Professor Emeritus Cornell University Ithaca, New York
The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, continues to be one of the most researched insects in the world because of its global importance as a pest of crucifers, one of the world’s most important crop families, and because of its complex behavior and ecology. Despite the abundance of research, lack of sustainable control of P. xylostella has largely eluded us and we must ask ourselves why. The philosopher George Santayan wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Unfortunately, this message seems to apply in many places in our failed attempts to manage P. xylostella. Many of these failures have been due to the heavy, and often sole, reliance on insecticides, especially in commercially intensive plantings. Insecticide use, without integration into an overall management plan, has led P. xylostella to become resistant to most insecticide classes in a short period of time. New technologies and management strategies offer some hope, but they too must be incorporated into a thoughtful, long-term plan. This is especially true in the changing climate we are experiencing.
