on a total population of insects instead of mere 
segments of populations have also emerged. 
Such innovations may lead to more efficient 
application of the pest-control weapons we 
already have or may develop in the future. 
In view of new developments and the recog- 
nition of new opportunities to deal with pest 
problems, it appeared that the time was appro- 
priate to organize a symposium that would 
bring together scientists of various disciplines 
to consider the current status and future op- 
portunities of various methods of pest control. 
Outstanding authorities in specific fields of 
work were invited to participate in andleadthe 
symposium sessions, Two outstanding scien- 
tists and administrators of research programs 
will discuss topics of broad scope related to 
all the specific topics included inthe program. 
PEST CONTROL BY CHEMICAL MEANS 
A. W. A, Brown, Department of Zoology, 
University of Western Ontario 
Whereas the emphasis in pest control re- 
search is now being placed on biological 
means, to which Dr. Knipling has given a new 
look by pioneering the sterility principle for 
insect control and eradication, yet the main 
burden of combating pests is at present carried 
on principally by chemical means. Far from 
having reached a status quo, research in 
chemical control is pushing forward on all 
fronts. 
methods of detecting traces of insecticides in 
animal tissues, in alerting us to the possible 
dangers of their accumulation in the food chain, 
has diverted public attention from the remark- 
able successes that have been attained with 
chemical pesticides in agriculture and world 
health and blinded us to the fact that they are 
being used with increasing safety. 
Dr. Metcalf, whose knowledge of insecticide 
development is unrivaled, is struck by the 
slowness of agriculture to adopt many im- 
provements that research has already made 
known, for example the substitution of the more 
biologically-labile and less residue-prone 
compounds among the organophosphates or 
even the chlorinated hydrocarbons, Dr. Shaw, 
perhaps taking a leaf from Dr. Metcalf's book, 
recommends the development and testing of 
new herbicides ona rational basis, by exploring 
within a range of chemical analogs with known 
biological action. Dr. Dykstra urges that all 
promising biologically active compounds be 
The development of very sensitive 
tested for their possible usefulness as pisci- 
cides, avicides, or rodenticides. Wecan detect 
here the interaction taking place between these 
groups of investigators, providing in- 
stances of that interdisciplinary research 
which Dr. Glen so ably commends and de- 
scribes. 
Again we are taken by the scruff of our necks 
and carried forward by Dr. Beroza, who states 
that good insect sex attractants lie all around 
us just waiting to be isolated for use as baits 
for insecticides and chemosterilants, thus 
offering the possibility for controlling insects 
by chemical means without generally con- 
taminating the environment. Dr. Howell would 
have us make our livestock insectproof by 
putting something clever in their food and 
drink. Dr. McNew, not satisfied with the ex- 
cellent and safe performance of present-day 
fungicides, would have us learn more about 
the biochemistry of fungus spores so that we 
can design more perfect chemical weapons. 
But Dr. Good, who has to undertake his search 
for suitable nematocides right from the be- 
ginning, will take his active toxicants wherever 
he can find them, even if it comes to an 
organophosphorus insecticide or anitrogenous 
herbicide like atrazine. 
These are the people who get on with the 
job, for the control of pests is becoming an 
increasingly important commitment as the 
human population further expands. 
