faperent UL UB ON a Bi ti Beli N 9 
Natural History Survey Recommends Methoxychlor 
For Control Of Dutch Elm Disease 
by Glen C. Sanderson, Head 
Section of Wildlife Research 
Illinois Natural History Survey, Urbana 
PESTICIDES COORDINATING COMMITTEE of the Illinois Natural 
cory Survey, composed of the heads of the five scientific sections, met 
July 9, 1968, and rescinded the Survey’s recommendation of DDT for 
control of insect vectors of Dutch elm disease and elm phloem necrosis. 
official Survey statement, as published in Natural History Survey Re- 
ss (No. 71, September 1968) is as follows: 
“The Illinois Natural History Survey no longer recommends the use 
JDT in Illinois for the control of Dutch elm disease and elm phloem 
-osis. Because of its long residual effect, DDT can be hazardous to 
nal life. DDT is a possible contaminant of agricultural crops adjacent 
reated areas and of streams flowing through or near treated areas.” 
Methoxychlor, the insecticide recommended by the Survey for the 
rol of these diseases, is also extremely poisonous, but is considerably 
hazardous to wildlife than is DDT. USDA Leaflet No. 185, May 1967, 
e 8, states: “For many years DDT has been used in sprays to prevent 
< beetle feeding. It has, however, occasionally had adverse effects on 
life. Fortunately, another material, methoxchlor, is as effective as 
[and according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is less hazardous 
rds, fish, and wild animals. Nevertheless, it should be handled with 
.”’ The Survey’s action and the USDA statement should pave the way 
a great reduction in the further use of DDT on elm trees in Illinois. 
At a second meeting of the Survey’s Wildlife-Pesticide Coordinating 
mittee held on December 12, 1968, the following two conclusions were 
‘ted: 
(a). “Pesticide recommendations. being distributed by various Survey 
ions appear to be moving in the direction of decreasing the amount of 
-lived pesticides in the environment and hence are laudable and ap- 
ved by this Committee.” 
(b). “Whereas many pesticides in use, particularly certain fungicides 
possibly some aquatic herbicides, have been shown by laboratory 
s to be toxic to wild species but have not been adequately tested on 
1 populations, we feel that it is desirable to learn more about the long 
a effect of these compounds in the environment. The Committee recog- 
‘s that these compounds are usually applied only locally and may be 
mly minor importance as environmental factors of the present. In the 
at that any of these compounds should become more widely used, it 
iid be helpful to have the toxicological information available.” 
The current (1969) recommendations of the Natural History Survey, 
tly made in cooperation with the University of Illinois, College of 
iculture, Cooperative Extension Service, include only limited recom- 
