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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Management of plant species for controlling pests, by peasant farmers at Lagoa Seca, Paraíba state, Brazil: an ethnoecological approach.

Ethnoecological knowledge may be understood as spontaneous knowledge, culturally referenced of any society's members, learned and transmitted through social interactions and that are targeted at resolution of daily routine situations. The traditional knowledge in small scale economy societies as well as the non-academic knowledge in urban-industrial societies might be included in this concept. An ethnoecological approach study was performed here on people living at the communities of Alvinho, Almeida, Chã do Marinho, Floriano, and Chã de Oiti, all located in the municipality of Lagoa Seca, Paraíba state, Northeast Brazil. The general objective pursued here was to study the knowledge that peasant farmers have on management of plant species utilized for pest control. For this, the methodological instruments employed here to investigate the ethnoecological knowledge were: direct observation, structured and semi-structured interviews, and tours conducted by local peasant farmers. We analyzed the data obtained under an emic/etic view and also by comparing the local knowledge with those obtained from the literature. The results showed that people in those communities utilize management alternatives for controlling pests, which are mainly: (i) fallowing; (ii) crop rotation; (iii) destruction of crop remains and fruits attacked by pests; (iv) alternations of crops with repellent plants; and/or (v) mixed cropping; (vi) insect's larvae covered with soil; (vii) crops irrigated abundantly; and (viii) soil preparation. The recovery and comprehension we get about this knowledge as well as the farmers' savoir faire, are extremely important to the revival of ancient agricultural practices, which have been forgotten due to advances in modern agriculture. The data obtained here showed that a huge body of knowledge the farmers have on many forms or strategies of management are generally compatible with scientific knowledge.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1990

Micro-organisms as fertilizers and pest control agents in agricultural crops.

Micro-organisms can potentially supplement or replace the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in many agricultural cropping systems. Their increased use may reduce the need for nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, particularly in legume and cereal crops, and provide a more ecologically sound method of controlling pests and phytopathogens. Recombinant DNA technology offers the potential to extend and improve these applications. However, genetically modified micro-organisms may occasionally themselves pose environmental risks. Model ecosystems such as intact soil-core microcosms may be useful for both testing efficacy and evaluating environmental risk prior to proceeding with field trials.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2003

Insect peptide hormones: a selective review of their physiology and potential application for pest control.

Our knowledge on primary structure, synthesis, release, receptor binding, structure-activity relationships, mode of action and degradation of, mainly, neuropeptides from insects has increased dramatically during the last 10 years or so. Here, five case studies are presented, which deal selectively with effects on: reproduction (trypsin modulating oostatic factor in mosquito); energy metabolism, locomotion and the immune system (adipokinetic hormones); water and ion balance, and feeding behaviour (diuretic hormones, kinins, sulfakinins); sex attraction (pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide); and growth and development, and muscle activity (allatostatins). The literature is reviewed in the context of how the knowledge on neuropeptides has been and can be used for the design of novel, safe and selective compounds to control pest insects in the foreseeable future.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

[Urinary alkylphosphate levels as an index of exposure to organophosphorus insecticides in pest control operators].

In pest control operations, organophosphorus compounds (OP) have been sprayed as insecticides, blood cholinesterase (ChE) activities and urinary alkylphosphate levels were measured for both OP-sprayers (n = 102) and non-sprayers (n = 35) in pest control companies, and the relationship between the analytical results and spraying conditions was investigated. Plasma ChE activities of the OP-sprayers and of the non-sprayers, as well as blood cell ChE activities of the OP-sprayers, were significantly lower than those of employees of chemical factories who served as controls (n = 103). Urinary alkylphosphates were not detected in the controls at all but were detected in 83% of the sprayers and in 57% of the non-sprayer employees of pest control companies. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.34, n = 137, p less than 0.01) between the plasma ChE activities and urinary total alkylphosphate levels was observed in employees of pest control companies. In the case of the employees whose urinary total alkylphosphate levels were 0.1 mumol/g creatinine or more, the plasma ChE activities were 25% decreased compared to the control group. The OP-sprayers showed significantly higher urinary total alkylphosphate levels than the non-sprayers. The OP-sprayers were further divided into two groups. One was sprayers engaged in both cockroach- or fly-control and termite-control operations (sprayers I, n = 54) and the other was sprayers engaged in only cockroach- or fly-control operations (sprayer II, n = 48).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Preliminary evaluation of the incidence and control of insects--pest control in Polish hospitals].

The evaluation of the infestation and methods of insect disease vectors control in 748 hospitals in Poland in the period of 1990 to 1995 were done. The insect species, places of their occurrence and control agents were analysed. Blattella germanica L. occurred most frequently (71% hospitals). Blatta orientalis and Monomorium pharaonis were found in 40% and 17% hospitals respectively. Kitchens, laundries and baths were most infested. Sometimes insects were found also in central sterilization units and operating theaters. Controls of insects in hospitals were performed one to four times a year mostly by spraying with residual formulation. The control agents contained pyrethroids (mostly permethrin, but also deltamethrin and cypermethrin) and carbamates (bendiocarb, propoxur). Baits with hydramethylnon, boric acid, methoprene and chlorpyrifos were used not very often. The authors suggest reduction in using the spraying agents. The baits are recommended because they delay the development of the resistance to pesticides in controlling insect populations and are safer.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

[Is chemical pest control coming to an end?].

Problems that arise when chemical control of pests is applied--risks for producer, applier, consumer and the environment as well as development of resistance against pesticides--have led to the conclusion that other forms of pest control have to be searched for to guarantee production of sufficient crops in the future. Out of the many available methods to prevent or reduce pests two methods seem to offer most possibilities for the near future: development of (partial) host-plant resistance against pests and the search for natural enemies of pests (the so called biological control). In this article the development of biological pest control is described and a comparison is made between working methods, efficiency and risks in application of chemical and biological control. Several examples are given of successful biological control projects as applied in greenhouses in the Netherlands.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2006

Fighting the global pest problem: preface to the special Toxicon issue on insecticidal toxins and their potential for insect pest control.

Arthropod pests are responsible for major crop devastation and are vectors for the transmission of new and re-emerging diseases in humans and livestock. Despite many years of effective control by conventional agrochemical insecticides, a number of factors are threatening the effectiveness and continued use of these agents. These include the development of insecticide resistance and use-cancellation or de-registration of some insecticides due to human health and environmental concerns. Several approaches are being investigated for the design of new (bio)pesticides. These include the development of transgenic plants and recombinant baculoviruses as delivery systems for a variety of insect-selective toxins. Additional approaches for the development of foliar sprays include the rational design of peptidomimetics based on the key residues of these toxins that interact with the insect target. This special issue provides an overview of these phyletically selective animal, plant and microbial toxins and their diverse mechanisms of action to paralyze or kill arthropods. In addition, it reviews their potential for biopesticide discovery and validation of novel insecticide targets and provides an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of biopesticides in the global control of arthropod pests.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Transgenic plants: an emerging approach to pest control.

Insect pests are a major cause of damage to the world's commercially important agricultural crops. Current strategies aimed at reducing crop losses rely primarily on chemical pesticides. Alternatively transgenic crops with intrinsic pest resistance offer a promising alternative and continue to be developed. The first generation of insect-resistant transgenic plants are based on insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). A second generation of insect-resistant plants under development include both Bt and non-Bt proteins with novel modes of action and different spectra of activity against insect pests.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Cohort mortality and nested case-control study of lung cancer among structural pest control workers in Florida (United States).

A previous report on the mortality of this cohort of Florida (United States) pest control workers found the risk of lung cancer was positively associated with the number of years licensed. An additional follow-up (1977-82) of this male cohort confirmed the excess (SMR = 1.4) and the rising risk with increasing number of years licensed (SMR = 2.2 among workers employed more than 20 years). A nested case-control study was undertaken to determine the effects of smoking and the type of pesticide exposure on lung cancer risk. Occupational histories and other data were obtained on 65 deceased lung cancer cases, 122 deceased controls, and 172 living controls. Interviews were conducted with next-of-kin regardless of the vital status of the subject. Odds ratios (OR) were adjusted by age and smoking. Adjustments for diet and other occupations had no effect on risk estimates and were not included in the final model. Using information from licensing records, ORs for lung cancer were greater for workers first licensed before age 40 (OR = 2.4, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-5.9 with deceased controls) and increased from 1.4 (CI = 0.7-3.0) for subjects licensed 10-19 years to 2.1 (CI = 0.8-5.5) for subjects licensed 20 or more years. Using living controls, an association with duration of employment was observed when years of licensure were lagged five years, but was not observed in unlagged analyses. Using information from the questionnaire, the risk of lung cancer was greater among those who worked as pest control operators than non-pest control workers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Pest control in food establishments].

Pest control measures in rooms serving the production, treatment or marketing of foods have to be executed according to the principles laid down in the food hygiene regulations of the Länder of the Federal Republic of Germany. However, a proper pest control following these rules can only be realized if such control is performed by persons experienced and qualified in the field of hygiene. Corresponding knowledge includes diagnostic and accessory equipment, morphology, biology, sensitivity including resistance and vector function of the pest to be controlled, suitable pesticides, formulations according to the type of action, possible residual effect and indoor air exposure, the respective technique of application, decontamination procedures, structure and pH value of the materials used for the application, methods for the determination of the concentrations of the active substances and solvents in indoor air as well as of climatic factors in the resting and hatching area of pests, the shelf-life of foods, their protection against pesticides and their safe removal in the case of contamination.

Food Analysis↗
PubMed2004

Enzyme inhibitors in biorational approaches for pest control.

Conventional insecticides of broad spectrum have been widely used as the main tools for controlling insect pests. However, as the consequence of their toxicity and deep environmental impact, new biorational, and more specific approaches have been developed. In this review we present an overview of those pest control approaches which have resulted from studies dealing with inhibition of the enzymes involved in the physiology, growth, molting, development and reproduction of insect pests. These approaches involve synthetic compounds from laboratory studies and natural chemicals present in the crop plants. Recent developments using inhibitors expressed in transgenic plants are also outlined.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The efficacy of ultrasonic pest controllers for fleas and ticks.

Two ultrasonic pest controllers, a pet-collar unit and a large unit for household use, were tested for their efficacy in repelling fleas and ticks in a choice chamber. Neither unit had any affect on the distribution of fleas or ticks in the choice chamber up to 24 h exposure, and activity of fleas, ticks and cockroaches was unimpaired. The study extends and supports previous findings that ultrasound is ineffective as a means of controlling common pests of households and pets.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A two-component model of host-parasitoid interactions: determination of the size of inundative releases of parasitoids in biological pest control.

A two-component differential equation model is formulated for a host-parasitoid interaction. Transient dynamics and population crashes of this system are analysed using differential inequalities. Two different cases can be distinguished: either the intrinsic growth rate of the host population is smaller than the maximum growth rate of the parasitoid or vice versa. In the latter case, the initial ratio of parasitoids to hosts should exceed a given threshold, in order to (temporarily) halt the growth of the host population. When not only oviposition but also host-feeding occurs the dynamics do not change qualitatively. In the case that the maximum growth rate of the parasitoid population is smaller than the intrinsic growth rate of the host, a threshold still exists for the number of parasitoids in an inundative release in order to limit the growth of the host population. The size of an inundative release of parasitoids, which is necessary to keep the host population below a certain level, can be determined from the two-component model. When parameter values for hosts and parasitoids are known, an effective control of pests can be found. First it is determined whether the parasitoids are able to suppress their hosts fully. Moreover, using our simple rule of thumb it can be assessed whether suppression is also possible when the relative growth rate of the host population exceeds that of the parasitoid population. With a numerical investigation of our simple system the design of parasitoid release strategies for specific situations can be computed.

Animals↗