Major economic pest of SOYBEAN AND OTHER LEGUMES — annual NA economic losses (combining direct feeding damage and BPMV losses) total HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS across major NA soybean production regions.
Tomatoes, blueberries, peppers, and kiwifruit ALL require buzz pollination — bumblebees are commercially essential for these crops.
A medium-sized swarm eats as much food per day as 35,000 people.
Fire ants cause over $6 billion in annual damage to the US economy — agricultural, electrical, and medical costs combined.
It takes roughly 2,500 silkworm cocoons to produce one pound of finished silk.
Lanternfly damage to Pennsylvania agriculture exceeds $300 million per year — wineries, orchards, and hardwoods bear the brunt.
Macrotermes farm a domesticated fungus called Termitomyces — like leafcutter ants, they cultivate their food.
