History of Pest Management and Insecticides

This set of flashcards covers key terms and concepts related to the history of pest management and the development of various insecticides and herbicides.

Pest Tetrahedron

A model that outlines the necessary time, pest, crop (host), and environmental conditions needed for a major pest outbreak.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A sustainable approach that combines different management strategies and practices to control pest populations while minimizing impact on the environment.

Glyphosate

A broad-spectrum systemic herbicide commonly used to kill weeds, particularly annual broadleaf weeds and grasses that compete with crops.

Bordeaux mixture

A fungicide mixture of lime, copper sulfate, and water, used to control plant diseases.

Ergot

A fungal disease of rye and other cereals caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, which can cause hallucinations and health issues in humans.

Transgenic crops

Genetically modified crops that contain genes from other organisms to provide desired traits such as pest resistance.

The Black Death

A devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that struck Europe and Asia in the 14th century, transmitted by fleas on rats.

Organochlorines

A class of chemicals that includes many pesticides and are known for their long-lasting environmental persistence, most banned in the 1970s.

Cultural practices

Agricultural practices that reduce pest populations, such as changing planting dates or crop rotation.

Resistance breeding

A method in which plants are selectively bred for their ability to resist pests and diseases.

Green Revolution

Increased use in fertilizer, pesticides and different varieties in ag systems that increased production.

• Discovered that disease resistance was an inherited trait

• Developed chemically based pesticides-believed that pesticides we’re the “Sliver Bullet”

What was discovered during WWII?

2,4-D was discovered and was originally developed to eradicate crops in Nazi Germany but later became widely used as a herbicide in agriculture.

What year what Silent Spring published?

It was published by Rachel Carson in 1962 and is considered a pivotal work in raising awareness about the dangers of pesticides.

What year was the IPM system first recognized?

First reference to IPM as a system was in 1968

• The government increased legislation to decrease pesticide use and increase IPM strategies

• Awareness about food origin and standards for organic and pesticide free production

Organophosphates

• Insecticides like malathion, parathion & lorsban

• Nerve agent like Sarin- was used in Syria

• Lots are now banned or restricted use only

Carbamates

• Carbaryl & Carbofuran

• Sevin was introduced in 1956

• It has a shorter duration and has a lower toxicity than organophosphates

The history of Glyphosates

• Is an active ingredient in round-up

• Previously owned by Monsanto but now owned by Bayer

• First introduced in 1974- non selective so it couldn’t be used for crops because it would kill it

• Pre harvest use approved in 1992 with the patent expiring in 2000

• Genetically modified canola(Round up ready introduced in 1996)

• GMO soybeans introduced in 1997 and GMO corn in 1998

• Farmer took the seed from the previous year and seeded it again with Monsanto arguing that they had the patent rights to the GMO crop

What year did Kochia become resistant?

Glyphosate resistant discovered in Alberta in 2012