The percentage of hornworm eggs successfully destroyed by the wasps will be measured. Several alternates to the overuse of pesticides have been tried in recent times. Included in these are many cultural methods. These cultural methods are physical practices that eliminate pests, as destroying the crop stubble after harvest to prevent over-wintering of insects. Planting in patches rather than monocultures discourages pests.
Some farmers literally vacuum the crops of insect pests rather than use chemical sprays.
The use of natural degradable pesticides such as nicotine or pyrethrums is becoming more popular especially with gardeners. These naturally produced pesticides are quickly broken down in the environment and do not biomagnify as do the harmful persistent synthetic organic pesticides. Disruption of the insect's reproductive cycle using juvenile hormones is a technique the may have a future use, but sterilization is a tried and true method for the eradication of some species. The USDA pioneered the screwworm eradication program in this country, and it has been a success. It involves the sterilization and release of male insects, which then mate with wild females.