Pesticides and Pest ControlPesticides and Pest Control
Brian Kaestner
Saint Mary’s Hall
Brian Kaestner
Saint Mary’s Hall
Thanks to Miller and ClementsThanks to Miller and Clements
PestsPests
Compete with humans for foodCompete with humans for food
Invade lawns and gardensInvade lawns and gardens
Destroy wood in housesDestroy wood in houses
Spread diseaseSpread disease
Are a nuisanceAre a nuisance
May be controlled by natural enemiesMay be controlled by natural enemies
Pesticides: TypesPesticides: Types
Chemicals that kill undesirable organisms
Chemicals that kill undesirable organisms
Insecticides Insecticides
Herbicides Herbicides
Fungicides Fungicides
Rodenticides Rodenticides
See Table 20-1 p. 504See Table 20-1 p. 504
Fig. 20.4, p. 507
600
500
400
300
200
100
01950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Year
Nu
mb
er o
f sp
ecie
s
Boll weevilGypsy moth cateripllar
Insects and mites
Weeds
Plant diseases
First Generation PesticidesFirst Generation Pesticides
Primarily natural substances Primarily natural substances
Sulfur, lead, arsenic, mercury Sulfur, lead, arsenic, mercury
Plant extracts: nicotine, pyrethrumPlant extracts: nicotine, pyrethrum
Plant extracts are degradable Plant extracts are degradable
Refer to Appendix 6 p. A8 Refer to Appendix 6 p. A8
Second Generation PesticidesSecond Generation Pesticides
Primarily synthetic organic compounds Primarily synthetic organic compounds
630 biologically-active compounds 630 biologically-active compounds
Broad-spectrum agents Broad-spectrum agents
Narrow-spectrum agents Narrow-spectrum agents
Target species Target species
Nontarget species Nontarget species See Table 20-1 p. 504See Table 20-1 p. 504
Characteristics of an Ideal PesticideCharacteristics of an Ideal Pesticide
Kill only target pests Kill only target pests
Harm no other psecies Harm no other psecies
Break down quickly Break down quickly
Not cause genetic resistance Not cause genetic resistance
Be more cost-effective than doing nothing Be more cost-effective than doing nothing
The Case for PesticidesThe Case for Pesticides
Save human lives Save human lives
Increase supplies and lower cost of food Increase supplies and lower cost of food
Work better and faster than alternatives Work better and faster than alternatives
Health risks may be insignificant compared to benefits
Health risks may be insignificant compared to benefits
Newer pesticides are becoming safer Newer pesticides are becoming safer
New pesticides are used at lower rates New pesticides are used at lower rates
The Case Against PesticidesThe Case Against Pesticides
Genetic resistance Genetic resistance
Can kill nontarget and natural control species Can kill nontarget and natural control species
Can cause an increase in other pest species Can cause an increase in other pest species
The pesticide treadmill The pesticide treadmill
Pesticides do not stay put Pesticides do not stay put
Can harm wildlife Can harm wildlife
Potential human health threats Potential human health threats
Pesticide Regulation in the United StatesPesticide Regulation in the United States
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
Tolerance levelsTolerance levels
EPA Evaluation of chemicalsEPA Evaluation of chemicals
Inadequate and poorly enforcedInadequate and poorly enforced
Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)
Other Ways to Control PestsOther Ways to Control Pests
Economic threshold Economic threshold
Adjusting cultivation practices Adjusting cultivation practices
Use genetically-resistant plants Use genetically-resistant plants
Biological pest control Biological pest control
Biopesticides Biopesticides
Insect birth control Insect birth control
Hormones and pheromones Hormones and pheromones
Ionizing radiation Ionizing radiation
Integrated Pest ManagementIntegrated Pest Management
Ecological system approachEcological system approach
Reduce pest populations to economic threshold
Reduce pest populations to economic threshold
Field monitoring of pest populationsField monitoring of pest populations
Use of biological agentsUse of biological agents
Chemical pesticides are last resortChemical pesticides are last resort