Insect-based pest control

Renou M. and Guerrero A. (2000) Insect parapheromones in olfaction research and semiochemical-based pest control strategies. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 45, 605-630. 

Knowledge of the specific structures of insect pheromones has permitted their chemical synthesis, allowing their commercial use for the suppression of pest populations by mating disruption (5) (Figure 1). The practical use of pheromone-based pest control products typically takes one of two forms. Either the pheromones are used as discrete baits in traps so that males are drawn into the traps and removed... 

A problem in trying to use these results in developing potential pest control agents is that none of these compounds is likely to penetrate either the cuticle or the CNS of insects effectively, since all are fully ionized at physiological pH. Derivatization of the polar groups would be one possible solution to this problem. The formamidines and imidazolines generally do not suffer from this problem since they have pKas which are lower than those of the related phenylethylamines and thus are at least partly in the free base form at pH 7. 

Maize Insect resistant 5.575 million pounds potentially less insecticide active ingredients in 2001 (14.927 million acres) Calculation of pesticide use in a simulation of high insect pest infestation based on historical data, assuming 100% pest control by insect resistant Bt maize. Rationale for the simulation were the low actual infestation levels in recent years that would have obscured the potential change in insecticide use under insect pressure. 

Diseases, insects, and weeds are important constrains to crop production their combined effect has been "questimated" at 25-45%, on a world-wide basis. Pesticides comprise one of the major means of pests. In the U.S., insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides are used on more than 90 million hectares of crop land. Percentages of crop area treated with pesticides range from <1 to >90% for crops ranging from pasture to apples. The amount of chemicals used and the seriousness of plant pests mandate that pesticide usage be based on sound biological data and principles. Pest control decisions ideally are based on 1) precise estimates of pest density and... 

Objections to Using Neuroendocrine-Based Pest Insect Control... 

Treatments with controlled or modified atmospheres based on CO2 and nitrogen N2 offer an alternative to fumigation with toxic gases for insect pest control in all durable commodities, but usually at an increased cost as compared with conventional chemical treatments. 

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