1. Insect Control Cultural Mechanical Biological Beneficial Chemical

2. Cultural Control Soil Preparation Plant selection Rotation Planting dates Interplantings Trap crops

3. Healthy soil encourages healthy, unstressed plants. Proper pH and fertilization are important. Uncomposted organic matter can encourage pests. Soil Preparation

4. Plant Selection Use disease- and insect free- plants. Buy plants from reputable sources and choose resistant cultivars when possible.

5. Rotation Planting similar crops in successive years tends to increase pest problems.

6. Planting Dates Some pests can be avoided by planting a crop before a pest moves into the area. Some root rot and germination problems can be avoided by later plantings.

7. Interplantings Avoid placing all plants of one kind together. Alternate groups of different plants within rows or patches.

8. Trap Crops Plant a crop that is more attractive to a pest than the one you intend to grow. Then treat the pest on the infested decoy plants.

9. Mechanical Control Handpicking Traps Barriers Pruning

10. Handpicking Inspect plants for egg clusters, beetles, caterpillars, or other pests. Squash them or drop them in sudsy water.

11. Traps Insect traps can be useful for detection and sometimes management. There are many kinds. Be sure that you are not attracting more pests into an area.

12. Barriers Mechanical barriers such as collars, cages, netting, or sticky barriers can be very effective against specific pests.

13. Pruning & Raking Some pests can be controlled by pruning out infected twigs or raking fallen twigs or leaves in which the insects overwinter.

14. Biological Control Biological control uses predators, parasites, or disease organisms to attack unwanted pests.

15. Beneficials Beneficial organisms such as lady beetles, lacewings, wasps, and syrphid flies, can be protected, encouraged, or introduced in the garden.

16. Chemical Control Botanicals Soaps Horticultural Oils Synthetic Insecticides Biologicals

17. Botanicals Botanical insecticides are naturally occurring chemicals extracted from plants. Some examples are nicotine, neem, rotenone, and pyrethrum.

18. Soaps Commercial insecticidal soaps work well against soft bodied insects. They do less damage against the parasites and predators of some pests.

19. Horticultural Oils These oils work best on soft-bodied insects and disrupt metabolism. They have low toxicity to humans. Be sure to read the label to use them correctly.

20. Synthetic Chemicals These are chemicals made in a laboratory. Some kill insects by contact, some through ingestion, and some through inhalation. Always follow label instructions with all pesticides.

21. Biologicals Biological insecticides use other living organisms to attack pests. It is similar to giving them a disease. Examples are the bacterial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) and parasitic nematodes.

22. Stephen B. Bambara Extension Entomologist © Copyright 2001