Banpot's bugs

It was meant to be just a casual stroll, when Banpot Na Pompeth entered an insect museum in Udaipur University in India, where he was a first year student.

But when he re-emerged from the museum, he realised that his life would never be the same again.

He was mesmerised by the world of insects, the sight of thousands of stuffed bugs in kaleidoscopic colours and fascinating shapes. The experience inspired the young student so much that he decided to relinquish forestry study and pursue entomology, the study of insects.

More than two decades have passed since Banpot's first encounter with insects, and he has achieved more than he ever dreamt possible.

Not only does he work with insects as he wished, but he also has them work for him in a biological control project that aims to protect Thailand's deteriorating environment.

With a PhD in entomology, he is Thailand's expert on insects and an executive director of the National Biological Control Research Centre at Kasetsart University. Recently he gained worldwide recognition during the International Congress of Entomology held in Italy where he was chosen to be one of the 20 permanent committee members of the congress.

In 1983, he was nominated to the permanent committee of the International Plant Protection Congress. He is the first Thai entomologist to be appointed to these positions.

Ilove insects," Dr Banpot said. "Their different colours, shapes and forms attract me, and when I take a closer look at them, I'm totally enthralled by these small creatures."

In his eyes, insects are a wonderful artistic creation of nature. "I never fail to be amazed whenever I look at the details of the insects' wings. The myriad patterns on the wings as well as the body are truly magnificent," said the entomologist.

It is not only their appearance that captures Dr Banpot's interest. The variety of sizes, especially the tiny little bugs, fascinate him.

"It is always enjoyable and challenging for me to find small insects in their habitat. To do so requires much patience. Some species of insects hide themselves in their environment so well that it is very difficult to see them."

Dr Banpot recalled his days at Punjab Agricultural University in India where he studied the various species of insects, including their anatomy, habits, life cycle, migration patterns, and their relations with other animals and plants.

Back in Thailand, he faced a new challenge. Thailand then had little knowledge of biological control, while the environment was being polluted by overuse of hazardous chemical pesticides. There was an obvious urgent need for an alternative.

Dr Banpot was confident insects might be a viable solution to the country's war against pests and weeds, a solution which wouldn't destroy the environment.

"I would not use any pesticide which had an adverse effect on the natural environment," he said adamantly. "Biological control is more effective since it is environmentally friendly."

Ten years after his research was put to use in biological control in Thailand, Dr Banpot has achieved some success in eradicating pests and weeds in certain areas of the country without using one drop of pesticide.

Though the concept of biological control has been around since the mid-1960s, it wasn't until the early 1970s that any results were seen. Since then, research and development activities in biological control in Thailand has made considerable progress.

Working as a team, Dr Banpot and his army of insects make the journey together every weekend to problem areas throughout the country. Banpot's bugs include Neochetina eichhorniae, Neochetina bruchi, Sameodes albiguttalis, and Orthogalumna terebrantis. The insects are released in places where hazardous weeds are abundant. Common weeds that cause environmental problems are alligator weed, water hyacinth, hydrilla, mimosa and water lettuce. The relationship between Dr Banpot and his insects has gone beyond academic research. He has a great respect for the tiny creatures.

Unlike others who are fascinated by insects, he refuses to make displays of dead insects and keep them in a glass showcase for decoration.

"I would prefer to appreciate insects in their natural habitat," he explained. "I will keep them in the cabinet only for educational purposes. Dead insects in a showcase teach me nothing."

It's been a long time since he decided that he would not take the life of a bug for any reason. "When I was young, I used to torture insects just for fun. I used to pour water into the cricket's hole so that it would creep out and then I would catch it for playing. Or I would poke a stick into the sandy hole of the antlion. It was once an enjoyable game for me," he recalled. While children love torturing insects in their play, adults kill insects for no other reason than the belief that they might be harmful.

In fact, out of over a million insect species, only about 500 are hazardous. The rest are "good" insects that need protection.

"Most people have the preconception that insects are harmful. That is why they kill them on sight. However, since most people do not recognise what kinds of insects are rare and should be preserved, they unintentionally eliminate some species," lamented the entomologist.

Insects are beneficial for humans and for the environment. Most importantly, they are an indicator of ecological change.

While insects have been increasingly recognised by scientists for their role in ecological balance, there are few people in this country to pursue the study.

"Many students think that the entomological subjects are difficult," Dr Banpot said. "Some fear the visual study of the insects, not to mention touching them. In reality, insects are the most interesting animal. They are also abundant in every part of the world."

Apart from teaching at the Faculty of Entomology at Kasetsart University, Dr Banpot works to eradicate hazardous weeds effecting agricultural crops at the universoty's Biological Control Research Centre. The centre, open since 1975, is the only national research institution in Southeast Asia devoted to biological control and integrated pest management.

According to Dr Banpot, study of biological control in Thailand is scarce. Documentation, if not scattered, is not readily accessible.

"Relevant literature and documentation are not properly preserved or available. Sometimes it is ignored by the professionals involved," he said.

It's not just weeds that Dr Banpot has to fight in his efforts to promote biological control. The influence of the pesticide manufacturers is another obstacle in his path.

Thailand is one of the few developing countries capable of exporting agricultural products, so it relies heavily on the use of agrochemicals, including pesticides. Thus, pesticide is big business in this country as farmers are heavily dependent on chemicals despite the fact that they have an adverse effect on human health and the environment.

"The concept of IPM - 'Integrated Pest Management' - in Thailand should be translated as 'Integrated Pesticide Mismanagement' since it is fully supported by the chemical companies and the government agencies," Dr Banpot said cynically.

"It has been in this difficult situation that biological control has developed in Thailand. People working in any biological control activity are labelled 'natural enemies' by the chemical dealers."

Fortunately, the failure of chemicals to effectively control most pests, as well as the increasing concern among members of the public about the safety and quality of the environment, have led to the promotion of biological control and other "non-chemical" methods as an alternative to conventional pest control which relies on the use of pesticides.

Dr Banpot feels that the success of biological control is often overlooked as some of the results are invisible, that is, the natural environment is not poisoned.

"Biological control has failed to capture the interest of the general public or even the non-biological control workers," he said.

"Biological control in itself is highly dynamic in nature. But a lack of knowledge of natural control factors still prevails among farmers, as well as policy makers, administrators, researchers, and the public," he noted.

"When control has been achieved and the problem no longer exists, the contribution of biological control is neither recognised or appreciated."

Despite the obstacles, however, biological control is developing in Thailand and become more and more competitive with chemical pest control.

During the past decade, explained Dr Banpot, biological control has received considerable government support, although it is still inadequate in terms of research and funding compared with the support provided for research into pesticides.

"In developing countries such as Thailand, strategies in biological control have to be developed and designed according to the need and limitations of available resources," he said.

"Biological control in Thailand is in the infancy stage. It takes time to grow up and reach maturity. In the process, there exists a number of obstacles in terms of inadequate, untimely support and assistance from the government. They eulogise much about environmental preservation, but they are are addicted to using chemical pesticides.

"I, for one, will keep on fighting."

Dr Banpot's victory will be to see Thailand regain its natural green enviroment, free from chemicals, and safe for everyone -- humans and insects alike.