How can the use of DDT actually BOOST an insect population?
366707
I guess if you had a DDT-resistant bug that was kept in check by DDT-sensitive predators, then DDT tx could disrupt the normal balance and lead to overgrowth of the resistant bugs. I have not heard of any DDT-resistant bugs.
23794
Evolution is a dynamic, ongoing process that can have direct, important impacts on human welfare. The evolution of insecticide resistance by pest species of insects and other arthropods provides a spectacular example.1 \n\nSince World War II, synthetic insecticides have been used to control insects and mites that cause immense crop losses, and by carrying malaria and other diseases, pose major threats to public health. However, many chemical control programs are failing or have failed altogether, because the pest species have evolved resistance. \nMore than 500 species have evolved resistance to at least one insecticide. Many pest species are now resistant to all, or almost all, of the available insecticides. Moveover, some species that had been uncommon have become serious pests, because insecticide use has extinguished their natural enemies. As insects have become more resistant, farmers have applied ever higher levels of insecticide to their crops, so that more than one billion pounds per year are now applied in the United States. Resistance has made it necessary to develop new insecticides, each at an average cost of 8 to 10 years and $20 to $40 million in research and development. Hence insect evolution has imposed a huge economic burden (about $118 million per year, just in the United States), and an increasing environmental burden of chemicals that can endanger human health and natural ecosystems. \nInsect resistance evolves rapidly because natural selection increases the rare mutations that are not advantageous under normal conditions, but happen to provide protection against harmful chemicals. Entomologists trained in evolutionary genetics have developed strategies for delaying the evolution of resistance. The most effective strategy, based both on evolutionary models and on evidence, is to provide the pest species with pesticide-free "refuges" in which susceptible genotypes can reproduce, thus preventing resistant genotypes from taking over. The intuitively appealing opposite strategy – trying to overwhelm the insect population with "saturation bombing" – simply hastens the evolution of resistance, because it increases the strength of natural selection. \nAlthough evolution of resistance can be delayed, it is probably inevitable in most cases. Thus modern pest management strategies combine pesticides with other tactics. For example, spider mites in almond orchards have been controlled by applying both a pesticide and predatory mites that had been selected for pesticide resistance in the laboratory. Crop varieties that are genetically resistant to certain insects have been developed both by traditional methods of selection and by genetic engineering. For instance, strains of several crops have been engineered to carry a bacterial gene for a protein (Bt-toxin) that is toxic to certain insects. Pest-resistant crop varieties have often been economically very profitable, but history has shown that if they are planted widely, the insect pest eventually evolves the capacity to attack them, so that it becomes necessary to develop new genetic strains that the pest is not yet adapted to. At least one pest species, the diamondback moth, has already adapted to Bt-toxin. Thus, the "arms race" between the insect evolution and human ingenuity presents a continuing challenge
381258
repellent and flying insect spray
87808
chemical control of vectors is killing rodents and pests using poison and insecticide in the wild. When a city is notified of an increased rat population chemical control vector stabilizing agencies are dispatched (aka exterminators) and they set poison in the fields and kill the pests).
1164860
Okay, I am going to assume that this is a serious question.  The reason in *favor* of sterilization of insects is that they don't breed.  If they mate, they are sterile, so they don't reproduce.\n\nThe disadvantage is that by itself, this doesn't get rid of any insects.  It just reduces the size of the next generation.  Insecticides, by contrast, kill the insects that are out there today.
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to be food for another kind of bug.  There isn't any real research that states "what" fruit flies do to help the ecosystem.  They might possibly eat microscopic organisms that we don't see.\n\nAnother possible job, to pester people at picnics!
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Spraying pesticides has turned out to be a failure\nat controlling malaria, quite apart from the harm it\ndoes to nonpest species.  The mosquitoes have\nbecome resistant to the pesticides, just as the\nmalaria parasite has become resistant to the\nmedications used to kill them.  Furthermore, when\na mosquito population has become resistant to\none kind of pesticide it usually can develop a\nresistance to another pesticide more quickly.\nOther methods of controlling mosquitoes need to\nbe developed to replace the indiscriminate use\nof pesticides.
636467
what kid is going to read a book on ddt?  get a life dude!
256665
I've only heard of it being used, very diluted, on the leaves to prohibit aphids and critters who would eat the leaves...
641327
Insecticides are chemical or biological agents used to control insects either through killing them or decreasing their destructive behaviors.
1084539
Here's an answer to that question from an entomologist.
580124
The calcium hydroxide is most likely used to maintain an optimum pH in the solution that contains the poison.  The concentration of the base in these solutions is probably far too low to actually harm the hard outer shell of an insect.  Therfore, I doubt highly that it is used to actually kill the insects (considering the active ingredients in most pesticides are neurotoxins).  A clue would be to look on the pesticide container at the active ingredients.  This list should tell you what is actually doing the killing.
1106418
This worked for me.  Take a glass or cup that you don't care about not using again, and fill it with apple cider or balsamic vinegar (or some sweeter kind).  Stretch a piece of plastic wrap across the top and secure it with a rubber band.  Poke a few holes in the top with a toothpick, and sit it in an out of the way place, preferably in the kitchen.  The fruit flies will fly in and be trapped, and the vinegar kills them.
761292
without pesticides  . . .
200862
spontaneous generation obviously. \nIn summer they get attracted by fruit odor (esp. rotting fruit, they like alcohol and vinegar odor) and will find it. \nbut you can also get them with your bought fruit (fruit imported from warmer climate), I guess there can be a couple of eggs on the fruit. At least I've seen fruitflies in supermarkets too.
1123719
I've included a couple links with info; you can try continual chopping it back, but be very careful as the plant's sap may be more dangerous to you than a pesticide.
554598
Pollution and DDT can cause poor environments.  All the oil and logging industries causes detriment to fishing of salmon for eagles.  As civilization expands their habitat shrinks.