Dieldrin, along with aldrin, were popular pesticides for agricultrual crops such as corn and cotton in the 1950s-1970. Aldrin breaks down into dieldrin both in the body and in the environment. These chlorinated cyclodiene insecticides are used as a prophylactic and treatment of timber against insect infestation caused by termites and anobiid borers. Dieldrin is particularly effective against Argentine ant and termite infestation, and is the pesticide of choice against borer infestations. The Environmental Protection Agency banned all uses of dieldrin in 1974 with the exception of termite control.