MSU Extension Ornamental Pest Management Training for Commercial Pesticide Applicators Category 3b Developed by Greg Patchan, MSU Extension

MSU Extension Principles of Pest Management Chapter 1

A pesticide applicator doesn’t just apply pesticides. Social and legal responsibilities accompany the use of toxic materials.

Pesticide application must protect plant material from pest injury without harming nontarget organisms.

MSU Extension IPM F Use of all available strategies to manage pests –Resistance, cultural practices, natural enemies, mechanical controls, pesticides F Achieve acceptable yield & quality with least environmental disruption F Not anti- pesticide

IPM developed because.... F No one method achieves long term pest management F Pest management is a component of plant care F It can reduce costs F Failures, resistance, pollution occurred occurred

MSU Extension IPM Steps for Landscapes F Detection of agents injuring plants F Identification of agents injuring plants F Economic significance F Selection of management methods F Evaluation and recordkeeping

Detection F Benefits –Low pest population –Discover population and life stages –Variety of management techniques available –Less toxic methods of management may be employed

Monitoring F Scouting F Traps F Monitor weather F Degree days (CAT Alerts) F Phenology (Coincide) –plant development relationships F Recordkeeping (data sheets)

MSU Extension Identification F Know the healthy plant F Know the agents damaging plants –cultural, environmental –weeds –diseases –insects –animals

Diagnosing Plant Disorders F Investigate the whole plant F Symptoms F Plant history F Investigation tools F References F Diagnostic Lab F Multiple causes possible

MSU Extension Economic Significance F Economic injury level –cost vs benefit F Landscape injury level –unacceptable injury whose decision?whose decision? F Action threshold –pest level causing management action

Nursery stock must be certified ‘free’ from injurious insects and diseases. MDA

MSU Extension Setting Landscape Injury Levels F Damage to plant health F Damage to plant appearance

MSU Extension Factors Influencing the Landscape Injury Level F Client tolerance of pest damage F Landscape importance of host plant F Pests’ ability to reproduce & spread F Expected pest reduction from natural and/or applied controls

Setting landscape injury levels that reflect specific pest and host conditions is the cornerstone of IPM.

MSU Extension Selection of Methods F Many factors limit pest populations –weather –natural enemies –plant defenses –controls implemented by people

MSU Extension Choose Management Methods... F Least toxic to nontarget organisms F Enhance natural controls F May permanently limit the pest F Least hazardous for the applicator F Most likely to stay on the target site

MSU Extension Factors That Limit Options F Budget F Availability of equipment F Availability of labor F Time F Availability of products F Public/client acceptance of methods

Evaluation F Were plants protected from serious injury? F Negative consequences? –environmental impacts –promotion of other pests F Practical? F Cost?