Integrated Pest Management

Pests Insects Weeds (unwanted plant) Animals Fungus Virus

Pest Control Stomp ‘em Chemicals Mother Nature Traps Hunting

Chemicals may not be enough!!! Resistance Secondary pests will fill that niche. Pesticides (chemicals that kill insects or other pests) can have adverse environmental impacts when improperly used. Environmental risks include contamination of the environment and effects on non-target species Budworm walking through pesticide crystals -Pesticide resistance

What is a niche? A niche is a specific organism’s role in the environment. Example: A ladybug’s niche is to eat insects. A honey bee produces honey and pollinates flowers.

Beneficial Insects Walking Sticks Praying Mantis Ladybugs Honey Bees Ambush bug feeding on boll weevil

History of Pest Management After World War II, agriculture changed dramatically. With increased mechanization and chemicals, farmers produced more food using less labor. Certain insecticides, such as DDT and organophosphates, were used extensively and routinely for controlling pests. These products were considered to be safe at that time

Problems with pesticides Products of some of these insecticides began to accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals at the top of the food chain and caused problems. One example, DDT caused thinning egg shells of peregrine falcons and was blamed for a dramatic decline in numbers of this species.

Pest Control Methods Mechanical Biological Cultural Genetic Enhancement Chemical

Mechanical Control of Pests Tillage Slash & Burn Hand Weeding

Biological Pest Control Beneficial Insects Irradiation of males Fungal Control Selective Breeding

Cultural Pest Control Plant Population Row width Crop Rotation Mixed Cropping Scarecrows Drainage Burial of Garbage

Genetic Enhancements Bt Corn Potato Leaf Hopper Resistant Alfalfa Soybeans Corn Alfalfa Bt Corn Potato Leaf Hopper Resistant Alfalfa