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Submitted to: Encyclopedia of Entomology
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/2003 Publication Date: 4/30/2004 Citation: Valles, S.M. 2004. Insecticides. Encyclopedia of Entomology. 2004. v. 2. p. 1191-1197. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Pesticides are chemical substances used to kill pests. They are the largest group of poisonous substances widely broadcast. Annual pesticide use expenditures in the United States totaled $11.3 billion in 1995 with agriculture accounting for more than two thirds. Pesticides may be more specifically categorized by the group of organisms they are designed to kill. For example, herbicides are used to kill plants, rodenticides are used to kill rodents, and insecticides are used to kill insects. Herbicides are the leading type of pesticides, in terms of both user expenditures and volumes used. About 1 billion pounds of active ingredient of pesticides are used annually in the US. These chemicals are steeped in controversy. They are disparaged by environmentalists and lauded by many in the agricultural and public health communities. Despite how you may personally feel about pesticides, their use has undeniably improved the quality of life of human beings by increasing agricultural yields to levels that have maintained pace with an exponential human growth rate and improved public health by reducing or eliminating insect disease vectors. The following sections provide a brief overview of pesticide characteristics such as classification, mode of action, relative toxicity, and use. For more specific information on pesticides, the reader is referred to several authoritative references cited at the end of this chapter. |
