Readings

• Metcalf, R.L. Insecticides in pest management. In: Metcalf, R.L., and Luckmann, W.H. (eds.) Introduction to Insect Pest Management, 3rd ed. 1995.
• National Research Council. The Future Role of Pesticides in US Agriculture. Chapter 2 (part). 2000.

Key Questions

Insecticides in Pest Management

• What has been the general trend of insecticide production and usage (considering their quantity and efficacy) over time in the US?
• What are the major crop groups with high insecticide usage?
• What are the advantages of using insecticides in agriculture?
• How does decisionmaking using ETL levels of insecticides vary when the prices of the crop and insecticides are also considered?
• What are the disadvantages of injudicious use of insecticides?
• What is the difference between multiple and cross resistance? Which type of resistance is of greater concern?
• What are the different kinds of resistance developed by insects?
• What are some of the reasons for development of insecticidal resistance?
• What are some of the principles of Integrated Resistance Management?
• What are the reasons for pest resurgence?
• How does one manage the problem of pest resurgence?
• Why do decreases in the populations of non-target species because of pesticide sprays increase crop damage due to pests?
• Why are honey bees especially susceptible to insecticidal applications?
• What are the management practices that minimize the adverse effect of insecticides on wildlife?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of pesticide persistence?
• Which category of pesticides has been most threatening to human health?
• What are the management practices that minimize the adverse effect of insecticides on human health?
• What are the major principles governing pesticide use in IPM programs?
• What is biorational strategy for pest management? What type of chemicals are used in this?
• Why is broadcasting of dusts and sprays inefficient?
• Would the authors support - Routine application of pesticides for pest management? - The idea that 100 % pest control is possible?
• Should the farmer always go by the dosages prescribed on pesticide labels for pest control?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of seed treatment with pesticides?
• What criteria are considered for deriving pesticide management ratings for insecticides?
• What three animals are considered for determining the toxic effects of pesticides on the environment?
• What is the significance of pesticide management ratings?
• What are the different kinds of pest control we find in the case study on IPM in alfalfa?

The Future Role of Pesticides in US Agriculture

• What are some of the outcomes that have been estimated from a ‘no pesticide’ scenario in the US?
• According to some of the researchers, how do consumers benefit from pesticide usage in agriculture?
• How does the committee account for the costs and benefits of using pesticides in households?
• Which crop categories account for maximum application of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides in the US?
• Which is the most pesticide intensive-crop in the US?
• After increasing between the years 1940 and 1980, pesticide usage in the US decreased until 1990, and then increased again. What are the reasons?
• Why is it difficult to measure pesticide-related productivity?
• Provide examples of short-term and long-term farm and regional level substitute for pesticides.
• How does availability of substitutes affect pesticide productivity?
• What are the different methods for estimation of pesticide productivity and their main features?
• How does customer preference lead to increase/decrease of pesticide application?
• What are the reasons for application of preventive pesticide sprays by the farmers?
• What is the relationship between pesticide application and income related risks to the farmers?
• Why do the authors state that development of resistance to pesticides in pests is more of a rule than an exception?
• Are chemical pesticides the only reason for resistance development in pests?
• Why is resistance development to herbicides slower compared to other pesticides?
• For which group of pesticides is the development of resistance the highest? Why?
• How does the duration of pest life cycle influence resistance development?
• How do dispersal and migration of susceptible individuals of a pest species influence resistance development?
• At what stage of pesticide manufacture and use is the risk of exposure the greatest to human beings?
• Which Federal Act protects workers from occupational risks due to exposure to pesticides?
• What are some of the general guidelines of Worker Protection Standards (WPS)?
• What are the reasons for declining levels of pesticide residues on food items?