Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) Practice Exam

During which period was DDT prominently used to control mosquitoes and lice?

1. World War I

2. World War II

3. The Cold War

4. Vietnam War

The correct answer is: World War II

DDT, or dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, became widely recognized and utilized during World War II for its insecticidal properties, specifically in controlling disease-carrying mosquitoes and lice. The effectiveness of DDT against various vectors of diseases such as malaria and typhus made it a vital tool for maintaining public health in military and civilian populations during this time. The United States and allied countries employed DDT as part of their efforts to protect troops from these diseases, which were prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. Following World War II, DDT continued to be used extensively in agriculture and for public health purposes, but its initial prominence and mass application align specifically with the needs arising during the wartime years. The later phases, including periods such as the Cold War and the Vietnam War, saw various pesticide applications, but DDT’s critical moment of recognition and large-scale use is firmly rooted in World War II.