Author
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Carpenter, James |
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Bartlett, Alan |
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Submitted to: Handbook of Pest Management
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Not required. Technical Abstract: Genetic approaches to managing arthropod pests, such as the sterile insect technique, are legendary in their effectiveness and future potential. However, emerging technologies, especially in the field of molecular genetic techniques, also hold great promise as future pest control methods. The control of insect pests is required for efficient and successful agricultural production of food, energy, and fiber. Currently, insecticides are the major defense against most crop pests and will continue to be in the near future. But changes in pest management may be on the horizon. Concerns regarding pesticide pollution and insecticide resistance have increased investigations of alternative management strategies. However, no singular strategy should be expected to solve a pest problem. It is important to define and develop pest management strategies that can be combined without deleterious effects to individual strategies and while perhaps creating a complementary system for pest management. Genetic methods for pest control are quite advantageous for combined strategy approach to pest management. Compared with chemical control methods, genetic methods are highly specific to the pest species, safe to pest control workers, nonpolluting to the environment, long-lasting and area-wide in approach, and compatible with most other pest control strategies. |
