Influence of Soil Minerals on Insects1

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Abstract
While calling attention to the fact that crops grown on mineral deficient soils may fail to supply all the mineral, growth and energy requirements of man and beast, it pointed out that certain insect pests prefer and actually thrive better on such mineral-deficient crops. Chinch bugs, for instance, thrive and multiply more abundantly on cereals grown on N-deficient soils. Greenhouse thrips choose New Zealand spinach plants grown on a low N level in preference to plants on high N levels. The grain aphid (Toxoptera graminum) has a high N requirement, though it continues to thrive on low levels of either Ca, P or K. The data presented tend to support the conclusion that by continuing to rob the soil of fertility and ourselves of vital health-giving foods, we are supplying our insect foes with choice foods, and economic entomologists should therefore begin to do more about fighting insects through the soil and less with insecticides.

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