What is IPM???

IPM (integrated pest management) is a sustainable approach to managing pests

by combining biological, chemical, cultural, and physical 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.

What is a Pest?What is a Pest?

A plant or animal that is out of place

This includes: This includes: Diseases, Weeds,Diseases, Weeds,Arthropods, Reptiles, Mammals, etc.Arthropods, Reptiles, Mammals, etc.

Is this a pest?

Is this a pest?

• That depends is he in your garden or your house?

Pest management toolbox

Cultural control

Physical control

Biological control

Chemical control

CULTURAL CONTROLCULTURAL CONTROL

NOT all azaleas were created equal

CULTURAL CONTROL

• Use pest free plants

• Use resistant varieties

• Destroy refuse

Physical control

Usually most labor intensive

Physical control

And don’t forget about the environmentally friendly SQUASHING method of insect control

Biological Control• The use of living

organisms to control pests

• Predators• Parasites

• Pathogens

Predators

• Kill many prey

• Often generalists rather than specialists

• 200,000 species

Predators• General Rule

– Bigger

– Badder

– Fewer

Biological Control• The use of living

organisms to control pests

• Predators

• Parasites• Pathogens

ParasitesParasites

ParasiteParasite

• Very stealthy and often small

• Leave a trail of bodies

• Very specialized

• Develop from eggs laid in or on host (think “Aliens”)

Healthy aphids

Parasitized aphids

Biological Control• The use of living

organisms to control pests

• Predators

• Parasites

• Pathogens

PathogensPathogens

• Usually very specific

• leave a trail of bodies

• may take a few days to provide control (lag time)

• kill, reduce reproduction, reduce insect health

Chemical control

• Should be used as a last resort and with the lowest impact on natural enemies and YOU!

What makes a pesticide compatiblewith an IPM program?

• Selectivity

• residual activity

• time,rate, and place where sprayed

Monitoring And Scouting

.

SCOUTING

• Favorable conditions

• Signs of the pests– damage– frass

• The actual pest

• Signs of natural enemies