Integrated Pest Management Tom Weissling University of Florida IFAS, Ft. Lauderdale REC

Definition varies from person to person It is also very arbitrary and related to : Personal emotion (entomophobia) Personal emotion (entomophobia)

Aesthetic loss Aesthetic loss

Measurable Measurable economic loss

Pest Management Prior to the 2nd World War Several Approaches 1. Manual and physical control methods 2. Cultural control 3. Biological control 3. Biological control 4. Chemical control (metal & plant derivatives)

Pest Management After World War 2 Development of nerve gases…discovered to be  Development of nerve gases…discovered to be insecticidal insecticidal Discovery of synthetic, organic insecticides Discovery of synthetic, organic insecticides

Late 1940’s to Mid 1960’s  Shift to near universal dependence on synthetic insecticides  Agriculture became very high powered

Widespread Use of Pesticides ( ) By 1980, more than 900 registered insecticides By 1980, more than 900 registered insecticides Insecticides were a popular choice for pest Insecticides were a popular choice for pest management because they were: management because they were: a. Cheap b. Effective in small quantities c. Persistent d. Broad spectrum e. Easy to use f. Fit into mechanized agriculture g. Fit in calendar spray schedules (up to 35 applications/year in cotton)

a. Suppression of target pests (at one time, up to 98% reduction) from single application b. Selection for pest resistance c. Destruction of natural enemies d. Destruction of pollinators (Bees = $1 billion/year industry) e. Contamination of food webs f. General ecotoxicity: ramifications of insecticides in the environment Result of widespread insecticide use

Summary: Concept of Global Plant Production/Evolution 1. Subsistence Phase (The good ol’ days)  Low yield  Native (regionally adapted) crops  Natural and cultural (i.e. intercropping) controls

2. Exploitation Phase  Crop production programs  Development and use of synthetic pesticides  Increased acreage  Increased yields

3. Crisis Phase  Pesticide efficacy decreased  Start of pesticide treadmill Once you start using insecticides…hard to stop Development of Integrated Control Use of Tactics Other Than Strictly Chemical to Manage Pests

4. Integrated Control Phase Why was this phase gradually accepted? Breakdown of Pest Management Tactics

Social pressures applied (environmentalism)  1962: Rachel Carson wrote ‘Silent Spring’  1970 Environmental Protection Agency formed  USDA adopted IPM concept

Conversely, greater demand by public for:  Cheap food  Unblemished food  Aesthetically pleasing lawn/landscape  Pest-free living/working environment  Disease free environment

What is IPM? National Goal: IPM Implementation on 75% of Crop Acres by 2000 "Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks." From: Anonymous Integrated Pest Management Practices in 1991 Fruits and Nuts, RTD Updates: Pest Management, USDA-ERS, 8pp.

Management Program Biology and Identification of Pests and Beneficials Evaluation and Preventative Follow-up Practices An Action Decision Monitored Pest Must be Made Populations Economic Threshold (a prediction of loss vs. risk)

Is it a Pest? Is it a beneficial? Proper Identification

Proper identification is essential in pest management

Disease? Insects? Nutrients? Weeds? Nematodes? Water? Other? Pest Management Requires Some Detective Work

Must be able to identify problem by: Viewing actual damaging organism Injury or damage Evidence that is left behind (frass, cast skins)

Knowledge of Pests Biology (and of the plant you are protecting) When are they present? Are all stages damaging? Are some stages more susceptible? Are there weaknesses?

Preventative Practices What can be done to curtail pest introduction or a population increase? 1) Habitat modification Make habitat less desirable to primary pest species (i.e., plant several versus to primary pest species (i.e., plant several versus single plant species) single plant species)

2. Inspect plant materials brought into “pest free” areas

Cultural Methods: fertilization watering pruning sanitation planting resistant varieties etc. 3. Grow healthy plants: Stressed plants are generally more susceptible to pest attack

Monitor Pest Populations Value? To determine if population needs to be managed

Random Sampling:  The most commonly used method in IPM  Used to determine pest numbers and/or damage per sample unit (i.e. leaf)  Counts of pest numbers, damage, and/or natural enemies are taken at random locations in the managed area

Sampling Methods: Visual is most common  Counting number/leaf, terminal, plant  Counting number per square foot  Assessing damage per unit area

1) Conditions that favor a pest or pest outbreak 2) Signs of the pest (damage, frass, cast skins) 3) The actual pest 4) Beneficial organisms When scouting, look for:

What to do with information? Keep Records!

Keep track of: When Where How Many Natural Enemies Sample Frequently

Economic or Action Thresholds a prediction of loss vs. risk Often zero tolerance in urban settings

EIL ET EP ET EIL ET EP TIME Pest Density Non-Pest Frequent Pest Severe Pest Periodic Pest = Treatment measures taken

Action Thresholds Pest Number Monitoring Method Mole Crickets 2 - 3/Ft 2 Soap Flush Chinch Bugs 20/ Ft 2 Soap Flush, Visual, Can Billbug Larvae 12/ Ft 2 Expose Soil White Grub Larvae 5/ Ft 2 Expose Soil Sod Webworm Larvae 8/ Ft 2 Visual, Soap Flush Armyworms 4/ Ft 2 Visual, Soap Flush

An Action Decision Must be Made Typical Management Tools: Cultural Methods Mechanical Methods Physical Methods Biological Control Chemical Control

Cultural Methods - Modification or management practices that make the habitat less favorable to pest reproduction, dispersal, and survival: A) Host plant resistance B) Pruning & thinning C) Fertilization D) Sanitation E) Water management

4. Mechanical Methods A) Hand destruction (ie, fly swatter) B) Exclusion of pests by barriers (ie, screenhouse) C) Is generally labor intensive

5. Physical control A) Heating/Cooling (autoclaving soil, burning residues) residues) B) Electric bug zappers

Biological Control Protection and enhancement of natural enemies (use most selective management tool) Introduction of natural enemies Use of microbial controls

Predators Parasites Nematodes Diseases

Lady Bird Beetle

Green Lacewing

UF - Entomology/Nematology Predatory Mite

Syrphid Fly Larvae Clemson U.

Scale and Mealybugpredators

IchneumonidWaspPasitizingCaterpillar

Parasitized Caterpillar UF - Entomology/Nematology

Parasitized Scales UF - Entomology/Nematology

Aphid Mummies

Red Imported Fire Ant

Phorid Fly Imported from Brazil

Phorid Fly egg hatches and migrates to and feeds on ants head which leads to….

Brazilian Red-Eyed Fly (Ormia depleta) Tachinid parasite Imported from S. America Released in Florida Female locates crickets by their song Deposits live larvae on or near the cricket Tachinid parasite Imported from S. America Released in Florida Female locates crickets by their song Deposits live larvae on or near the cricket UF - Ent./Nema

Mole Cricket Killed by Nematodes UF - Entomology/Nematology

Fungus-Killed Aphid & Caterpillar

Nosema Killed Grasshoppers J. Kalisch, UNL

Chemical Methods - Insecticides - Sterilants - Insect Growth Regulators - Attractants - Repellents - Microbials

Evaluation and Follow-Up - Requires monitoring? - Were methods effective? - Is re-treatment required?

Author: Tom Weissling, University of Florida Photos: University of Florida University of California University of Nebraska Clemson University Entomology And Nematology Department Copyright University of Florida 2000 For more detailed information see the Featured Creatures WWW site at