CRPS-B5 Chapter 15

What are the control action guidelines to solve pest problems?

-identify the pest or pests and determine whether control is warranted for each -determine your pest control goal(s) -know what control tactics are available -evaluate the benefits and risks of each tactic or combination of tactics -choose a strategy that will be most effective and will cause the least harm to people and the environment -use each tactic in the strategy correctly -observe local, State, and Federal regulations that apply to the situation

What are some pest management strategies?

-treated seeds coated with a pesticide to limit crop damage from fungus and insects -resistant varieties seeds -pre-Plant cultivation -plant during proper season, time and weather conditions -soil fumigation -removal of pest (weeds, insects, or animals) over-winter season -field site with limited to pest free soils -field inspection through the season

food and water supply

Pest populations can thrive only as long as their food and water supply lasts -once the food source - plant or animal - is exhausted, the pests die or become inactive -the life cycle of many pests depends on the availability of water.

In pest monitoring what are the questions asked?

What kinds of pests are present? Are the numbers great enough to warrant control? When is the right time to begin control? Have the control efforts successfully reduced the number of pests?

host

a plant or animal on or which a pest lives

parasite

an organism living on, in, or with another living organism for the purpose of obtaining food

predator

an organism that attacks, kills, and feeds on other organisms

pathogen

an organism that causes disease in other organisms

weeds

any plant growing out of place

non-target organism

any plant or animal other than the pest that is being controlled

key pest

are crop specific, causing damage above the economic injury level if proper control practices are not applied: you now have a key pest

occasional pest

are invaders typically live and reproduce outdoors but invade buildings to escape the outside elements

biological

are natural enemies of the pests, such as animals and other creatures (can be predators like lady beetles and lacewings, or parasites like wasps and flies)

mechanical

are physical objects such as traps, machines, and devices -plowing and tillage of the soil might be used to control weeds -traps are also used for monitoring insects and catching pests

insecticides

are used to control insect infestations some are incorporated into the soil (to treat grubs, worms, and other soil dwelling pests), while others are applied directly to plant foliage (to treat moths, aphids, and other above-ground pests) -most foliar applications need to be properly timed, otherwise they are not effective -consequently, many farmers scout their fields to determine if/when insects are present.

fungicides

are used to control pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms -are often applied during the growing season to increase crop yields -are applied to prevent stored produce from spoiling

herbicides

are widely used for weed control these pesticides can be applied before planting, either to eliminate weeds from a field or to prevent new weeds from germinating -applied for post weed-emergence -rather than preventing germination, these applications target weeds that are well established and actively growing

natural enemies

birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and mammals feed on some pests and help control their numbers -any predatory and parasitic insect and insect-like species feed on other organisms, some of which are pests -pathogens often suppress pest populations

How are insects, mollusks, and vertebrate pests monitored?

by trapping or by scouting also can include checking environmental conditions in the area temperature and moisture levels, especially humidity, are often important clues in predicting when a pest outbreak will occur or will hit threshold levels

How are weed pests monitored?

by visual inspection also can include checking environmental conditions in the area temperature and moisture levels, especially humidity, are often important clues in predicting when a pest outbreak will occur or will hit threshold levels

cultural

changing the environment by: -crop rotation in fields -managing the soil for optimum soil health -choosing resistant varieties (such as corn hybrids that are resistant to a pest)

pheromones

chemicals emitted by an organism to influence the behavior of other organisms of the same species

chemical

controls are poisonous to the pests, such as sprays, dusts, and baits -pesticides are sometimes used to control various pests to crops

What are the control methods of IPM?

cultural, biological, mechanical, and chemical

geographic barriers

features such as mountains and large bodies of water that restrict the spread of many pests

diseases

fungi, bacteria, viruses, blight, rusts, leaf spots, and other microorganisms

vertebrate pests

have a backbone ex: rodents, birds, reptiles, deer, raccoons, and other mammals

pest

is any animal or plant detrimental to humans or human concerns, including crops, livestock and forestry, among others

How are microbial pests monitored?

is done by looking for the injury or damage they cause also can include checking environmental conditions in the area temperature and moisture levels, especially humidity, are often important clues in predicting when a pest outbreak will occur or will hit threshold levels

eradication

is occasionally attempted when a foreign pest has been accidentally introduced but is not yet established in an area is a rare goal in outdoor pest situations, because it is difficult to achieve usually the goal is prevention and/or suppression (such eradication strategies are often supported by the Government)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

is the combining of appropriate pest control tactics into a single plan (strategy) to reduce pests and their damage to an acceptable level to control weeds, insects, fungi, viruses, and bacteria; the purpose is to control unwanted organisms or avoid economic levels of damage. -till soils -rotate crops -scout fields -carefully consider factors such as plant density and planting dates -also apply organic and synthetic pesticides

What are the IPM pest categories?

key pest, secondary pest, and occasional pest

secondary pest

may be one that wasn't sensitive to the particular pesticide used, or it may have acquired resistance more rapidly: you now have a secondary pest issue

What are the control action guidelines?

natural controls, climate, natural enemies, geographic barriers, food and water supply, shelter, applied controls, and host resistance

juvenile hormones

natural insect chemicals that keep the earlier stages of an insect from changing into the normal adult form

invertebrate pests

no backbone ex: insects, spiders, ticks, slugs, cutworms

scouting

regularly searching for, identifying, and assessing numbers of pests and the damage they are causing

nematodes

small, usually microscopic, eel-like roundworms

natural controls

some natural forces act on all organisms, causing the populations to rise and fall -these natural forces act independently of humans and may either help or hinder pest control -awareness of natural influences in order to take advantage of them -natural forces that affect pest populations include climate, natural enemies, natural barriers, availability of shelter, and food and water supplies

host resistance

some plants, animals, and structures resist pests better than others also some varieties of plants, wood, and animals are resistant to certain pests the use of resistant types helps keep pest populations below harmful levels by making conditions less favorable for the pests host resistance works in three main ways: -chemicals in the host repel the pest or prevent the pest from completing its life cycle -the host is more vigorous or tolerant than other varieties and thus less likely to be seriously damaged by pest attacks -the host has physical characteristics that make it more difficult to attack.

What are the two pest management strategy goals?

suppression and eradication

shelter

the availability of shelter can affect some pest populations -overwintering sites and places to hide from predators arc important to the survival of some pests

suppression

the intent to reduce the number of pests to a level where the harm they are causing is acceptable

labeling

the pesticide product label and other accompanying materials that contain directions that pesticide users are legally required to follow

mycoplasmas

the smallest known living organisms that can reproduce and exist apart from other living organisms they obtain their food from plants

applied controls

unfortunately, natural controls often do not control pests quickly or completely enough to prevent unacceptable injury or damage, so other control measures must be used including: -host resistance -biological control -cultural control -mechanical control -sanitation -chemical control

climate

weather conditions, especially temperature, day length, and humidity, affect pests' activity and their rate of reproduction -pests may be killed or suppressed by rain, freezing temperatures, drought, or other adverse weather -climate affects pests indirectly by influencing the growth and development of their hosts -unusual weather conditions can change normal patterns so that increased or decreased damage results