A Short History of Pest Management

A SHORT HISTORY OF PEST MANAGEMENT 1600's - Tobacco infusions (nicotine), herbs and arse- nic become the major materials used for insect pest control 1700's Reaumur publishes on the importance of temperature summation in determining insect phenology plant resistance to insects discovered 1800's- Paris green (mixture of arsenic and copper sulfate) used for the control of Colorado potato beetle late 1800's - early 1900's boom in development of insecticide application equipment 1920's pesticides were largely ineffective, expensive, hazardous and somewhat phytotoxic Synthetic Pesticide Era--1939 to ?? Prior to this time, insecticides were formulated from petroleum, coal tar distillates, plants or inorganic compounds -1930's trend toward synthesizing new compounds -moth-proofing agents DDT - synthesized by a German graduate student 1873 - Paul Muller, (Swiss) discovers insecticidal activity - saves many soldiers' lives during WWII (body lice - typhus) - such an impact on human health -- Muller wins 1948 Nobel prize in medicine During WWII both the Germans and the Allies working on the development of organophosphates as nerve gases. They discover the insecticidal properties of these chemicals. After WWII development of other chlorinated hydrocarbons and organophosphates as pesticides -1950's early 60's-. "The Green Revolution" - synthetic pesticides and fertilizers the answer to World hunger!?? (Was that the question?) - trend away from understanding pest phenology, density or damage potential and toward pure chemical approach --1980's- Increase in IPM research Beginning of genetic engineering applications in agriculture -1990's- New genetically engineered Bt crops (corn, potatoes) come into use How will these fit into IPM programs? Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) brings changes to pesticide laws in US New emphasis on softer, and/or more specifically targeted, low-volume chemicals Issues of children's health emphasized -2000 and beyond??- Pest management is always changing and we cannot predict the future. In fact, even in the same time period, people have different ideas about how pest management should be carried out In the next section, we will go into more depth about what constitutes IPM in the Here and Now. Source: Compiled by: http://extension.psu.edu/ipm /schools/educators/curriculum http://home-improvementservices. blogspot.com/ / contents/shorthistory