The aerosol principle of applying insecticides, developed by Goodhue and Sullivan 
(1), represents one of the outstanding achievements in the field of insect control. It has 
net only led to important developments in methods of insect control, but an entirely new 
industry has emerged having a retail value estimated at $500 million annually. 
ENTOMOLOGY RESEARCH NEEDS 
The Entomology Research Division has made a determined effort to orient its pro- 
grams to help meet the increasing number of pressing problems. However, with a steady 
decline in research resources it has beenimpossible to meet current problems and at the 
same time begin laying a firm foundation for better long-range solutions to insect control. 
The many ramifications of the residue and other hazard problems began emerging 
as long as 15 years ago. Since then no less than $500,000 of the annual research budget 
has been shifted in efforts to obtain necessary residue and related information. In view 
of the hazard and insecticide resistance problems, it became apparent that a reappraisal: 
of the usual approaches to insect control was needed. As a result, every effort was made 
to undertake more basic investigations on chemicals and to explore new chemical ap- 
proaches such as attractants as well as to give more attention to nonchemical methods 
of control with particular emphasis on insect pathogens. Two pioneering research lab- 
oratories, one on insect physiology and the other on insect pathology, were established 
at Beltsville and additional research in these areas were undertaken in field laboratories. 
Substantial shifts in the overall research program were also made to explore the pos- 
sibilities of utilizing the sterile male method of insect control. 
These efforts cited above have yielded encouraging information. However, they are 
totally inadequate in relation to the needs if rapid progress is to be made. 
In my opinion the opportunities for developing new and safer methods to control in- 
sects are virtually unlimited. The extent to which improvements can be made will depend 
on the research support provided to permit adequate exploration of many basic and applied 
aspects that obviously need attention. With such support and with full cooperation of en- 
tomologists, chemists, animal toxicologists, pharmacologists, wildlife biologists, en- 
gineers, plant breeders, and scientists in other disciplines, both in public-supported and 
private institutions, there is every reason to believe that substantial and rapid progress 
can be made. However, to obtain maximum benefits from any research effort, objective 
appraisal of the findings are essential and relative values involved must be carefully 
weighed in applying the control measures in some instances. 
It is not my intention to discuss in detail here the type of research on insects that is 
most likely to achieve the objectives we seek. However, I would like to list a few areas of 
research that on the basis of current information and judgment would seem to be highly 
productive. 
1. New types of chemicals should be developed that are biologically active against 
destructive insects but inactive to or will have minimal adverse effects on other forms of 
life. Both basic and applied research leading to the development of such chemicals are 
needed. The possibilities of finding chemicals which are specific in action against insect 
hormones or which produce antimetabolic effects that will prevent normal insect develop- 
ment or behavior should be considered. 
2. Research on insect attractants whether they be derived from insect foods, from 
insects themselves, such as sex attractants, or from other sources would seem to offer 
unusual opportunities for developing natural or synthetic attractants highly active against 
specific insects without affecting honey bees, insect parasites, and predators, or other 
beneficial organisms. 
3. A thorough exploration of diseases that affect insects should be undertaken. Any 
organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, that are highly virulent, should 
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