Control of the Pink Bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella, (Lepidop-tera; Gelechiidae) with Gossyplure: Problems and Progress

Control of pest insects is traditio-nally accomplished with insecticides. The reasons are persuasive: insecti-cides are generally effective, inexpen sive, and available. While we now rea lize that there are disadvantages to the continuous use of insecticides, insecti-cides will remain the major tool for con trol of insects in the foreseeable future. However, agricultural researchers have developed many new non-insecticidal methods of insect control during the last few decades that are often applicable to specifio probloms These new methods are adjuncts to insecticidal control and thus the integrated pest management concept was born. We have, for example, seen the successful application of sterile insect releases and other autocidal methods, hininginal con-trol, and pheromones for control of specific pests. The successful use of methods requires a higher level of understanding of the basic biology of the insect pest and close cooperation bet ween the farmer, fieldman, and profes-sional entomologist