Insecticide: Difference between revisions
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'''Insecticides''' are chemicals that kill [[insect]]s. Manufactured insecticides have long been deemed necessary to kill insects that have [[venom|venomous]] or lethal bites, or those which simply have an irritating bite or sting. Many insects and particularly their [[larva|larvae]] attack [[plant]]s and [[cash crop]]s and so are the bane of farmers and gardeners. Insecticides are indicated for [[agriculture|agricultural]] use where large quantities of highly-effective poison are required. | '''Insecticides''' are chemicals that kill [[insect]]s. Manufactured insecticides have long been deemed necessary to kill insects that have [[venom|venomous]] or lethal bites, or those which simply have an irritating bite or sting. Many insects and particularly their [[larva|larvae]] attack [[plant]]s and [[cash crop]]s and so are the bane of farmers and gardeners. Insecticides are indicated for [[agriculture|agricultural]] use where large quantities of highly-effective poison are required. | ||
Using such poisons is not without consequences. For one thing, insecticides do not discriminate, killing insects humans find useful as well as those that are destructive. | Using such poisons is not without consequences. For one thing, insecticides do not discriminate, killing insects humans find useful as well as those that are destructive. In addition, strong poisons may harm or even kill wild and domestic [[fish]] and [[animal]]s as well. | ||
== Insecticide resistance == | |||
Use of insecticides is associated to insect resistance and often, as a result, more extensive use of the said insecticides. Insecticide resistance is a topic of concern that has been traditionally studied by two groups of scientists: agronomists and ecologists on the one hand, and medical scientists on the other hand. Concern has been voiced that there exists too little interaction between the two groups.<ref name="pmid18060069">{{cite journal |author=Bourguet D ''et al'' |title=Structure of the scientific community modelling the evolution of resistance |journal=PLoS ONE |volume=2 |pages=e1275 |year=2007 |pmid=18060069 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0001275|url=http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0001275#top}}</ref> | |||
==References== | |||
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Revision as of 20:13, 9 January 2008
Insecticides are chemicals that kill insects. Manufactured insecticides have long been deemed necessary to kill insects that have venomous or lethal bites, or those which simply have an irritating bite or sting. Many insects and particularly their larvae attack plants and cash crops and so are the bane of farmers and gardeners. Insecticides are indicated for agricultural use where large quantities of highly-effective poison are required.
Using such poisons is not without consequences. For one thing, insecticides do not discriminate, killing insects humans find useful as well as those that are destructive. In addition, strong poisons may harm or even kill wild and domestic fish and animals as well.
Insecticide resistance
Use of insecticides is associated to insect resistance and often, as a result, more extensive use of the said insecticides. Insecticide resistance is a topic of concern that has been traditionally studied by two groups of scientists: agronomists and ecologists on the one hand, and medical scientists on the other hand. Concern has been voiced that there exists too little interaction between the two groups.[1]
References
- ↑ Bourguet D et al (2007). "Structure of the scientific community modelling the evolution of resistance". PLoS ONE 2: e1275. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0001275. PMID 18060069. Research Blogging.