be considered for possible practical application. Insect pathology is a relatively young 
science pioneered in this country by the University of California, the United States Depart- 
ment of Agriculture, and other institutions but there is every reason to believe that this 
approach to insect control might achieve the desired action against a number of insects 
without hazard to plants, soils, beneficial insects, or to higher animals, including man. 
4. Maximum utilization of parasites and predators of destructive insects through 
explorations and subsequent introductions to obtain establishment or through mass 
production and releases in sufficient numbers and frequency to exert direct control of 
destructive pests, needs further research attention. More attention should also be given 
to the preservation of the many beneficial insects now in the crop environment by develop- 
ing types of insecticides and methods of use that will not seriously affect their ability to 
help keep destructive pests under reasonable control. 
5. A broad and long range program with the full cooperation and assistance of plant 
breeders should be undertaken promptly for the purpose of searching for insect resistant 
germplasm and subsequent development of crop varieties whichare resistant to the major 
insect pests. There is reason to believe that a high level of resistance to insects can be 
found and incorporated into many crop varieties. Where successful, this method of insect 
control can obviate all hazards at virtually no cost to the grower. 
6. The male sterility approach to insect control which proved so successful in 
eliminating the screwworm from Curacao and from the Southeastern United States needs 
investigation for many other major insect pests. This principle of control is basically 
sound and the extent to which itcanbe applied to help control or regulate insect and other 
noxious animal populations will largely depend on the skill and ingenuity of the investiga- 
tors. Sexually sterile but otherwise sexually vigorous and fully competitive insects ina 
natural population will exert greater effect in reducing the reproductive potential of such 
population than can be achieved by destroying a like number of individuals. Thus, it might 
prove highly productive to concentrate substantial research effort on practical ways to 
achieve the desired type of sexual sterility instead of finding ways to kill the insects 
directly. Other ways of utilizing insects for self-destruction also need to be explored. The 
development of genetically inferior strains or the use of insects as vehicles for the spread 
of insect pathogens and other agents of destruction may also provide new ways to control 
specific pests. 
In the planning of research to solve insect problems in the future as with many other 
fields of science, it is necessary, regardless ofthe approach, that there be developed and 
maintained a proper balance between basic and applied research. In addition, it is neces- 
sary to carry forward a research program sufficiently broad in scope so that all aspects 
having an important bearing on the final solution to the problem can be investigated con- 
currently. Such balance has not existed inthe past even in the field of chemicals. We have 
made- outstanding advances in developing highly effective insecticides for insect de- 
struction which has returned great dividends to growers and to the public in general. 
However, we are not in a position to fully consolidate the gains that have been made be- 
cause of the lack ofinformation on suchaspects as the amount and significance of residues 
in foods, the effect of the chemicals on other organisms in the environment, how to apply 
the material with maximum precision and in minimum amounts, how to integrate their 
use to supplement other methods of control, as well as many other aspects that determine 
maximum utility and safety in the use of chemicals. 
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