Integrated Pest Integrated Pest Management Management

(IPM)(IPM)

What is IPM?What is IPM? Ecosystem-based Ecosystem-based

strategy that focuses strategy that focuses on long-term on long-term prevention of pests or prevention of pests or their damage through a their damage through a combination of combination of techniques such as techniques such as biological control, biological control, habitat manipulation, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural modification of cultural practices, and use of practices, and use of resistant varieties. resistant varieties.

Reasons for IPMReasons for IPM Chemical pesticides Chemical pesticides

can impact the can impact the human health and human health and ecosystemsecosystems

Example: DDT, a Example: DDT, a pesticide, can pesticide, can accumulate in the accumulate in the fatty tissue of fatty tissue of animals and affect animals and affect bird reproductionbird reproduction

Reasons for IPMReasons for IPM Insects can Insects can

become resistant become resistant to chemical to chemical pesticides pesticides

Approximately Approximately 500 species of 500 species of insects are insects are resistant to one resistant to one or more or more pesticidespesticides

How does IPM work?How does IPM work? Reduces the Reduces the

amount of amount of chemical chemical pesticides by pesticides by using three using three possible possible approaches:approaches: 1. Mechanical1. Mechanical 2. Biological2. Biological 3. Chemical3. Chemical

Mechanical Mechanical approach:approach:

Limits the pest's access to Limits the pest's access to food, water and harborage food, water and harborage sites (i.e. proper storage of sites (i.e. proper storage of food/water supplies or food/water supplies or installation or repair of installation or repair of physical barriers to future physical barriers to future pest intrusion use of pest intrusion use of mechanical devices (i.e. mechanical devices (i.e. traps) traps)

Example – Japanese beetle Example – Japanese beetle trapstraps

Biological approach:Biological approach:

Introduction of a Introduction of a natural enemy of the natural enemy of the pestpest

Example – Lady Example – Lady bugs feed on aphids bugs feed on aphids and can be and can be introduced to reduce introduced to reduce the aphid population the aphid population on cropson crops

Chemical approach:Chemical approach:

Pesticide Pesticide applications that applications that have minimal risks have minimal risks associatedassociated with their use with their use

Using the least Using the least amount of chemicals amount of chemicals that will still be that will still be effectiveeffective

Insects use of Insects use of PheromonesPheromones Pheromones are chemicals emitted by an Pheromones are chemicals emitted by an

animal that signals another animal of the animal that signals another animal of the samesame species. species.

Example: female gypsy moths emit a Example: female gypsy moths emit a pheromone to attract a male pheromone to attract a male

Pheromones and IPMPheromones and IPM Pheromones can be Pheromones can be

utilized to catch or utilized to catch or deter insectsdeter insects

Example: Example: Pheromone “traps”, Pheromone “traps”, which contain the which contain the pheromone emitted pheromone emitted by the female gypsy by the female gypsy moth can be set to moth can be set to catch male mothscatch male moths

Advantages & Advantages & Disadvantages of IPMDisadvantages of IPM

Reduce chemicals Reduce chemicals being usedbeing used

May reduce # of May reduce # of pesticide resistant pesticide resistant insectsinsects

Only uses chemicals Only uses chemicals if necessaryif necessary

Long term benefits Long term benefits (lower cost for (lower cost for chemicals, better for chemicals, better for environment and environment and human health)human health)

Individual using IPM Individual using IPM must be educated must be educated about the optionsabout the options

Takes more time to Takes more time to initiate than simply initiate than simply “spraying for pests”“spraying for pests”

Must be closely Must be closely monitored for best monitored for best resultsresults

Natural enemies of Natural enemies of pests may become pests may become pests themselves pests themselves

References:References:

http://http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/IPMPROJECT/abowww.ipm.ucdavis.edu/IPMPROJECT/about.htmlut.html

Raupp, M.J. – University of MarylandRaupp, M.J. – University of Maryland http://ipmwww.ncsu.edu/urban/cropsci/http://ipmwww.ncsu.edu/urban/cropsci/

c11struc/sipm.html c11struc/sipm.html LFSC 680 course notes LFSC 680 course notes