Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods Manage Yard Pests Responsibly

Pesticide Consequences Synthetic chemical pesticides were introduced in the 1940s to control agricultural pests; unfortunately, there were some unexpected consequences… Hazardous to humans Residues in food Environmental impacts Pests becoming resistant Expensive to use Synthetic chemical pesticides were introduced in the 1940s to control agricultural pests; unfortunately, there were some unexpected consequences… Hazardous to humans Residues in food Environmental impacts Pests becoming resistant Expensive to use

Cycle of Pesticide Dependency Many chemical pesticides are broad spectrum, killing not only targeted pests but beneficial organisms that serve as natural pest control systems. NO Natural Controls Many chemical pesticides are broad spectrum, killing not only targeted pests but beneficial organisms that serve as natural pest control systems. NO Natural Controls Indiscriminate mortality - pests and beneficials Dependence on chemical pesticides

                          In the days following a pesticide treatment, pests reproduce faster than predatory insects. By killing off beneficial insects, pest populations flourish.

Tolerance Some damage to plants is natural. Don’t strive for a pest-free yard; instead, decide on a realistic threshold of damage.

What Is a Pest, Really? Pest: plant, animal or other organism that is out of place. Am I a pest? This depends on where I am feeding, in the yard or the butterfly garden.  Diseases, weeds, insects, reptiles, mammals, arthropods  Of all insect species in the world, less than 1% considered pests  Diseases, weeds, insects, reptiles, mammals, arthropods  Of all insect species in the world, less than 1% considered pests

Aphids Piercing-sucking mouthparts allow aphid to feed on plant juices. Causes stunting and curling on new terminal growth. Excrete honeydew. Piercing-sucking mouthparts allow aphid to feed on plant juices. Causes stunting and curling on new terminal growth. Excrete honeydew. Parasitized aphid mummy Honeydew CORNICALS

2 types: soft and armored scale. Piercing-sucking mouthparts allow it to feed on plant juices. Damage: chlorosis and leaf drop. Soft scales excrete honeydew. 2 types: soft and armored scale. Piercing-sucking mouthparts allow it to feed on plant juices. Damage: chlorosis and leaf drop. Soft scales excrete honeydew. Sooty mold (shown here) is a fungus that grows on honeydew excretions. Watch for pinholes, indicating parasitism by a wasp.

Whiteflies Piercing-sucking mouthparts allow it to feed on plant juices. Infest lower leaf surfaces. Damaged leaves appear spotted. Sooty mold. Transmit plant viruses. Piercing-sucking mouthparts allow it to feed on plant juices. Infest lower leaf surfaces. Damaged leaves appear spotted. Sooty mold. Transmit plant viruses. Immature whiteflies also damage plants.

Spider Mites Tiny, with 8 legs Piercing-sucking Mites, eggs, cast skins and webs visible with hand lens Leaves appear stippled High infestation rates lead to mite migration Tiny, with 8 legs Piercing-sucking Mites, eggs, cast skins and webs visible with hand lens Leaves appear stippled High infestation rates lead to mite migration

Thrips Feed on flowers and young foliage Found on the underside of leaf Excrement is shiny-black Transmit plant diseases Damaged plants appear flecked or bleached Cause leaf and flower distortions and bud drop Feed on flowers and young foliage Found on the underside of leaf Excrement is shiny-black Transmit plant diseases Damaged plants appear flecked or bleached Cause leaf and flower distortions and bud drop

Caterpillars Larva of butterflies and moths. Some have venomous spines. Most are foliage feeders; some are borers. 1 to 4 abdominal prolegs. Larva of butterflies and moths. Some have venomous spines. Most are foliage feeders; some are borers. 1 to 4 abdominal prolegs.

Sawflies Look like caterpillars Foliage feeders Proleg on each segment of the abdomen One simple eye on each side of head Look like caterpillars Foliage feeders Proleg on each segment of the abdomen One simple eye on each side of head

Mole Cricket Grass root feeders Tunnel turf and dry out grass roots 3 species in Louisiana Front legs flattened and adapted for digging Grass root feeders Tunnel turf and dry out grass roots 3 species in Louisiana Front legs flattened and adapted for digging

Chinch Bugs Like hot, dry weather Feed on many grasses; prefer St. Augustine grass Piercing sucking mouthparts Produce odor when crushed Like hot, dry weather Feed on many grasses; prefer St. Augustine grass Piercing sucking mouthparts Produce odor when crushed

Red Imported Fire Ants Infest 330,000,000 acres Inflict painful sting Build unsightly mounds Can be beneficial 60,000 to 100,000 per mound Infest 330,000,000 acres Inflict painful sting Build unsightly mounds Can be beneficial 60,000 to 100,000 per mound

Environmental Stresses Drought Nutrient deficiency Variations in pH Mechanical damage Cold damage Excessive water or fertilizer Drought Nutrient deficiency Variations in pH Mechanical damage Cold damage Excessive water or fertilizer Many environmental effects mistakenly treated as pest problems Herbicides injured this tomato plant.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) IPM is the coordinated use of pest and environmental information and available pest control methods… To prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means… With the least possible hazard to people, property and the environment. IPM is the coordinated use of pest and environmental information and available pest control methods… To prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means… With the least possible hazard to people, property and the environment.

Principles of IPM Sustainable - using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged Prevention Cultural Practices Biological Methods Physical Methods Chemical Methods Sustainable - using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged Prevention Cultural Practices Biological Methods Physical Methods Chemical Methods

Prevention Our most sustainable pest control method involves avoiding the introduction of pests (into our country, state or yard). Buy pest-free plants. Select plants adapted to your yard. Select resistant varieties. Avoid notoriously problematic plants. Properly install and maintain plants. Our most sustainable pest control method involves avoiding the introduction of pests (into our country, state or yard). Buy pest-free plants. Select plants adapted to your yard. Select resistant varieties. Avoid notoriously problematic plants. Properly install and maintain plants.

Some key plants are likely to be infested by key pests. For example, Azaleas are commonly infested by lacebugs, particularly if the azalea is planted in a sunny location. Key Plant, Key Pest

Scouting Monitor plants routinely to aid in early detection of an insect, disease or other problem. Look for: Favorable conditions for pests Signs and symptoms of pests –Damage to the plant –Pests (leaf spot, leaf curl, feeding) –Frass - insect excretions Presence of natural enemies Monitor plants routinely to aid in early detection of an insect, disease or other problem. Look for: Favorable conditions for pests Signs and symptoms of pests –Damage to the plant –Pests (leaf spot, leaf curl, feeding) –Frass - insect excretions Presence of natural enemies

Cultural Practices We also can avoid problems with insects and diseases through proper design, installation and maintenance. Stressed plants are more susceptible to attack, like this Chinese Elm with crowded roots.

Water Wisely Water during the early morning, when leaves are already wet. Avoid overhead irrigation of woody ornamentals. Water during the early morning, when leaves are already wet. Avoid overhead irrigation of woody ornamentals. Many foliar diseases gain entry into plants through the water remaining on leaves.

Biological Control The use of living organisms to control pests: Predators Parasites Pathogens The use of living organisms to control pests: Predators Parasites Pathogens Lady beetles and their larvae feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects. They are commercially available in bulk.

Predators In general, predators are larger, faster, more aggressive and present in relatively fewer numbers than their prey. Assassin bug Predatory mite Bigeyed bugs are raised commercially to control whiteflies, spider mites, aphids, caterpillars & thrips.

Predators Can kill large numbers of prey Generalists, rather than specialists Often social creatures (wasps, ants) Can kill large numbers of prey Generalists, rather than specialists Often social creatures (wasps, ants) Wasps also can be pests if they congregate in the wrong places, like inside your home.

Parasites Very specialized Often small Look for: –A trail of bodies –Exit holes –Color changes Very specialized Often small Look for: –A trail of bodies –Exit holes –Color changes Healthy aphids Parasitized aphids Healthy aphids Parasitized aphids

Pathogens Naturally occurring insect diseases –Bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa Often specific to host Lag time - may take a few days to provide control Naturally occurring insect diseases –Bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa Often specific to host Lag time - may take a few days to provide control Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacterium that kills caterpillars when ingested.

Attract Beneficial Insects by: Not using harmful pesticides Providing food –Nectar and Pollen –Plant diversity Providing shelter –Enhance vertical layers Not using harmful pesticides Providing food –Nectar and Pollen –Plant diversity Providing shelter –Enhance vertical layers

Food for Thought Many herbs and fragrant flowering plants attract natural enemies Gaillardia Milkweeds Goldenrod Echinacea Sunflower Gaillardia Milkweeds Goldenrod Echinacea Sunflower Clover Cilantro Dill Fennel Mustards Clover Cilantro Dill Fennel Mustards Clover also fixes atmospheric nitrogen into a form available to other plants.

As A Last Resort…. Sometimes, major pest damage reaches a level that is unacceptable to the observer. When all previous management efforts have been ineffective, individuals may wish to apply: Physical methods Chemical methods Sometimes, major pest damage reaches a level that is unacceptable to the observer. When all previous management efforts have been ineffective, individuals may wish to apply: Physical methods Chemical methods These are the least sustainable methods discussed because they are labor intensive, and often require repeated treatments.

Physical Management Remove pests by hand. Remove infested parts. Establish barriers to prevent pest access to plants. Remove pests by hand. Remove infested parts. Establish barriers to prevent pest access to plants. Yellow sticky paper attracts whiteflies and other insects. These traps help to monitor pest populations in greenhouses.

Chemicals Choose least harmful pesticides. –Use selective pesticides rather than broad spectrum killers. Spot treat where pests are abundant, rather than the entire yard. Follow pesticide label instructions carefully. Choose least harmful pesticides. –Use selective pesticides rather than broad spectrum killers. Spot treat where pests are abundant, rather than the entire yard. Follow pesticide label instructions carefully.

Management Strategies “Sap suckers”- (aphids, soft scales, mealybugs, whiteflies, spider mites) –Biological controls –Soaps and oils Caterpillars - –Bt Plant chewers - (grasshoppers, beetles, leaf miners) –Use a proper insecticide if damage warrants action “Sap suckers”- (aphids, soft scales, mealybugs, whiteflies, spider mites) –Biological controls –Soaps and oils Caterpillars - –Bt Plant chewers - (grasshoppers, beetles, leaf miners) –Use a proper insecticide if damage warrants action Insect

For More Information on IPM STRATEGIES Visit: Features: newsletters, presentations, news releases, photo galleries, videos, publications, diagnostic clinic, listserv, links and more! Visit: Features: newsletters, presentations, news releases, photo galleries, videos, publications, diagnostic clinic, listserv, links and more!

Further Reading Louisiana Lawn Best Management Practices Pub.# 2940 Insect Pest Management Guide Turf Maintenance for Athletic Fields Pub.# 1989 Managing Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas Pub.# 2817 Broadcast Baits for Fire Ant Control Bugs, Bugs, Bugs Newsletter Louisiana Lawn Best Management Practices Pub.# 2940 Insect Pest Management Guide Turf Maintenance for Athletic Fields Pub.# 1989 Managing Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas Pub.# 2817 Broadcast Baits for Fire Ant Control Bugs, Bugs, Bugs Newsletter

Further Reading (cont’d.) Wildlife Newsletters: louisiana+wildlife+news.htm louisiana+wildlife+news.htm Plant Disease Control Guide Turf Diseases Weed Control Guide

Thanks for Your Attention! Special thanks to the following reviewers for their valued contributions: FL114 ELM Design Team and the FYN Subcommittee Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, UF Agriculture Education and Communication Department Environmental Horticulture Department Entomology and Nematology Department Soil and Water Sciences Department Florida Cooperative Extension Service in: Alachua, Broward, Clay, Hillsborough, Lake, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pinellas, Sarasota and Volusia Counties Florida Organics Recycling Center for Excellence The Center For Wetlands, UF United States Department of Agriculture FL Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences: Division of Plant Industry Special thanks to the following reviewers for their valued contributions: FL114 ELM Design Team and the FYN Subcommittee Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, UF Agriculture Education and Communication Department Environmental Horticulture Department Entomology and Nematology Department Soil and Water Sciences Department Florida Cooperative Extension Service in: Alachua, Broward, Clay, Hillsborough, Lake, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pinellas, Sarasota and Volusia Counties Florida Organics Recycling Center for Excellence The Center For Wetlands, UF United States Department of Agriculture FL Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences: Division of Plant Industry

Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods Manage Yard Pests Responsibly