GOLDEN-AGE OF INSECTICIDE RESEARCH - PAST, PRESENT, OR FUTURE

Insecticide research led to the first ''complete'' victories in combat ting pests almost 50 years ago with the chlorinated hydrocarbons follo wed quickly by the organophosphates, methylcarbamates, and pyrethroids -all neuroactive chemicals. This Golden Age of Discovery was the sourc e of most of our current insecticides. The challenge then became healt h and the environment, a Golden Age met with selective and degradable compounds. Next the focus shifted to resistance, novel biochemical tar gets, and new chemical approaches for pest control. The current Golden Age of Genetic Engineering has curtailed, but is unlikely to eliminat e, chemical use on major crops. Insecticide research, having passed th rough several Golden Ages, is now in a renaissance of integrating chem icals and biologicals for sustainable pest control with human safety.