Brief History of Pesticides
1920's and 30's
- There was a technological and chemical revolution in all areas.
- Research led to the development of chemical pesticides and fungicides (DDT: 1939).
1940's and 50's
- Huge increase in number of pesticides available.
- Chemicals were thought to be the miracle cure for all problems.
1960's
- Rachel Carson wrote The Silent Spring - the first wide read warning of pesticide overuse.
- Realized the critical link of insects in the food chain.
- Began searching for the more "natural" remedies of our ancestors.
1970's
- Came up with the concept of IPM - Integrated Pest Management. Instead of annihilating the insect population - manage the pest.
1980's
- Development of "softer insecticides" - less harmful to beneficial insects and the environment.
- Lots of research on low rate materials (1 oz/active ingredient per acre rather than 2 lbs.)
1990's
- Lots of focus on development of bio-rationals - materials based on some type of biological insect hormone or venom - things found to poison insects - and then synthetically reproduce those things. Plants have defense mechanisms - exploit those. (cayenne pepper extract, plant material extracts, etc.)
- Chemicals that disrupt pest behavior, not kill them (pheromones, chemosterilants).
- Pheromones are insect hormones.
- Spot treatments - treat only infected areas.
- "Scout" your area to determine threshold levels - how much damage can you withstand before you need to take action.
- Manages pests, but allows beneficials to exist.
Recommended Books
Controlling Lawn & Garden Insects. Created and designed by the editorial staff of ORTHO BOOKS. 1984. (Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, $7.95)
A Field Guide to Florida Critters. Bill Zak. Taylor Publishing Company. Dallas, Texas. 1986. (Barnes & Noble, $12.96)
The Organic Gardeners Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control. Edited by: Barbara W. Ellis and Fern Marshall Bradley. Rodale Press. Emmaus, PA. 1992. (Barnes & Noble, $27.95.)