LSAT 124, Section 4, RC Passage 4, Typhlodromus

RC Passage 4 Explanation

PASSAGE TEXT: Sometimes there is no more effective means of controlling an agricultural pest than …

Paragraph Summaries

1. Natural predators can sometimes control agricultural pests better than pesticides. Typhlodromus mites control cyclamen mites that damage strawberry plants by reducing their populations before they become harmful.
2. Typhlodromus mites are effective because they reproduce quickly, survive when prey is scarce, and match the seasonal patterns of cyclamen mites. These traits allow them to keep pest populations under control.
3. Experiments showed that strawberry plants with Typhlodromus mites had few cyclamen mites, while plants without them developed serious pest problems. The predators successfully prevented major infestations.
4. Using pesticides can sometimes make pest problems worse because they kill helpful predators along with pests. When Typhlodromus mites were removed, cyclamen mites became much more common.

Analysis

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