2. Integrated Pest Management Environmental & Ecology State Standard 4.5.12

3. What is a pest? Any organism that spreads disease, destroys property, competes with people for resources such as food, or is just a nuisance.

4. Undisturbed Ecosystems Pests have natural enemies such as predators, parasites, and disease organisms to keep them in check. Naturally, these enemies can control 50 to 90 % of the pest population. So what’s the fuss?

5. Natural ecosystems have been drastically altered by replacing diverse forests, meadow, and wetland habitats with orchards, tree farms, lawns, and farm fields.

6. By changing these ecosystems, we have dramatically decreased the biodiversity of these ecosystems. This type of planting supports a much smaller range of wildlife and microorganisms- including those that would keep pests in check.

7. Pest control Chemical pesticides Insecticides Herbicides Nematicides Fungicides Rodenticides

8. Pesticides Most of these have chemicals that are harmful to human health and the environment. In the 1960’s, the public became more aware and wanted to decrease their use.

9. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Uses a mix of methods – traps, –disease-resistance plants –natural pest-killing substances –Introduction of predators to control pests

10. IPM requirements Understand how a pest lives What it likes to eat What it doesn’t like What its enemies are Must be economical & not harmful to the environment & human health

11. PAIPM Pennsylvania’s Integrated Pest Management Established 20 years ago

12. Main Goals of PAIPM Increase food & forestry while decreasing the exposure of workers to harmful pesticides To reduce air & groundwater contamination Reduce pesticide/insecticide use on crops More cost effective Maximize the use of natural organisms

13. School IPM program goals 1.Manage pests on school grounds –Eliminate pests’ food, water, shelter –Use minimal amount of pesticides 2.Teach Pa’s students about benefits, risks, and interdisciplinary nature of IPM

14. Is it a pest or not??? Honeybees?? –Sting and annoy you –but they pollinate many flowers and fruits Leaf-cutter ants –Destroy foliage –Improves the germination success of the lobeira, South American shrub, by discarding the seeds onto a pile of nutrient rich wastes

15. Forests pests There has been a large decline in the number of forests due to logging. 98% of of the forests of the US have been logged. Replaced with tree farms, farm fields, and pastures

16. Forest pests This has created a much less diverse ecosystem which are more vulnerable to invasion and attack by pests. Pollution further weakens forest trees, exposing them to pests and the diseases they spread.

17. Balsam woolly adelgid A pest that has caused the elimination of Fraser fir and northern bracted balsam fir trees from the southern Appalachians.

18. Balsam woolly adelgid It is destroying the population of the Eastern Hemlock. Changed the canopy from an closed canopy to an open canopy, decreasing the bird population

19. Gypsy moth caterpillar Feeds on the leaves of oak and many other important tree species Can completely defoliate some areas of the forest.

20. Black knot A fungus that causes black knot (a gall), a warty growth that targets the braches of cherry and plum trees These galls break open and spread their spores via the wind.

21. Exotic pests An insect or other organism that are native to an area and is introduced to that area by some means. Many are brought in as a result of world trade.

22. Exotic pests US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) –Responsible for patrolling US ports and inspecting imported goods for exotic pests –Between 1985-1998, seized 7,000 exotic pests from wood items alone.

23. Exotic pests Found in logs, wood chips, unseasoned lumber, crates, cable spools, and wood packing material. Also found on live plants and among seeds.

24. Exotic pests The worse aspect of exotic pests is when they enter a new country, the pests have not brought along their natural enemy Trees are extremely susceptible to exotic pest infestation. –Ex: gypsy moth

25. Gypsy moth First appeared in PA in 1932 Decreased between 2000 and 2001 because it contracted a fungal and viral diseases (natural pest control program) The fight has cost PA more than $1 million in 2002. Insecticide-Bacillus thuringiensis Btk –Harmful to moth but not to people

26. Asian long-horned beetle Came from China housed in crates and pallets Attacks maples and other hardwoods Trees have been cut down in an attempt to eliminate further infestation

27. Dutch elm disease Caused by a fungus carried on a beetle It can kill a large elm tree in 4-8weeks It has killed more than 2/3 of the elm trees in the US

28. Chestnut blight Came from China in 1900’s on chestnut trees imported by the Bronx Zoo. Wiped out nearly every chestnut tree on the East coast Disrupted the natural ecosystem of the forest and the diet of many animals

29. Starling Came from Europe in late 1800’s Compete with livestock for food, transmit diseases, pollute livestock food and water, and compete with other birds for nesting and food

30. Asian lady beetle Native to Japan Released to control aphids and other insects Overpopulated and became a nuisance Harmless to human but can leave a yellow stain on walls when disturbed

31. 6 steps of IPM See handout

32. IPM tactics 1. Cultural methods Deprive pest of life necessities ( food, shelter, water) Multicropping: the practice of growing many crops together in the same field However, it is labor intensive & expensive Pests that feed on 1 crop do not overrun the entire field & more likely to host predators

33. Multicropping Native Americans- corn, beans, & squash

34. Advantages of Multicropping Hosts predators/beneficial insects Other plants are scent decoys since some insects are attracted by smell Provides a physical barrier

35. IPM tactics 2. Physical methods Physical barriers Trapping it Vacuuming Mowing Tilling

36. IPM tactics 3. Genetic methods Genetically engineered crops to be pest resistant –Ex: Bt corn crops have the Bt gene in it so the pest will die when they feed on the plant –Plant breeders have produced many varieties of food and grain crops which pests are not attracted to or can tolerate an attack. (host plant resistance)

37. IPM tactics 4. Biological methods Using other living things that are enemies of the pest to be controlled Main types: –Parasitoids –Predators –Pathogens –Weed feeders

38. Parasitoids An insect that develops on or within an insect host which will feed on the body fluids of the host Ex: wasps and flies –A wasp may lay its eggs inside an aphid and as it develops it kills the aphid

39. Predators A natural enemy that feeds on the insect or pest Although some predators may attack many pests, sometimes they also attack the beneficial insects as well

40. Pathogen A disease causing organism that infects insects, plants, humans, and other animals. –Bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa –Generally specific to the insect and lifecycle –Can kill them, reduce their ability to reproduce, slow the growth, or shorten their lifespan

41. Weed feeders An arthropod, other animal or pathogen that feeds on weed pests Insects control weeds by eating flowers, seeds, leaves, stems, and roots

42. IPM 5. Chemical methods Conventional pesticides: –Synthetic chemical pesticides are used worldwide –2.5 million tons applied to farm fields each year –Caused lower food costs(green revolution) –Some cause birth defects & cancers

43. IPM 5. Chemical methods Conventional household pesticides: –Common pesticides in the house – ants & roaches, termites, Organophosphates: –Malathion: bug spray –Chlorpyrifos: ants, roaches, termites, –Diazion: flea collars Many restrictions and warnings on the use of the pesticides

44. Conventional Agricultural Pesticides Although pesticides deter pests from feeding on a crop, these do not break down quickly and disappear Farm workers suffer illness’ due to use of pesticides Pollutes the groundwater, streams, and wildlife #1 Atrazine

45. Atrazine Seeped into drinking water supply Increased incident of cancer Strict regulations to reduce the amount used

46. Conventional pesticides Unfortunately, conventional pesticides have been more beneficial due to effectiveness, but are used as a last resort due to the health implications.

47. Biorational Pesticides A naturally occurring compound or a chemical such as a toxin or growth regulator derived from a living organism Ex: –Pheromones, synthetic growth horomones, chitin inhibitors(makes shell hard), molt accelerating hormones –Natural pesticide

48. Microbial pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis Bt –Occurs naturally and it destroys the lining of the gut of the pest so it can’t eat.

49. Bacillus thuringiensis Bt

50. Insecticidal Soap Made from the salts of fatty acids, the principle components of the fats and oils found in animals and plants. Work well on soft-bodied pests like aphids, spider mites, flies Benefits: harmless to humans, kills pest quickly, no residual effect

51. Botanical Insecticides Made from natural living plants Pyrethrum is flower extract which is deadly to insects but safe for many mammals and breaks down quickly Rotenone the most toxic of natural pesticides, very effective but can be toxic to humans Neem repels pests, safe for humans, highly selective

52. IPM 6. Regulatory Control The role played by government agencies in trying to stop the entry or spread of pests into an area or into the country via inspection, quarantine, destruction of infested material EPA, USDA, US Customs

53. Benefits of IPM Safer for people & the Environment Less pesticide residue on food Less chance of pesticide resistance Less damage to non-target organisms Lower costs for farmers Preserves nutrients in soil

54. Drawbacks of IPM May alter ecosystems Can contaminate the Environment Does not eliminate all pests May lose more crops Can require intensive planning