\u2019s visual perception.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_this_means_for_european_agriculture\"><\/span>What this means for european agriculture<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the study was conducted in Japan, its implications fit particularly well in the European context. In recent years, regulations on plant protection products have tightened, limiting the number of authorized substances and raising costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, consumers demand products with fewer residues and greater traceability. In this scenario, any system that allows growers to <strong>reduce pesticide use without compromising yields<\/strong> becomes a strategic tool, not just an environmental one. Such solutions make the most sense when regulatory and social pressure on pesticide use is high.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>[ppgbo products=&#8221;5763,2032,5102&#8243; language=&#8221;en&#8221;]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"This_is_not_a_miracle_solution\"><\/span>This is not a miracle solution<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important to be clear: <strong>red nets do not eliminate all pests nor completely replace other control methods.<\/strong> They are not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/575-boom-nutrients-insecticides\">effective against soil insects<\/a>, do not solve advanced infestations, and do not compensate for poor crop management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their true value lies in prevention. They work best when integrated into a rational management system, combined with monitoring, crop rotation, and, when necessary, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/137-insecticides\">targeted treatments<\/a>.<br>Their effectiveness increases when used as a first line of defense, not as an emergency patch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_broader_lesson_understand_before_intervening\"><\/span>A broader lesson: understand before intervening<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond the specific case of the color red, this study delivers an important lesson: often, the problem is not a lack of pesticides, but rather <strong>too many shortcuts<\/strong>. Understanding how pests perceive their environment can open the door to <strong>simpler, cheaper, and more sustainable solutions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reducing pesticide use does not always require large investments or complex technologies. Sometimes it is enough to change the question: instead of asking, \u201cWhat can I use to kill it?\u201d ask, \u201cHow can I make it behave differently?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/trips_.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up of thrips, a cannabis leaf pest, for pest control identification\" class=\"wp-image-221713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/trips_.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/trips_-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/trips_-768x346.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Japanese study shows that pest control can evolve without relying on more chemicals or aggressive solutions. Changing the color of a net may seem like a minor detail, but its cumulative effects are enormous: fewer treatments, lower costs, reduced residues, and more stable crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reducing pesticide use is no longer just an ethical or environmental issue; it is a smart production strategy. And sometimes, the first step is not to add something new, but to <strong>look at what already exists from a different angle<\/strong>.<br><\/p>\n<div style='text-align:center' class='yasr-auto-insert-visitor'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pest control and reducing pesticide use have been, for decades, a kind of war of attrition. An insect appears, a chemical product is applied; the insect returns, the dose is increased; costs rise, effectiveness drops, and fields end up filled with residues no one wants. In that context, the fact that a serious study shows\u2026 <span class=\"leermas\" onclick=\"window.location.href='https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/reduce-pesticide-use-in-pest-control\/'\">Continue reading<\/span ><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":221732,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[256],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-221998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marijuana-news"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":6,"sum_votes":28},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/221998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=221998"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/221998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":222009,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/221998\/revisions\/222009"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/221732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=221998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=221998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=221998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}