In this chapter, Carson critiques two well-known federal "eradication" campaigns involving aerial application of pesticides. What were the targets of these two campaigns? What does Carson see as the general lesson to be learned from them (p. 156)?

The answer to this question can be found in chapter 10 of Silent Spring. Here Carson discusses two eradication campaigns, both of which used aerially applied pesticides. The first was an attempt to destroy the gypsy moth, which was widespread in northern states, and the second was a campaign against fire ants in the South. These insects, neither of which is native to the United States, were the subjects of initiatives undertaken by the federal government in the 1950s. In both cases, Carson sees a similar pattern. First, the threat posed by each species was exaggerated and overblown. This was largely because of information spread by pesticide manufacturers. Second, the campaigns to eradicate them were not targeted—essentially areas where they lived were sprayed by air with a mixture of dangerous pesticides and oil. Third, the efforts, quite predictably, had a devastating effect on local environments. These included mass killings of desirable species of insects, contamination of drinking water and agricultural products like milk and eggs, and the deaths of birds in particular. In both cases, Carson claims, the US Department of Agriculture downplayed these devastating side effects with as much vigor as it overstated the initial risk. She advocates instead a more targeted approach. For example, rather than spraying vast areas with chemicals to kill fire ants, individual mounds could be treated with pesticides.