ARS Memorial Lectureship Series

Episode 6: Can Insects Protect Themselves from Pesticides?

The Agricultural Research Service's Memorial Lectureships recognize scientists who have made outstanding contributions to agriculture.

When the pesticide DDT was first developed, it appeared to be a marvel of modern science — highly effective at eliminating dangerous pests that harmed crops. Perhaps even more importantly, though, it was used to combat mosquitoes, which serve as vectors for deadly diseases like malaria. However, when insects like mosquitoes are exposed to pesticides like DDT, they tend to develop resistance over time, making the chemicals less and less effective.

 Dr. John Clark, Director of the Massachusetts Pesticide Analysis Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst explains how insects can develop this resistance.

In 2024, Dr. John Clark was awarded the Sterling B. Hendricks Memorial Lectureship, which recognizes scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the chemical science of agriculture.

The Sterling B. Hendricks Lecture was established in 1981 by ARS to honor the memory of Sterling B. Hendricks (1902-1981) and to recognize scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the chemical science of agriculture.