Challenges of Insect Challenges of Insect Pest Management in Pest Management in the Landscapethe Landscape

Is IPM Is IPM PossiblePossible

in the Urban in the Urban Landscape?Landscape?

YES!!!YES!!!

But… But…

Economic

Social

Environmental

Regulatory

Pest Management Pest Management IssuesIssues

Determined by a one’s tolerance to pests or damage

Zero tolerance

Can be improved through greater understanding of pest biology

Aesthetic Aesthetic ThresholdThreshold

Damage ToleranceDamage Tolerance

Less than 10% Less than 10% distortion, defoliation, distortion, defoliation, or discoloration or discoloration compared to compared to undamaged plant is undamaged plant is acceptableacceptable

New Approach… International Society of International Society of

Arboriculture urges arborists to Arboriculture urges arborists to categorize clients based on their categorize clients based on their need for information and level of need for information and level of expected service.expected service.

New Approach… International Society of Arboriculture

urges arborists to categorize clients based on their need for information and level of expected service.

So, alternative pest management So, alternative pest management practices can be used for clients practices can be used for clients with higher pest tolerance and with higher pest tolerance and avoided for those with low avoided for those with low tolerance.tolerance.

67 Counties67 Counties

ca. 1500 golf coursesca. 1500 golf courses

ca. 65,000 landscape ca. 65,000 landscape firmsfirms

>16 million residents>16 million residents

http://www.wgcu.org/fllandscape/zonemap.htmlhttp://www.wgcu.org/fllandscape/zonemap.html

Florida’s Hardiness ZonesFlorida’s Hardiness Zones

Consider This:Consider This:

Urban Landscape = Urban Landscape = mosaic of plants, mosaic of plants, soils, and pestssoils, and pests

It’s an Invasion!It’s an Invasion!

On average, 12 new pests On average, 12 new pests invade Florida each yearinvade Florida each year

= = STRESS!!STRESS!!

Buy & install infested plantsBuy & install infested plants Get plants with recurring Get plants with recurring

problemsproblems Choose non-adapted, exotic plantsChoose non-adapted, exotic plants Water too much / too littleWater too much / too little Don’t fertilizeDon’t fertilize Prune severely at wrong timePrune severely at wrong time

How to Stress PlantsHow to Stress Plants

1.1. Identify the pestIdentify the pest

2.2. Determine the pest’s biologyDetermine the pest’s biology

3.3. Correct any cultural factorsCorrect any cultural factors

4.4. Direct control where the Direct control where the insect lives or feedsinsect lives or feeds

5.5. Evaluate resultsEvaluate results

Education is the KeyEducation is the Key

IPM Is…IPM Is…

Common Sense Pest Management based on monitoring and understanding the pest’s biology to accurately time control tactics.

Describe Your Describe Your Ideal InsecticideIdeal Insecticide

Old SchoolOld School:: Kills everythingKills everything Lasts for yearsLasts for years By-the-calendar By-the-calendar

applicationsapplications Timing doesn’t matterTiming doesn’t matter 1 treatment cures all1 treatment cures all

The “Ideal” InsecticideThe “Ideal” Insecticide

New SchoolNew School:: Few target pestsFew target pests Doesn’t hurt non-targetsDoesn’t hurt non-targets Breaks down fastBreaks down fast Need to monitorNeed to monitor Precise timing of applicationsPrecise timing of applications Often more than 1 applicationOften more than 1 application

The “Ideal” InsecticideThe “Ideal” Insecticide

Old SchoolOld School:: Kills everythingKills everything Lasts for yearsLasts for years By-the-calendar By-the-calendar

applicationsapplications Timing doesn’t Timing doesn’t

mattermatter Only 1 Only 1

treatmenttreatment

New SchoolNew School:: Few target pestsFew target pests Breaks down fastBreaks down fast Need to monitorNeed to monitor Precise timing of Precise timing of

applicationsapplications Often more than Often more than

1 application1 application

The “Ideal” InsecticideThe “Ideal” Insecticide

Conventional insecticidesConventional insecticides Organochlorines (e.g., DDT)Organochlorines (e.g., DDT) Organophosphates (e.g., Dursban)Organophosphates (e.g., Dursban) Carbamates (e.g., Sevin)Carbamates (e.g., Sevin) Pyrethroids (e.g., Talstar)Pyrethroids (e.g., Talstar)

Newer chemistriesNewer chemistries Phenyl pyrazoles (e.g., Top Phenyl pyrazoles (e.g., Top

Choice)Choice) Chloronicotinyls (e.g., Merit)Chloronicotinyls (e.g., Merit)

Pesticides of natural origin Pesticides of natural origin having few or no adverse having few or no adverse effects on nontarget effects on nontarget organisms or the environment.organisms or the environment.

Biorational Pesticides…Biorational Pesticides…

Different modes of action than Different modes of action than conventional pesticidesconventional pesticides

Greater selectivityGreater selectivity

Lower risk to mammals and Lower risk to mammals and other non-targetsother non-targets

Traits of Biorationals:Traits of Biorationals:

Some Biorationals Some Biorationals Include:Include:

BotanicalsBotanicals Azadirachtin/NeemAzadirachtin/Neem PyrethrumPyrethrum

MicrobialsMicrobials Milky diseaseMilky disease Beauveria Beauveria

bassianabassiana Abamectin (Avid)Abamectin (Avid) Spinosad Spinosad

(Conserve)(Conserve)

Molt Accelerating Molt Accelerating CompoundsCompounds HalofenozideHalofenozide

(Mach2)(Mach2)

BiopesticidesBiopesticides BtBt EntomopathogeniEntomopathogeni

c nematodesc nematodes Insecticidal soapsInsecticidal soaps

Horticultural oilsHorticultural oils

NaturalNatural

SafeSafe

Why Might the Industry Why Might the Industry Not Like Using Not Like Using Biorationals?Biorationals?

More expensiveMore expensive Narrow spectrumNarrow spectrum Break down too fastBreak down too fast More need to scoutMore need to scout Repeated applicationsRepeated applications Precise application timingPrecise application timing

New SchoolNew School:: Few target pestsFew target pests Doesn’t hurt non-targetsDoesn’t hurt non-targets Breaks down fastBreaks down fast Need to monitorNeed to monitor Precise timing of applicationsPrecise timing of applications Often more than 1 applicationOften more than 1 application

The “Ideal” InsecticideThe “Ideal” Insecticide

Some Products For Some Products For Your War ChestYour War Chest

(e.g., Pesticide Cabinet)(e.g., Pesticide Cabinet)

AzadirachtinAzadirachtin Biological insecticide (Neem, Azatin XL)Biological insecticide (Neem, Azatin XL)

Broad spectrumBroad spectrum

Active by contact or ingestionActive by contact or ingestion

Interferes with insect molting; repellentInterferes with insect molting; repellent

Sites: Indoor, outdoor; plants may be Sites: Indoor, outdoor; plants may be potted, grown in soil or soilless potted, grown in soil or soilless mixtures, or grown hydroponicallymixtures, or grown hydroponically

PyrethrumPyrethrum From Chrysanthemum flower petalsFrom Chrysanthemum flower petals

Quick knockdown for flying insectsQuick knockdown for flying insects

Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) often Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) often addedadded

Breaks down fast in sunlightBreaks down fast in sunlight

Short residualShort residual

May cause allergiesMay cause allergies

Horticultural OilsHorticultural Oils

Refined oils coat and suffocate soft-Refined oils coat and suffocate soft-bodied insectsbodied insects

Contact toxicity only – no residuesContact toxicity only – no residues

Do NOT use if temperatures >90Do NOT use if temperatures >90 F F

Superior Spray Oil, Summer SpraOil, Superior Spray Oil, Summer SpraOil, Superior Oil, Volck Oil SpraySuperior Oil, Volck Oil Spray

Insecticidal SoapsInsecticidal Soaps Made from salts in the fats and oils Made from salts in the fats and oils

of animals and plantsof animals and plants

Disrupt insect cuticle (skin)Disrupt insect cuticle (skin)

Contact toxicity only – no residuesContact toxicity only – no residues

Effective against soft-bodied insectsEffective against soft-bodied insects

M-Pede, Rose and Flower Insect M-Pede, Rose and Flower Insect Control, and Safer Yard and GardenControl, and Safer Yard and Garden

Soil bacteria that cause disease, Soil bacteria that cause disease, or produce toxins that kill or produce toxins that kill insectsinsects

Low mammalian toxicityLow mammalian toxicity More effective against young More effective against young

caterpillarscaterpillars Short residualShort residual Dipel, ThuricideDipel, Thuricide

Bacillus thuringiensisBacillus thuringiensis var. var. kurstakikurstaki

Nematodes (Nematac Nematodes (Nematac S)S)

Steinernema scapterisciSteinernema scapterisci

MicroBio and Becker-UnderwoodMicroBio and Becker-Underwood

Infects large mole cricket nymphs Infects large mole cricket nymphs and adultsand adults

Long-term suppression (>12 years)Long-term suppression (>12 years)

Distributors:Distributors: Golf Ventures, UHS, Golf Ventures, UHS, Prosource One, Lesco, Gardens Prosource One, Lesco, Gardens AliveAlive

Mach 2 (Halofenozide)Mach 2 (Halofenozide) Mimics the action of the insect molting

hormone, ecdysone

Low vertebrate toxicity (Caution)

Ingestion forces a premature, lethal molt

Liquid & granular formulations

67 lbs/acre for lawn caterpillars

100 lbs/acre for white grubs

Conserve SC (Spinosad)Conserve SC (Spinosad) Soil-dwelling bacterium, Soil-dwelling bacterium,

Saccharopolyspora spinosaSaccharopolyspora spinosa

Contact and stomach poisonContact and stomach poison

Residual up to 2 weeksResidual up to 2 weeks

Caterpillars, thrips, fire antsCaterpillars, thrips, fire ants

Labeled for use on Labeled for use on greenhouses, nurseries, and greenhouses, nurseries, and all turfgrassesall turfgrasses

Merit (Imidacloprid)Merit (Imidacloprid)

Low mammalian toxicityLow mammalian toxicity

Systemic in plantsSystemic in plants

Slow actionSlow action

Stops the feeding of many piercing/ Stops the feeding of many piercing/ sucking insects sucking insects

Sites:Sites: ornamentals in commercial & ornamentals in commercial & residential landscapes, residential landscapes, interiorscapes, golf courses, lawns, interiorscapes, golf courses, lawns, grounds grounds

Astro (Permethrin)Astro (Permethrin) PyrethroidPyrethroid

Broad spectrumBroad spectrum

Signal word: CautionSignal word: Caution

Sites:Sites: lawns, parks, lawns, parks, recreational areas, athletic recreational areas, athletic fields, ornamental trees and fields, ornamental trees and shrubs, greenhouses, shrubs, greenhouses, nurseries, and interiorscapesnurseries, and interiorscapes

Talstar (Bifenthrin)Talstar (Bifenthrin)

Pyrethroid – broad spectrumPyrethroid – broad spectrum

Several formulationsSeveral formulations

Sites:Sites: ornamentals, golf courses, ornamentals, golf courses, sod farms, athletic fields, parks, sod farms, athletic fields, parks, recreational areas, lawnsrecreational areas, lawns

Top Choice (Fipronil)Top Choice (Fipronil) Low doses (Caution): 87 lbs/acreLow doses (Caution): 87 lbs/acre

Broadcast applicationBroadcast application

Persistent in soilPersistent in soil

Residual control of fire ants & mole Residual control of fire ants & mole cricketscrickets

Sites:Sites: golf turf, sports fields, commercial golf turf, sports fields, commercial lawns, cemeteries, parks, campsites, lawns, cemeteries, parks, campsites, recreational areas, home lawns, school recreational areas, home lawns, school grounds, sodfarms, landscape bedsgrounds, sodfarms, landscape beds

                                                                       

Dylox (Trichlorfon)Dylox (Trichlorfon)

Dylox 6.2 G Dylox 6.2 G (Caution)(Caution), Dylox 80 , Dylox 80 (Warning)(Warning)

OrganophosphateOrganophosphate

3 lbs/1000 sq. ft. of turf3 lbs/1000 sq. ft. of turf

Sites: Sites: interiorscapes, ornamental interiorscapes, ornamental gardens, parks, golf courses, lawns, gardens, parks, golf courses, lawns, grounds; grounds; NOTNOT on plants grown for sale on plants grown for sale

Insecticide Insecticide RecommendationsRecommendations

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MENU_INMENU_IN

Author: Author: Eileen A. BussEileen A. Buss

Photos: Photos: University of FloridaUniversity of Florida

University of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky

Entomology & Nematology Entomology & Nematology DepartmentDepartment

Copyright University of Florida Copyright University of Florida 20022002