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: [email protected]
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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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.
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