ABOUT THIS REPORT . 
For over half a century entomologists and others 
with Federal, State, industrial, and other institutions 
have been searching for safe and effective methods of 
controlling insect pests, particularly through the use 
of natural enemies of those pests. 
Spectacular success has been achieved in some 
cases, but the usefulness of natural control agents has 
so far had its limitations. However, in recent years 
research has taken a more hopeful turn. Scientists 
have concentrated on ingenious new techniques for 
exploiting the natural characteristics of insects-- 
luring them with certain chemicals to which they are 
attracted, sterilizing them sexually, developing new 
crop varieties less suited to the pests, and mass pro- 
ducing and utilizing natural insect disease organisms 
for direct control. 
This report describes some of the research on 
insect controls that do not involve conventional in- 
secticides, gives a preliminary evaluation of the new 
techniques which are still largely experimental, and 
tries to help agricultural leaders judge the practical 
possibilities for controlling agricultural insect pests 
in new and better ways. 
One promising nonchemical control method, the 
use of diseases against insects, is excluded from this 
discussion, as it is covered inthe Special Report 22-74, 
"Use of Diseases to Kill Plant Insect Pests--A Re- 
search Progress Report." 
Information in this report was provided by the Entomology Research Division of 
the Agricultural Research Service. 
