Overcoming the Pesticide Syndrome Induced
by the Emergence of an Adventitious Phytophage Insect

S. S. Izhevskii, M. K. Mironova, and E. G. Khorkhordin

All-Russia Research Institute of Plant Quarantine, ul. Pogranichnaya 32, Bykovo, Moscow oblast, 140150 Russia

Received October 29, 1997

Abstract—Long-term studies on the moth Hyphantria cunea Drury, a quarantine pest, in different Russian
populations demonstrated that the generally accepted compulsory chemical pest control against adventitious
species does not exterminate it. Moreover, this practice results in the so-called pesticide syndrome: it becomes
necessary to apply the chemicals permanently and face all the negative consequences. It was demonstrated that
H. cunea entering new areas quickly becomes prey (a host) of autochthonous predators (parasites). If chemical
pesticides are rejected or replaced by bacterial preparations, the native insect species would be preserved, which
would allow us to break the vicious circle induced by the “pesticide syndrome.” It was found that the H. cunea
population density can be reduced below the threshold level, due to the influence of native invertebrates. The
growth of its foci ceases. In this case, reducing its regularly increasing number requires the standard measures
against aboriginal herbivorous pests. This makes it possible to change the status of H. cunea and exclude it from
the list of quarantine species. This approach may also be used in control of other adventitious pests.

Pleiades Publishing home page | journal home page | top

If you have any problems with this server, contact webmaster.