ABSTRACT
Humankind’s struggle to protect itself from ravages inflicted by insect pests has a long history. However, insects tend to win in this ongoing combat because they are even more adaptable than humans and have much shorter generation times. Effects of chelator feeding on the larval stages of some other insect orders were also examined. An effective molt inhibitor had a stimulating effect on rats when fed at the same level that proved inhibitory when insects were ingesting it. Molting and pupation are vulnerable steps in the insect life cycle worthy of further study. Fuller understanding of this and other enzyme systems that are narrowly restricted in distribution to certain phyla and are vital to pest metabolism is expected to lead to development of effective, specifically targeted pesticides with negligibly harmful side effects. Expected is an environmentally benign insectistat that interferes only with the health and happiness of chewing pests, from clothes moths to gypsy moths.
