On the brink of the sixth extinction Going organic could help threatened bees and butterflies BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer ERIC SUCAR staff The fruits of Manuela McCusker's labors surround her in the garden behind her Roosevelt home. The fate of many major food crops hangs in the balance of what biologists are calling the "sixth extinction." Humans are currently living during a time of species loss as great as the meteor-caused disaster that exterminated the dinosaurs, according to organic gardener Manuela McCusker, of Roosevelt. "Anything we can do to reverse that even on an individual basis is going to have an effect," she said. "If everyone plays a small little part, it would all add up and we could change some things." With a presentation in her home garden on June 27, McCusker encouraged locals to preserve and promote biodiversity with organic gardening, not just as an ethical imperative to save life, but as a means of saving civilization given its dependence on the health of the planet and its resources. "Organic gardening means that you wouldn't put anything into the Earth that didn't come from the Earth," McCusker said. McCusker said that most of Earth's flowering plants and many of its major food crops rely on pollination by insects and/or birds in order to reproduce. Unfortunately, she said the populations of wild pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are speedily declining, which could cause a natural crisis. Scientists researching the population decreases believe that pesticide and herbicide use, habitat loss, competition from invasive plants and insect species, and global climate changes are leading to the decline in pollinator populations and a disruption in their migratory routes, according to information compiled by McCusker and her husband, Mark. Scientists believe that cell phone transmissions, the wireless Internet and fungal/bacteria infections could specifically be playing a large role in the disappearance of honey bees alone, according to the information the McCuskers compiled. The McCuskers believe that as part of the Earth's biodiversity "we have a responsibility to it and the other life forms it supports." To go organic, the McCuskers suggest supporting organic farms and companies by buying their products, recycling as many items as possible, selling or giving away items no longer needed rather than throwing them away, spreading organic awareness by writing to legislators and demanding that they act organically, and growing organic gardens and lawns. In her own lush, organic garden, McCusker pointed out a heap made of dried leaves along with plant and grass clippings. When transformed into compost, McCusker will reuse the heap as plant food. She also displayed many homemade and store-bought organic gardening products including corn gluten meal as a weed inhibitor, garlic spray as a mosquito deterrent and insecticidal soap, as well as natural fertilizers such as kelp, fish fertilizer, composted manure and worm castings. McCusker spoke of other natural pest control methods such as handpicking off detrimental bugs and, since deer are prevalent in Roosevelt, interplanting gardens with mints and herbs. She also said gardeners can create sunken beds to keep away deer, which do not seem to like going up or down steep grades unless absolutely necessary. Although she suggested ways to keep pesky critters away, McCusker said gardeners should always try to encourage the many different and beneficial kinds of plants, insects and animals to take up residence in any yard. Beneficial insects such as ground beetles, ladybugs, fireflies, green lacewings, praying mantises, spiders and wasps all keep other insects from devouring plants, help pollinate plants and assist in the decomposition of organic matter. McCusker spoke at length about the soldier beetle, which is actually considered an organic insecticide because it acts as a biological control for a number of pest insects and is a predator of aphids. Their population, which the McCuskers proudly displayed on a plant near their home, can be increased by planting nectar- and pollen-producing plants such as solidago or the genus Asclepias. To encourage endangered pollinators like bees and hummingbirds, McCusker said locals should try to create habitats that are both attractive to and suitable for them. To attract bees, locals can plant annuals like zinnias, sunflowers and forget-me-nots, or perennials such as dahlias, lambs' ears, salvia and golden rod. Bulbs such as alliums, crocus and hyacinths also attract bees, as do dogwood trees and apple and berry bushes. Plants that encourage hummingbirds include bee balm, geranium, sage and verbena as well as irises, petunias, azaleas and wild lilac bushes. Butterflies like asters, black-eyed susans, butterfly weed, common milkweed, purple coneflowers and yarrow. For those who seemed daunted by the wealth of information she provided or just by the looks of her lavish, green landscape, McCusker said, "Fear does not belong in the garden with bugs or anything else. Just be with it and experiment." To compile the information, the McCuskers used resources from the New Jersey Native Plant Society, Friends of Rutgers Gardens, the Cape May Observatory and Butterflies of Poricy Park in Monmouth County. For more information, the couple encourages people to visit Web sites such as www.nappc.org and www.pollinator.org, which are part of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, and www.organicgardening.com and www.motherearthnews.com, which are organic gardening and pest control Web sites. The McCuskers also hope that people will visit their local garden centers.