life cycle, they disrupt a wide range of body functions. Dormancy-breaking
chemicals produce germination before a suitable environment is available,
resulting in seedling death. In a like manner, insect diapause has been terminated
prematurely through the use of juvenile hormones.
12. Cold, Heat, Dehydration, and Radiation
For certain insects and microorganisms, the use of cold, heat, dehydration, or
UV radiation is an effective means of protection, sometimes applied simultaneously or in concert.
4 Pesticides for Control
Since the 1930s in the United States, to combat the array of undesirable organisms
(i.e., pests and vectors), an arsenal of chemical agents has been developed for control
and management. Some of these agents are simple inorganic compounds, others are
organic compounds of relatively complex structure, and yet others are biopesticides,
such as the Bacilli bacteria.
It is generally agreed that materials used to control, destroy, or mitigate undesirable organisms (other than bacteria, rickettsia, and viruses) are called pesticides,
whereas disinfectants, antibiotics, and virucidal agents are used to control both
cellular and acellular microbes. Yet in many cases, pesticides indirectly control the
microbe through control of the vector as, for example, in the battle against the tick
that harbors the rickettsia known to induce Rocky Mountain Spotted fever.
“Pesticides” is an overarching term for chemically and biologically based materials that control a wide array of pests. More specifically, it includes pesticides that
are designed to control the occurrence of targeted pests: such as rodenticides (for
rodents), molluscicides (snails), nematicides (worms), miticides (mites), insecticides
(insects), fungicides (fungi), algicides (aquatic algae), bactericides (bacteria), and
herbicides (weed and brush killers, defoliants, and desiccants). Plant or insect growth
regulators and insect sex attractants are also normally considered among the pesticides. The US EPA registers the disinfectant, sodium hypochlorite or chlorine
additive for water treatment, as a pesticide as well.
Federal legislation in the United States strictly controls the use of pesticides
through the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This act
requires the classification of all pesticides according to whether they may be used
generally or are restricted. A pesticide is classified as restricted if it can be hazardous
to human health or the environment. These restricted pesticides can be applied only
by people certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as
competent in using and handling pesticides. Only registered pesticides can be
marketed in the United States.
USEPA has developed a multivolume registry of pesticides [4] containing uses of
all registered products. The registry specifies dosage, mode of application, and
limitations along with a classification for restricted or general usage. The registry
does not recommend one pesticide over another and thus is most useful to persons
10 Environmental Control of Pests and Vectors
393
chemicals produce germination before a suitable environment is available,
resulting in seedling death. In a like manner, insect diapause has been terminated
prematurely through the use of juvenile hormones.
12. Cold, Heat, Dehydration, and Radiation
For certain insects and microorganisms, the use of cold, heat, dehydration, or
UV radiation is an effective means of protection, sometimes applied simultaneously or in concert.
4 Pesticides for Control
Since the 1930s in the United States, to combat the array of undesirable organisms
(i.e., pests and vectors), an arsenal of chemical agents has been developed for control
and management. Some of these agents are simple inorganic compounds, others are
organic compounds of relatively complex structure, and yet others are biopesticides,
such as the Bacilli bacteria.
It is generally agreed that materials used to control, destroy, or mitigate undesirable organisms (other than bacteria, rickettsia, and viruses) are called pesticides,
whereas disinfectants, antibiotics, and virucidal agents are used to control both
cellular and acellular microbes. Yet in many cases, pesticides indirectly control the
microbe through control of the vector as, for example, in the battle against the tick
that harbors the rickettsia known to induce Rocky Mountain Spotted fever.
“Pesticides” is an overarching term for chemically and biologically based materials that control a wide array of pests. More specifically, it includes pesticides that
are designed to control the occurrence of targeted pests: such as rodenticides (for
rodents), molluscicides (snails), nematicides (worms), miticides (mites), insecticides
(insects), fungicides (fungi), algicides (aquatic algae), bactericides (bacteria), and
herbicides (weed and brush killers, defoliants, and desiccants). Plant or insect growth
regulators and insect sex attractants are also normally considered among the pesticides. The US EPA registers the disinfectant, sodium hypochlorite or chlorine
additive for water treatment, as a pesticide as well.
Federal legislation in the United States strictly controls the use of pesticides
through the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This act
requires the classification of all pesticides according to whether they may be used
generally or are restricted. A pesticide is classified as restricted if it can be hazardous
to human health or the environment. These restricted pesticides can be applied only
by people certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as
competent in using and handling pesticides. Only registered pesticides can be
marketed in the United States.
USEPA has developed a multivolume registry of pesticides [4] containing uses of
all registered products. The registry specifies dosage, mode of application, and
limitations along with a classification for restricted or general usage. The registry
does not recommend one pesticide over another and thus is most useful to persons
10 Environmental Control of Pests and Vectors
393