Integrated Pest Management

What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• Pest management strategy using all available strategies to control pests in a responsible and economical way.

• BMP Best management practice– Use science and practical methods to

optimize crops and minimize environmental impact

IPM

• Studies show that multiple control methods are essential.

– Resistance to methods is possible– Similar to antibiotics resistance

Economical injury level/Economic threshold

• When the control method costs less than the crop loss

Aesthetic Injury Level

• Significant loss to the plants beauty requires control methods

Scouting

• Searching the crop/landscape for pest damage and pests.

Benefits of IPM

• Cheaper costs in pesticide

• Save time and labor costs

• Less disease/pests/weed/resistance

Benefits Continued…

• Less impact on the environment

• Less cancer causing chemicals

What is a Pest?

• Animal that causes injury or loss to a plant– Insect– Rodent– Nemetodes (worms) not earthworm– Snails/Slugs– Other mammals including deer and Raccoons

What is a Disease?

• A negative effect cause by– Virus– Bacteria– Fungus

Weeds

• Any plant growing where it is not wanted– Cause competition– Unsightly– Can harbor other pests and diseases

Insects

• Exoskeleton

• Reproduce quickly and have lots of offspring.

• This leads to pesticide resistance

There are two different types of mouthparts

Insects can effect plants in two different stages of life

• Immature

• Adult

Insects go through metamorphosis

• Complete

• Incomplete

CompleteIncomplete

Plant disease

• Also known as a pathogen– Infectious: Caused by a living thing such as

virus, fungi and bacteria. – Noninfectious: (not pathogens) Caused by

non living things in the environment such as overwatering, nutrient deficiencies, air pollution.

Disease Triangle

Disease Triangle Explained

• Take away one of the factors in the triangle and the disease cannot attack.

Weeds

• Broadleaf: Weeds that have big leaves such as dandelions.

• Grass weeds: Weeds that look like grass ie crabgrass.

Weeds

Annual: die every year

Perennial: Come back every year like a tree

Biennial: Plant lives for two years

Weeds

• Parasitic plants: Mistletoe

IPM Solutions

• Sanitation: Keep it clean– Remove weeds– Insects and disease can be found in left over

plant material and weeds– Remove plants from last year if possible

IPM Solutions

• Cultural/physical controls: these physically prevent the problems from getting to the plants.– Don’t let them in– Remove bad plants– Promote healthy growth– Good air circulation– Physical removal– Monitor/Scout

• Use sticky traps

IPM Solutions

• Biological Control– Microbial, parasitic, or predators– Whitefly, catapillar and aphids can be

controlled with bacteria– The bacteria is a natural disease of those

insects. It is like germ warfare

IPM Solutions

• Biological Control cont…– Parasitic organisms – Wasps lay their eggs in the whitefly larvae

and eat them from the inside out

IPM Solutions

• Predatory organisms (can be released) Known as beneficial– Beetle attacking whitefly– Mite killing thrips– Lady bugs eating aphids– Snakes, hawks, cats eating mice

Make sure you don’t kill beneficial insects

IPM Solution

• Chemicals– Know as pesticides (insecticide, rodenticide,

molluscicide, fungicide, herbicide)– Used safely– Used only when needed

Conclusion

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) uses all available methods to control pests

• A healthy environment and healthy plant leads to less diseases and pests.