The Problem and Challenges of Pest Control in Korea

우리나라의 쥐 및 위생해충 방제에 대한 문제점과 개선방향

Rats and Cockroaches are the most problematic pests of our living environment, Rats generally fall under three categories, namely, the Norway rats, the roof rats and the mouses, Among these three types, the roof rats are increasing rapidly in number and their habitats are spreading quickly in the city area, where as the Norway rats are decreasing both in number and habitat. There are numerous damages that these pests create in our society, The rat induce damages to computers and other information processing equipments, sometimes cause light-out, and other financial losses and other sanitary problems. The cockroaches, apart from inducing serious sanitary problems, is an insect that creates insectophobia. decently, it has been revealed that cockroaches are also the main carriers of allergic diseases. Among the pesticides employed against rats in Korea, Beta - fluoro acetate(1080) was initially used after the National Liberalization. Later, the Korean government imported anticoagulant rodenticide for its control. This was followed by a brief, unsuccessful utilization of Zinc Phosphide. Since the begin of 1980s, with the advent of pest control companies, first generation anticoagulant rodenticide were developed in Korea and recently followed by a widespread use of pesticide that utilizes second generation anticoagulant material, the "Brodifacoum" . Among insecticides employed against cockroaches, "Fenitrothion" "Dusban" "DDVP" "Diazinon" and others have been used. They were gradually being replaced by the use of synthesised pyrethroid insecticides until recently. Today there is a wide spread use of bait poisons, the "hydramethylnon" Nevertheless, full prevention and control can not be realized with the sole use of the pesticides. In the future, hygine and proofing, combined with affective pest management, must be incorporated in order to bring about more satisfactory and fruitful preventive measures.