Pest Management Concepts for Urban Ornamentals & Turf David J. Shetlar, Ph.D. The BugDoc Landscape Entomologist The Ohio State University

Traditional Approaches IPM Principles and Concepts Traditional Approaches (based on crops) sample pest populations on a regular basis. develop pest economic injury levels. determine economic threshold levels (action thresholds) for each crop and pest.

Problems Applying Field Crop Concepts to Urban Areas IPM Principles and Concepts Problems Applying Field Crop Concepts to Urban Areas urban areas are aesthetic “crops” general public fear or distaste of pests (“I don’t like bugs!”) extremely diverse habitats are involved, not monocultures.

How do we handle diverse habitats? IPM Principles and Concepts How do we handle diverse habitats? Number of Plants – urban landscapes can contain over 100 species of plants! Number of Pests – each plant may host 1 to 5 pests each!

(for landscapes, Raupp et al.) IPM Principles and Concepts Urban Approaches (for landscapes, Raupp et al.) Key Plants - plants prone to damaging pest problems. Key Pests - pests that can cause serious damage or plant loss.

“Traditional” Ornamental Plant Maintenance Program Fertilize spring and fall – all plants treated the same. Mulch in spring and put down preemerg-ence herbicide (crab grass and other annual weeds)! Visit landscape 4-5 times per year and use “cover spray” (contains mixture of miticide, fungicide and insecticide)! Sell other services – pruning, weeding, etc.

Current Approach to Ornamental Plant Maintenance MAP landscape, identifying key plants and key pests. Evaluate individual plants and consult with owner about desires for plants – maintenance, push growth, etc. Use targeted pesticide applications. Recommend “crop” rotation!?

Plant Health Care Current Thinking In Plant Health Care (PHC), the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is only ONE component of the system - the one dealing with "intervention" after a plant stress has been identified as being caused by a pest.

Environmentally Based?? Sustainable environment? Plant Health? Urban habitat health? Reduced toxic risk?

Sustainable Environments Need little or no inputs Resistant to change Tolerate stresses

Plant Health Care Plant Client Plant Evaluation Stress (or Pest) Intervention? Management

Integrated Pest Management Chemical Controls MONITOR PESTS Insects Diseases Weeds Biological Controls Cultural Controls

In Integrated Pest Management, Chemical Controls Plant Evaluation MONITOR PESTS Plant Client Insects Diseases Weeds Stress (or Pest) Intervention? Management Biological Controls Cultural Controls In Plant Health Care, In Integrated Pest Management, the PLANT and its OWNER the PESTS are the central (client, manager, etc.) are focus of the system the central focus of the system

Our “concept” of urban landscapes try to mimic outside habitats Our “concept” of urban landscapes try to mimic outside habitats. Notice the similarities? Trees on the outside perimeter, short-cut plants in the foreground and a “water feature.”

Most urban landscapes put stresses on the ornamental plants, thereby making them more prone to insect damage. These oaks were planted three-in-a-spot (four foot squares in the parking lot). They were being killed by borers and the manager was “mystified”!!

Typical school landscape with insect-prone plants.

Environmentally Based Lawns and Landscapes Reality Ideal World Select plant for site Amend soil before plant Use new plants Pest controls do not affect non-targets "Healthy" plants defend themselves Plants already installed Amend after plant Deal with old plants Pesticides affect non-targets "Healthy" plants are better able to defend

Selecting Environmentally Based Products - Insecticides Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) toxins Spinosad (Conserve) Avermectin (Avid) Soaps and Oils IGR's Natural Botanicals - Synthetics

Selecting Environmentally Based Products - Plants Native - Imported Perennial - Annual Wet - Dry Tolerant Sun - Shade Tolerant Pests Rare or Common Pest Tolerant or Intolerant

Environmentally-Based Program (an example) Soil Sample and Characteristics Site Characteristics Plant Inventory - identify & map Pest Inventory - "key pests“ Client Needs and Desires Short & Long Term Interventions

What about biological control? In it’s most simple definition, biological control is using naturally occurring organisms to control pests, whether the pests be vertebrates (fish, birds, reptiles, or mammals), diseases (usually plant pathogens – fungi), weeds, or arthropods (insects and mites). Biological controls are usually predators, parasites, or diseases (pathogens), but some biological control experts also include competitors.

Biocontrol or "BioBased"? Paenibacillus popillae – grub milky disease Bacillus thuringiensis – δ-endotoxin Saccharopolyspora spinosa – spinosyns (=Conserve™)

Classic Insect Biocontrols Predators Parasites Pathogens Ants & Wasps Beetles Spiders Bugs (damsel, bigeyed, stink) Mites Others Wasps Flies Virus Fungi Bacteria Entomopathogenic Nematodes

Chinese mantis, a common imported predator

Convergent lady beetle eating aphids

What is this?

Keys to Successful Biocontrols Easy to recognize Easy to use Public acceptance Cost effective Shelf life

Polistes wasp eating black cutworm

Using Biocontrols in Landscapes Introduction Augmentation Conservation

Conserving Biological Controls Learn to recognize biocontrols Provide food and habitat Use least toxic chemicals Target chemicals WHERE needed Educate customer BE PATIENT!!

Selecting Least Toxic Insecticides Soaps and Oils (kill by contact only) Use short residual products Use IGR-type products (very selective) Use neonicotinoids ?? Use microbial products ??

Insecticide LD50s Acephate (Orthene) 980 Chlorpyrifos (Dursban) 270 Organophosphates (acetylcholinesterase inhibitors) Acephate (Orthene) 980 Chlorpyrifos (Dursban) 270 Diazinon 400 Ethoprop (Mocap) 62 Fonofos (Crusade) 18 Isofenphos (Oftanol) 20 Isazofos (Triumph) 40-60 Malathion 1000 Trichlorfon (Dylox/Proxol) 250

Insecticide LD50s Bendiocarb (Turcam) 156 Carbaryl (Sevin) 246 Carbamates (acetylcholinesterase inhibitors) Bendiocarb (Turcam) 156 Carbaryl (Sevin) 246 Pyrethroids (disrupt nerve sodium pump) Bifenthrin (Talstar) 375 Cyfluthrin (Tempo) 826 Fluvalinate (Mavrik) 282 L-cyhalothrin (Scimitar) 79 Permethrin (Astro) 430

New Insecticide LD50s Azadirachtin A & B (Azatrol, Neem, etc.) >3540 Tetranortriterpenoid (ecdysone blocker; antifeedant) Spinosads (Conserve) 3783-5000 Spinosad (synaptic stimulation nicotinic acetycholine sites) Halofenozide (MACH2) 2850 Diacylhydrazine (molt accelerating compound, induces molt) Fipronil (Chipco Choice) 97 Phenylpyrazoles (GABA receptor disruption)

New Insecticide LD50s Imidacloprid (Merit) 450 Acetamiprid (TriStar) The Neonicotinoids Imidacloprid (Merit) 450 Nitroguanidine (post-synaptic block, nicotinic ACH sites) Acetamiprid (TriStar) 217 Pyridylmethylamine (post-synaptic block, nicotinic ACH sites) Clothianidin (Arena) >5000 Nitroguanidine (post-synaptic block, nicotinic ACH sites) Thiamethoxam (Meridian) 1563 Nitroguanidine (post-synaptic block, nicotinic ACH sites) Dinotefuran (Safari) >2000 Nitroguanidine (post-synaptic block, nicotinic ACH sites)

Urban Landscape Ecology Program – ULEP A new approach Interdisciplinary team (over 40 faculty & staff including representatives from Public Health, Education, Architecture, Engineering, Psychology, CBS & FAES) Use campuses as model ecological landscapes (demonstrate proper plant materials and conversion techniques) Establish model communities with commercial developer (currently working with Dominion Homes) Establish a university major

Dominion Homes Burr Oak Development – proposed plan including wetland, a bio-swale water conservation area (will also be a park), as well as low and medium density homes and condo sites. In Upper Darby Watershead.