Integrated Pest Integrated Pest ManagementManagement

Tom WeisslingUniversity of Florida

IFAS, Ft. Lauderdale REC

Definition varies from person to personDefinition varies from person to person

It is also very arbitrary and related to :

Personal emotion (entomophobia)Personal emotion (entomophobia)

Aesthetic lossAesthetic loss

Measurable Measurable

economic losseconomic loss

Pest Management Prior to the 2nd World War Pest Management Prior to the 2nd World War

Several ApproachesSeveral Approaches

1. Manual and physical control methods1. Manual and physical control methods

2. Cultural control2. Cultural control

3. Biological control3. Biological control

4. Chemical control (metal & plant derivatives)4. Chemical control (metal & plant derivatives)

Pest Management After World War 2Pest Management After World War 2

Development of nerve gases…discovered to beDevelopment of nerve gases…discovered to be insecticidal insecticidal

• Discovery of synthetic, organic insecticidesDiscovery of synthetic, organic insecticides

Late 1940’s to Mid 1960’sLate 1940’s to Mid 1960’s

Shift to near universal dependence on synthetic insecticides

Agriculture became very high powered

Widespread Use of Pesticides (1945 - 1980) Widespread Use of Pesticides (1945 - 1980)

• By 1980, more than 900 registered insecticidesBy 1980, more than 900 registered insecticides

• Insecticides were a popular choice for pest Insecticides were a popular choice for pest management because they were:management because they were:

a. Cheapb. Effective in small quantitiesc. Persistentd. Broad spectrume. Easy to usef. Fit into mechanized agricultureg. Fit in calendar spray schedules (up to 35 applications/year in cotton)

a. Suppression of target pests (at one time, up to 98% reduction) from single application

b. Selection for pest resistance

c. Destruction of natural enemies

d. Destruction of pollinators (Bees = $1 billion/year industry)

e. Contamination of food webs

f. General ecotoxicity: ramifications of insecticides in the environment

Result of widespread insecticide Result of widespread insecticide useuse

Summary: Concept of Global Plant Production/EvolutionSummary: Concept of Global Plant Production/Evolution

1. Subsistence Phase (The good ol’ days)1. Subsistence Phase (The good ol’ days)Low yieldNative (regionally adapted) cropsNatural and cultural (i.e. intercropping) controls

2. Exploitation Phase2. Exploitation Phase

Crop production programs Development and use of synthetic pesticides Increased acreage Increased yields

3. Crisis Phase3. Crisis Phase

Pesticide efficacy decreased

Start of pesticide treadmill

Once you start using insecticides…hard to stopOnce you start using insecticides…hard to stop

Development of Integrated ControlDevelopment of Integrated Control

Use of Tactics Other Than Strictly Chemical Use of Tactics Other Than Strictly Chemical to Manage Peststo Manage Pests

4. Integrated Control Phase4. Integrated Control Phase

Why was this phase gradually accepted?

Breakdown of Pest ManagementBreakdown of Pest ManagementTacticsTactics

Social pressures appliedSocial pressures applied(environmentalism)(environmentalism)

1962: Rachel Carson wrote ‘Silent Spring’

1970 Environmental Protection Agency formed

USDA adopted IPM concept

Conversely, greater demand by public for:

Cheap food

Unblemished food

Aesthetically pleasing lawn/landscape

Pest-free living/working environment

Disease free environment

What is IPM?What is IPM?

National Goal: IPM Implementation on 75% of Crop Acres by 2000

"Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks."

From: Anonymous. 1994 Integrated Pest Management Practices in 1991 Fruits and Nuts, RTD Updates: Pest Management, USDA-ERS, 8pp.

Management Program

Biology and Identification of Pests and Beneficials

Evaluation and Preventative Follow-up Practices

An Action Decision Monitored Pest Must be Made Populations

Economic Threshold (a prediction of loss vs. risk)

Is it a Pest?Is it a Pest?

Is it a beneficial?Is it a beneficial?

Proper IdentificationProper Identification

Proper identification is Proper identification is essential in pest essential in pest

managementmanagement

Disease?

Insects?

Nutrients?

Weeds?

Nematodes?

Water?

Other?

Pest Management Pest Management RequiresRequires

Some Detective WorkSome Detective Work

Must be able to identify problem by:Must be able to identify problem by:

• Viewing actual damaging organism• Injury or damage• Evidence that is left behind (frass, cast skins)

Knowledge of Pests BiologyKnowledge of Pests Biology(and of the plant you are protecting)(and of the plant you are protecting)

When are they present?

Are all stages damaging?

Are some stages more susceptible?

Are there weaknesses?

Preventative PracticesPreventative Practices

What can be done to curtail pest introduction or a What can be done to curtail pest introduction or a population increase?population increase?

1) 1) Habitat modificationHabitat modification Make habitat less desirable Make habitat less desirable to primary pest species (i.e., plant several versusto primary pest species (i.e., plant several versus single plant species)single plant species)

2. Inspect plant materials brought into “pest free” areas

Cultural Methods:Cultural Methods: fertilization watering pruning sanitation planting resistant varieties etc.

3. Grow healthy plants:

Stressed plants are generally more susceptible to pest attack

Monitor Pest PopulationsMonitor Pest Populations

Value? To determine if population needs to be managed

Random Sampling:

The most commonly used method in IPM

Used to determine pest numbers and/or damage per sample unit (i.e. leaf)

Counts of pest numbers, damage, and/or natural enemies are taken at random locations in the managed area

Sampling Methods:

Visual is most common Counting number/leaf, terminal, plant Counting number per square foot Assessing damage per unit area

1) Conditions that favor a pest or pest outbreak

2) Signs of the pest (damage, frass, cast skins)

3) The actual pest

4) Beneficial organisms

When scouting, look for:

What to do with information? Keep Records!

0

20

40

60

80

30-Jun 14-Jul 28-Jul 12-Aug

Keep track of:

WhenWhereHow ManyNatural Enemies

Sample Frequently

Economic or ActionEconomic or ActionThresholdsThresholds

a prediction of loss vs. risk

Often zero tolerance in urban settings

EILET

EP

EP

ETEIL

EIL

EIL

ET

ET

EP

EP

TIME

Pes

t D

ensi

tyNon-Pest

Frequent Pest Severe Pest

Periodic Pest

= Treatment measures taken

Action ThresholdsAction Thresholds

Pest Number Monitoring Method

Mole Crickets 2 - 3/Ft2 Soap Flush

Chinch Bugs 20/ Ft2 Soap Flush, Visual, Can

Billbug Larvae 12/ Ft2 Expose Soil

White Grub Larvae 5/ Ft2 Expose Soil

Sod Webworm Larvae 8/ Ft2 Visual, Soap Flush

Armyworms 4/ Ft2 Visual, Soap Flush

An Action Decision Must be MadeAn Action Decision Must be Made

Typical Management Tools:Typical Management Tools:

• Cultural Methods• Mechanical Methods• Physical Methods• Biological Control• Chemical Control

Cultural Methods

- Modification or management practices that make the habitat less favorable to pest reproduction, dispersal, and survival:

A) Host plant resistance

B) Pruning & thinning

C) Fertilization

D) Sanitation

E) Water management

4. Mechanical MethodsA) Hand destruction (ie, fly swatter)B) Exclusion of pests by barriers (ie, screenhouse)C) Is generally labor intensive

5. Physical control5. Physical control

A) Heating/Cooling (autoclaving soil, burning A) Heating/Cooling (autoclaving soil, burning residues)residues)

B) Electric bug zappers B) Electric bug zappers

Biological ControlBiological Control

Protection and enhancement of natural enemies (use most selective management tool)

Introduction of natural enemies

Use of microbial controls

Predators

Parasites

Nematodes

Diseases

Lady BirdLady BirdBeetleBeetle

Green LacewingGreen Lacewing

UF - Entomology/Nematology

Predatory MitePredatory Mite

Syrphid Fly Syrphid Fly LarvaeLarvae

Clemson U.

Scale and Scale and MealybugMealybugpredatorspredators

IchneumonidIchneumonidWaspWasp

PasitizingPasitizingCaterpillarCaterpillar

Parasitized CaterpillarParasitized Caterpillar

UF - Entomology/Nematology

Parasitized ScalesParasitized Scales

UF - Entomology/Nematology

Aphid MummiesAphid Mummies

Red ImportedRed ImportedFire AntFire Ant

Phorid FlyPhorid Fly

Imported fromImported fromBrazilBrazil

Phorid FlyPhorid Flyegg hatchesegg hatchesand migratesand migratesto and feedsto and feedson ants headon ants headwhich leads which leads to….to….

Brazilian Red-Eyed Fly (Brazilian Red-Eyed Fly (Ormia depletaOrmia depleta))

• Tachinid parasite• Imported from S. America• Released in Florida• Female locates crickets by their song• Deposits live larvae on or near the cricket

• Tachinid parasite• Imported from S. America• Released in Florida• Female locates crickets by their song• Deposits live larvae on or near the cricket

UF - Ent./Nema

Mole Cricket Killed by NematodesMole Cricket Killed by Nematodes

UF - Entomology/Nematology

Fungus-Killed Aphid & CaterpillarFungus-Killed Aphid & Caterpillar

Nosema Killed GrasshoppersNosema Killed Grasshoppers

J. Kalisch, UNL

Chemical MethodsChemical Methods

- Insecticides

- Sterilants

- Insect Growth Regulators

- Attractants

- Repellents

- Microbials

Evaluation and Follow-UpEvaluation and Follow-Up

- Requires monitoring?

- Were methods effective?

- Is re-treatment required?

Author: Tom Weissling, University of Florida

Photos: University of Florida University of California University of Nebraska

Clemson University

Entomology And Nematology Department

Copyright University of Florida 2000

For more detailed information see the Featured Creatures WWW site at

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/