Insect pest management

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In the mid-twentieth century, the development of new insecticides led to optimism about indefinite pest control. From the 1950s to the 1980s, pest management relied heavily on conventional insecticides like organochlorines and pyrethroids. However, the environmental impact of these pesticides, coupled with rising resistance issues and public outcry, prompted stricter regulations aimed at reducing pesticide use. As a result, alternative pest management strategies emerged, including biorational pesticides, biological control, host-plant resistance, mating disruption with pheromones, and cultural and physical control methods. The concept of "integrated control" was introduced by California entomologists in the late 1950s, laying the groundwork for integrated pest management (IPM) in the 1970s. In response to growing resistance problems, insecticide resistance management (IRM) programs were implemented in the 1980s, further enhancing IPM initiatives as awareness of environmental issues grew. Since the late 1990s, innovative strategies have been developed, including the use of genetically engineered or transgenic plants to improve resistance to pests.