Questions and CORRECT Answers
Pests - CORRECT ANSWER - any organism that is noxious, destructive, or troublesome
Examples of Pests - CORRECT ANSWER - Plants, or animals. Such as formosan termite,
fire ants, aedes mosquito, medfly
Why do we need pest control? - CORRECT ANSWER - Because there are many
organisms out there that we don't like, and we want to keep their populations low or even wipe
out.
Why control pests? - CORRECT ANSWER - To protect our food, to protect our health, for
our convenience
Pesticide use in the United states - CORRECT ANSWER - We have used pesticides for a
long time. Before WW11 we used elements such as arsenic and sulfur to control pests. Post
WW11 we developed chemicals such as DDT. Most chemicals are used to control agricultural
pests.
Chemical Technology (pest control) - CORRECT ANSWER - -use of chemicals to kill
large numbers of the pest.
-short-term protection
-environmental and health consequences
Consequences of chemical pest control - CORRECT ANSWER - -we kill large numbers
but typically only for a short period of time and we need to use over and over again
-also many non-target impacts, particularly on human health with insecticides
Ecological pest management - CORRECT ANSWER - -control based on pest life cycle
and ecology
, -control agent may be an organism or chemical, or biological control
Integrated Pest Management - CORRECT ANSWER - "using all suitable methods-
chemical and ecological-in a way that brings about long-term management of pest populations
and minimal environmental impact"
Define Integrated pest management (IPM) - CORRECT ANSWER - -specific to pest
and/or manipulate a part of the ecosystem
-emphasizes protection from pest
-most of what is promoted today in agriculture, b/c it tries to bring long-term management into
play by minimizing the application of chemicals
First generation pesticides (inorganic) - CORRECT ANSWER - -first attempt at chemical
technology
-toxic to humans and agricultural plants (didn't break down)
-pests developed resistance
Second-generation pesticides - CORRECT ANSWER - -used after ww11
-organic chemicals
-toxic to humans and agricultural pants (basically just as bad)
-pests developed resistance
DDT: the magic bullet - CORRECT ANSWER - -extremely toxic to insects; seemed
nontoxic to humans and other animals
-cheap
-broad-spectrum and persistent
-effective for diseases prevetion (typhus fever, malaria)
-expanded agricultural prodcution
-Paul Muller awarded Nobel Prize in 1948