Sustainable Insect Pest Management

Speaker:Dr. Ayanava Majumdar (Dr. A)

Extension Entomologist, State SARE CoordinatorGulf Coast Research & Extension Center

8300 State Hwy 104, Fairhope, Alabama 36532Cell phone: 251-331-8416

Email: bugdoctor@auburn.edu

AL FOOD & FARM FORUM

Presentation Layout• Extension IPM resources for farmers (IPM-CORE

project)• Ecological Based Pest Management (EBPM) concepts• USDA Crop Pest Management Practice Standard• Insect pest detection and monitoring program• Sustainable management of critical pests• Nethouse vegetable production

MAJOR VEGETABLE PESTS 2010

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Benefit Producers

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Organic Approved Insecticides

Ecological Based Pest ManagementFrom Altieri, Nicholls, and Fritz (2005): Manage Insects on Your Farm (SARE)

Ecologically Based Pest Management System or EBPM incorporates the broad knowledge of the agro-ecosystem to choose pest management tactics that are timely, environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

Goal of EBPM: Maintain Healthy Plants From Root to Foliage

‘Pillars’ of EBPM:Crop Diversity Reduce TillageRotations Maintain Soil CoverCover Crops Add Organic MatterPlant Breeding Nutrient Management

USDA Crop Pest Management Practice Standard (NOP)

• Level 1: Systems-based practices (cultural practices, sanitation, mulching, crop rotation)

• Level 2: Mechanical and physical practices (barriers, lures/traps, repellents, hand-picking)

• Level 3: Biorational & other material (OMRI approved insecticides)

Starting point for EBPM…• Insect Detection/Identification:

– Use modern insect detection/scouting tools– INSECT PHEROMONE TRAPS– Trap Catch = Pest Density X Pest Activity– Insect Monitoring Project in Alabama, 2009-2010– Average trap catches in slideshow (June-Sept.)

Corn rootworm trapSticky wing trapStink bug trap

Insect Pheromone Traps for EBPM

Advantages :• Species specific • Detect low insect populations• Insect ID not needed• Nontoxic, no residue on food• Season long monitoring , reusable• Develop site-specific IPM Action Plan

Disadvantages:• Weather sensitive• No information about actual crop injury• Scouting is still needed• Some traps are expensive

It makes sense to use insect

traps for knowing what to

look for and when!

Alabama Insect Survey Locations

2009 (8,500 insects)

Peanut farm

Vegetable farm

2010 (16,588 insects)

The numbers in slides indicate trap catches from one of more counties within a region. Only the highest AVERAGE trap catches are reported herein for comparison of pest pressures. Trap catch numbers may not be applicable per se to your farm!

Summary of Insect Trap Catches2010 2009

InsectTrap

catchesNo. of sites Peak activity months

Trap catches No. of sites

Beet armyworm 3144 32 Early July, September 1377 14Fall armyworm 1682 33 Early July, August 1386 14Southern armyworm 348 21 August 393 14Tomato fruitworm 747 32 Late July 589 14Tobacco budworm 791 33 Late July 342 14Lesser cornstalk borer 7759 32 Late July, August 3586 14Cabbage looper 666 21 Late August, September 223 14Soybean looper 442 21 August 266 12Corn rootworm 216 14 June, early July 266 14Squash vine borer 573 16 Early June, July Tomato pinworm 54 15 August 4 4Diamondback moth 29 14 July 64 6Black cutworm 137 18 July 125 13

CUMULATIVE CATCHES 16588 8621

What is it?Several outbreaks of these insects occurred in AL, 2009 & 2010First seen in pasturesPart of the midseason caterpillar complexControl: Grow early crop, control weeds (pigweed, amaranth), spinosad, Bt & Spod-X

Beet armyworm (Outbreak!)2010 2009

13 moths/trap

11 moths/trap

53 moths/trap

46 moths/trap

Traps placed near vegetable fields

10 moths/trap

21 moths/trap

55moths/trap

53 moths/trap

Fall armyworm (outbreak!)2010 2009

18 moths/trap

26 moths/trap

37 moths/trap

5 moths/trap

Traps placed near vegetable fields

20moths/trap

29 moths/trap

36 moths/trap

14 moths/trap

Microspines below the big hair

What is it?Numerous host plantsBody color depends on foodInternational pest statusPart of mid-season caterpillar complexControl: Grow early crop, use Bt and virus formulations, spinosad

Tomato fruitworm/Corn earworm2010 2009

6 moths/trap

1 moths/trap

21 moths/trap

2 moths/trap

Traps placed near vegetable fields

10 moths/trap

25 moths/trap

11 moths/trap

6 moths/trap

Microspines numerous

What is it?Emerging concern for diversified farmsNorthward migration of mothMixed moth population with fruitwormAppears more fuzzy than fruitwormResistant to pyrethroidsSpinosad and Bt for control

Tobacco budworm (spreading north!)

2010 2009

5 moths/trap

3 moths/trap

8 moths/trap

6 moths/trap

Traps placed near vegetable fields

2 moths/trap

7 moths/trap

3 moths/trap

3 moths/trap

Severe outbreaks reported in 2010Larvae live in silken tunnels/tubes Worse in south AL, sandy soilsThreatens corn, beans and peas + peanutsControl by crop rotation, varieties

What is it?

Lesser cornstalk borer (outbreak!)

2010 2009

27 moths/trap

90 moths/trap

90 moths/trap

140 moths/trap

Traps placed near vegetable fields

NA

142 moths/trap

143 moths/trap

119 moths/trap

What is it?

Body of larva narrow in front, broad at the endNo microspines, less hairy than other loopersPrefers crucifer vegetables, but will feed on summer vegetablesLate season buildup is most damaging to cropsOften large fecal pellets seen sticking to the leavesTrichogramma parasitoid effective natural enemyBt is an effective alternative insecticide

Cabbage looper2010 2009

6 moths/trap

4 moths/trap

13 moths/trap

5 moths/trap

Traps placed near vegetable fields

5moths/trap

3 moths/trap

9 moths/trap

10 moths/trap

What is it?

Caterpillar has black forelegs (not in cabbage looper)Spots on body, fuzzy caterpillar in early stages

Soybean looper2010 2009

3 moths/trap

6 moths/trap

6 moths/trap

4 moths/trap

Traps placed near vegetable fields

14 moths/trap

2 moths/trap

15 moths/trap

6 moths/trap

What is it?

Prefer cucumber, squash, gourd.Larvae overwinter in soil.Females lay 150-200 eggs singly.Moths are clear-winged with bright red abdomen.Row covers & field sanitation are best management tactics.Azadirachtin, diatomaceous earth…

Squash vine borer (outbreak!)2010 2009

19 moths/trap

6 moths/trap

20 moths/trap

14 moths/trap

Traps placed near vegetable fields

NA

NA

NA

NA

Trap & Lure SuppliersTRAPS:• Great Lakes IPM (MI)• Arbico Organics (AZ)• Gemplers

LURES:• Great Lakes IPM – Scentry Biologicals

(MT) & Trece, Inc. (OK)• APTIV, Inc. (OR)

Stop by the IPM display for a detailed supplier list!

Nethouse Vegetable Production(A Preliminary Report on Successes and Challenges)

Photos: Mike Powell, Polyproductos de Guatemala

Fabric mesh 30-50 as insect barrier.Mesh size depends on target insect & cost.Height provides air movement, fans can also be installed

Location: Baldwin County, AL Dimensions: 150 ft long, 48 ft wide, 17 ft high center, 12 ft high sidesEntrance: Double door

First Nethouse in Alabama (2010)

Soil preparation with conventional equipment before sealing the structure

Nethouse, 2010

Temperature and Humidity Challenge*MICROCLIMATE INSIDE

NETHOUSE CLIMATE OUTSIDE (AWIS)

Month Range of Temp. (F)

Range of Relative

Humidity (%)

Average Temp. (F)

Average Relative

Humidity (%)

Rainfall (inches)

Early May NA NA 77 93 2.04Late May 69-125 28-99 84 100 5.13Early June 68-122 26-99 82 94 2.4Late June 75-114 35-99 84 98 1.9Early July 76-102 59-98 84 98 0.5Late July 76-113 42-99 113 100 1.37Early August 77-138 39-99 85 98 2.31Late August 75-139 38-95 88 100 6.28Early September NA NA 81 96 3.43Late September NA NA 78 95 3.95

*Year 2010 was an unusually dry and hot year in Alabama which affected plant growth and increased disease pressure under the insect nethouse.

40% black shade cloth for cooling down the interior

Bell peppers were grown with success (Year 1 Research)

Does nethouse block insect pests?

Tomato fruitworm

Tobacco budworm

Loopers Beet armyworm

Fall armyworm

Month Nethouse Open field

Nethouse Open field

Nethouse Open field

Nethouse Open field

Nethouse Open field

May 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 8 0 13June 0 1 0 2 0 17 0 23 0 15July 0 2 1 23 0 27 0 40 2 11August 0 7 0 10 0 23 0 69 4 11September 0 8 0 5 0 37 0 75 5 14Seasonalaverage

0 3.8 0.2 8.4 0 20.8 0 43 2.2 12.8

% reduction in insect activity

100% 98% 100% 100% 82%

Yes, it does! Below are the pheromone trap catches for some major pests.

• Only one insecticide spray was needed to control aphid outbreak in nethouse.• Armyworm caterpillars (<0.2 larvae/plant) & few stink bugs were removed manually.• Bell peppers outside nethouse were sprayed weekly to control caterpillars & stink bugs.

Insect invasions under nethouse!

Ants in doorway Armyworm eggs on fabric Armyworm larva

Aphid outbreak on bell pepper

Grasshopper resting on sidewall

Aphid and armyworm were noticeable mid-season problems.

Weed control critical to remove insect hideout places.

Disease Issues in Nethouse (2010)

Overall, the nethouse technology can provide major relief from insect pests and reduce dependence on insecticides. However, disease management is very essential.

Heat stress and diseases like blight & wilt were observes on tomatoes.

Total exclusion of beneficials & pollinators is also a concern.