The Pesticide ConspiracyProfessor van den Bosch of the University of California was one of the developers of Integrated Pest Management—the use of biological controls, improved pest knowledge and observation, and judicious application of chemicals only when absolutely necessary. His research often suggested that less or no pesticides should be applied, which made him the target of both open and clandestine attack from industry and government figures. In protest, he wrote this passionate account of what Ecology called "the ultimate social disaster of: evolving pesticide-resistant insects, the destruction of their natural predators and parasites, emergent populations of new insect pests, downstream water pollution, atmospheric pollution, the 'accidental' killing of wildlife and people, and the bankruptcies of indigenous and small farmers." As a new Introduction to this edition recounts, some lessening of dangerous overreliance on massive pesticide applications has been achieved since van den Bosch published this book in 1978—partly as a result of its influence. But the structural problems he described remain. The book has thus become a classic, along with Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. Professor van den Bosch of the University of California was one of the developers of Integrated Pest Management—the use of biological controls, improved pest knowledge and observation, and judicious application of chemicals only when absolutely necessary. |
Contents
| 7 | |
| 11 | |
THE PESTICIDE TREADMILL | 19 |
THE MELANCHOLY ADDICTION OF OL KING COTTON | 39 |
THE MAKING OF AN ECORADICAL OR PARDON MY PARANOIA | 49 |
THE POLITICS OF PEST CONTROL | 59 |
STICKING IT TO CESAR THE SOCIOLOGY OF PEST CONTROL | 75 |
THE TERRIBLE TUSSOCK TUSSLE | 83 |
SCIENCE FOR SALE | 121 |
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS WELL SORT OF | 133 |
THE SORRIEST LOSER | 141 |
INTEGRATED CONTROLA BETTER WAY TO BATTLE THE BUGS | 149 |
TO TURN THE WORM | 181 |
The Voices of Nature | 209 |
GLOSSARY | 211 |
NOTES AND REFERENCES | 215 |
THE INSTANT PROFESSIONALS | 95 |
OF APHIDS KNEES AND BLOODY MARYS | 101 |
THE RAPE OF EPA | 111 |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS | |
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acres Administrator agencies agri agri-business agri-chemical industry Agricul alfalfa aphid Berkeley biocide biological control Bosch CEFAFP cent chemical company chemical control strategy chlordane cides citrus colleagues concerned cost cotton County crop damage den Bosch developed ecological economic effective Entomological Society entomologists environment environmental EPA's eradication Falcon farm workers farmers federal Forest Service gram growers heptachlor impact insect control insecticide treadmill insects integrated control program Kepone kill land-grant university major materials ment million mirex mosquito moth natural enemies organophosphate outbreak pest population pest problems pest-control pest-control advisers pest-control system pest-management pesticide mafia pesticide treadmill pink bollworm plant poisons political pollution predators production properly registered registered and labeled resistance San Joaquin Valley Science scientists screwworm Silent Spring simply species spider mites spray status quo Stoneville things ticide tion trol tussock tussock-moth U. S. Department University of California USDA virtually worm
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Page 14 - Homo sapiens Our problem is that we are too smart for our own good, and for that matter, the good of the biosphere. The basic problem is that our brains enable us to evaluate, plan, and execute. Thus, while all other creatures are programmed by nature and subject to her whims, we have our gray computer to motivate, for good or evil, our chemical engine. Indeed, matters have progressed to the point where we attempt to operate independently of nature, challenging her dominance of the biosphere. This...