Surprising though it seems, the world faces almost as great a threat
today from arthropod-borne diseases as it did in the heady days of the
1950s when global eradication of such diseases by eliminating their
vectors with synthetic insecticides, particularly DDT, seemed a real
possibility. Malaria, for example, still causes tremendous morbidity and
mortality throughout the world, especially in Africa. Knowledge of the
biology of insect and arachnid disease vectors is arguably more
important now than it has ever been. Biological research directed at the
development of better methods of control becomes even more important in
the light of the partial failure of many control schemes that are based
on insecticide- although not all is gloom, since basic biological
studies have contributed enormously to the outstanding success of
international control programmes such as the vast Onchocerciasis Control
Programme in West Africa. It is a sine qua non for proper understanding
of the epidemiology and successful vector control of any human disease
transmitted by an arthropod that all concerned with the problem -
medical entomologist, parasitologist, field technician - have a good
basic understanding of the arthropod's biology. Knowledge will be needed
not only of its direct relationship to any parasite or pathogen that it
transmits but also of its structure, its life history and its
behaviour - in short, its natural history. Above all, it will be
necessary to be sure that it is correctly identified.
