Challenges of Insect Pest Management in the Landscape

Is IPM Possible in the Urban Landscape? Is IPM Possible in the Urban Landscape?

YES!!! But…

Economic Social Environmental Regulatory Pest Management Issues

Determined by a one’s tolerance to pests or damage Zero tolerance Can be improved through greater understanding of pest biology Aesthetic Threshold

Damage Tolerance Less than 10% distortion, defoliation, or discoloration compared to undamaged plant is acceptable Less than 10% distortion, defoliation, or discoloration compared to undamaged plant is acceptable

New Approach… International Society of Arboriculture urges arborists to categorize clients based on their need for information and level of expected service. International Society of Arboriculture urges arborists to categorize clients based on their need for information and level of expected service.

New Approach… International Society of Arboriculture urges arborists to categorize clients based on their need for information and level of expected service. So, alternative pest management practices can be used for clients with higher pest tolerance and avoided for those with low tolerance. So, alternative pest management practices can be used for clients with higher pest tolerance and avoided for those with low tolerance.

67 Counties ca golf courses ca. 65,000 landscape firms >16 million residents

Florida’s Hardiness Zones

Consider This: Urban Landscape = mosaic of plants, soils, and pests

It’s an Invasion! On average, 12 new pests invade Florida each year On average, 12 new pests invade Florida each year

= STRESS!!

Buy & install infested plants Buy & install infested plants Get plants with recurring problems Get plants with recurring problems Choose non-adapted, exotic plants Choose non-adapted, exotic plants Water too much / too little Water too much / too little Don’t fertilize Don’t fertilize Prune severely at wrong time Prune severely at wrong time How to Stress Plants

1. Identify the pest 2. Determine the pest’s biology 3. Correct any cultural factors 4. Direct control where the insect lives or feeds 5. Evaluate results Education is the Key

IPM Is… Common Sense Pest Management based on monitoring and understanding the pest’s biology to accurately time control tactics.

Describe Your Ideal Insecticide

Old School: Kills everything Kills everything Lasts for years Lasts for years By-the-calendar applications By-the-calendar applications Timing doesn’t matter Timing doesn’t matter 1 treatment cures all 1 treatment cures all The “Ideal” Insecticide

New School: Few target pests Few target pests Doesn’t hurt non-targets Doesn’t hurt non-targets Breaks down fast Breaks down fast Need to monitor Need to monitor Precise timing of applications Precise timing of applications Often more than 1 application Often more than 1 application The “Ideal” Insecticide

Old School: Kills everything Kills everything Lasts for years Lasts for years By-the-calendar applications By-the-calendar applications Timing doesn’t matter Timing doesn’t matter Only 1 treatment Only 1 treatment New School: Few target pests Few target pests Breaks down fast Breaks down fast Need to monitor Need to monitor Precise timing of applications Precise timing of applications Often more than 1 application Often more than 1 application The “Ideal” Insecticide

Conventional insecticides Organochlorines (e.g., DDT) Organochlorines (e.g., DDT) Organophosphates (e.g., Dursban) Organophosphates (e.g., Dursban) Carbamates (e.g., Sevin) Carbamates (e.g., Sevin) Pyrethroids (e.g., Talstar) Pyrethroids (e.g., Talstar) Newer chemistries Phenyl pyrazoles (e.g., Top Choice) Phenyl pyrazoles (e.g., Top Choice) Chloronicotinyls (e.g., Merit) Chloronicotinyls (e.g., Merit)

Pesticides of natural origin having few or no adverse effects on nontarget organisms or the environment. Pesticides of natural origin having few or no adverse effects on nontarget organisms or the environment. Biorational Pesticides…

Different modes of action than conventional pesticides Different modes of action than conventional pesticides Greater selectivity Greater selectivity Lower risk to mammals and other non-targets Lower risk to mammals and other non-targets Traits of Biorationals:

Some Biorationals Include: Botanicals Botanicals Azadirachtin/Neem Azadirachtin/Neem Pyrethrum Pyrethrum Microbials Microbials Milky disease Milky disease Beauveria bassiana Beauveria bassiana Abamectin (Avid) Abamectin (Avid) Spinosad (Conserve) Spinosad (Conserve) Molt Accelerating Compounds Molt Accelerating Compounds Halofenozide (Mach2) Halofenozide (Mach2) Biopesticides Biopesticides Bt Bt Entomopathogenic nematodes Entomopathogenic nematodes Insecticidal soaps Insecticidal soaps Horticultural oils Horticultural oils

Natural  Safe

Why Might the Industry Not Like Using Biorationals? More expensive More expensive Narrow spectrum Narrow spectrum Break down too fast Break down too fast More need to scout More need to scout Repeated applications Repeated applications Precise application timing Precise application timing

New School: Few target pests Few target pests Doesn’t hurt non-targets Doesn’t hurt non-targets Breaks down fast Breaks down fast Need to monitor Need to monitor Precise timing of applications Precise timing of applications Often more than 1 application Often more than 1 application The “Ideal” Insecticide

Some Products For Your War Chest (e.g., Pesticide Cabinet)

Azadirachtin Biological insecticide (Neem, Azatin XL) Biological insecticide (Neem, Azatin XL) Broad spectrum Broad spectrum Active by contact or ingestion Active by contact or ingestion Interferes with insect molting; repellent Interferes with insect molting; repellent Sites: Indoor, outdoor; plants may be potted, grown in soil or soilless mixtures, or grown hydroponically Sites: Indoor, outdoor; plants may be potted, grown in soil or soilless mixtures, or grown hydroponically

Pyrethrum From Chrysanthemum flower petals From Chrysanthemum flower petals Quick knockdown for flying insects Quick knockdown for flying insects Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) often added Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) often added Breaks down fast in sunlight Breaks down fast in sunlight Short residual Short residual May cause allergies May cause allergies

Horticultural Oils Refined oils coat and suffocate soft- bodied insects Refined oils coat and suffocate soft- bodied insects Contact toxicity only – no residues Contact toxicity only – no residues Do NOT use if temperatures >90  F Do NOT use if temperatures >90  F Superior Spray Oil, Summer SpraOil, Superior Oil, Volck Oil Spray Superior Spray Oil, Summer SpraOil, Superior Oil, Volck Oil Spray

Insecticidal Soaps Made from salts in the fats and oils of animals and plants Made from salts in the fats and oils of animals and plants Disrupt insect cuticle (skin) Disrupt insect cuticle (skin) Contact toxicity only – no residues Contact toxicity only – no residues Effective against soft-bodied insects Effective against soft-bodied insects M-Pede, Rose and Flower Insect Control, and Safer Yard and Garden M-Pede, Rose and Flower Insect Control, and Safer Yard and Garden

Soil bacteria that cause disease, or produce toxins that kill insects Soil bacteria that cause disease, or produce toxins that kill insects Low mammalian toxicity Low mammalian toxicity More effective against young caterpillars More effective against young caterpillars Short residual Short residual Dipel, Thuricide Dipel, Thuricide Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki

Nematodes (Nematac S) Steinernema scapterisci Steinernema scapterisci MicroBio and Becker-Underwood MicroBio and Becker-Underwood Infects large mole cricket nymphs and adults Infects large mole cricket nymphs and adults Long-term suppression (>12 years) Long-term suppression (>12 years) Distributors: Golf Ventures, UHS, Prosource One, Lesco, Gardens Alive Distributors: Golf Ventures, UHS, Prosource One, Lesco, Gardens Alive

Mach 2 (Halofenozide) Mimics the action of the insect molting hormone, ecdysone Low vertebrate toxicity (Caution) Ingestion forces a premature, lethal molt Liquid & granular formulations 67 lbs/acre for lawn caterpillars 100 lbs/acre for white grubs

Conserve SC (Spinosad) Soil-dwelling bacterium, Saccharopolyspora spinosa Soil-dwelling bacterium, Saccharopolyspora spinosa Contact and stomach poison Contact and stomach poison Residual up to 2 weeks Residual up to 2 weeks Caterpillars, thrips, fire ants Caterpillars, thrips, fire ants Labeled for use on greenhouses, nurseries, and all turfgrasses Labeled for use on greenhouses, nurseries, and all turfgrasses

Merit (Imidacloprid) Low mammalian toxicity Low mammalian toxicity Systemic in plants Systemic in plants Slow action Slow action Stops the feeding of many piercing/ sucking insects Stops the feeding of many piercing/ sucking insects Sites: ornamentals in commercial & residential landscapes, interiorscapes, golf courses, lawns, grounds Sites: ornamentals in commercial & residential landscapes, interiorscapes, golf courses, lawns, grounds

Astro (Permethrin) Pyrethroid Pyrethroid Broad spectrum Broad spectrum Signal word: Caution Signal word: Caution Sites: lawns, parks, recreational areas, athletic fields, ornamental trees and shrubs, greenhouses, nurseries, and interiorscapes Sites: lawns, parks, recreational areas, athletic fields, ornamental trees and shrubs, greenhouses, nurseries, and interiorscapes

Talstar (Bifenthrin) Pyrethroid – broad spectrum Pyrethroid – broad spectrum Several formulations Several formulations Sites: ornamentals, golf courses, sod farms, athletic fields, parks, recreational areas, lawns Sites: ornamentals, golf courses, sod farms, athletic fields, parks, recreational areas, lawns

Top Choice (Fipronil) Low doses (Caution): 87 lbs/acre Low doses (Caution): 87 lbs/acre Broadcast application Broadcast application Persistent in soil Persistent in soil Residual control of fire ants & mole crickets Residual control of fire ants & mole crickets Sites: golf turf, sports fields, commercial lawns, cemeteries, parks, campsites, recreational areas, home lawns, school grounds, sodfarms, landscape beds Sites: golf turf, sports fields, commercial lawns, cemeteries, parks, campsites, recreational areas, home lawns, school grounds, sodfarms, landscape beds

Dylox (Trichlorfon) Dylox 6.2 G (Caution), Dylox 80 (Warning) Dylox 6.2 G (Caution), Dylox 80 (Warning) Organophosphate Organophosphate 3 lbs/1000 sq. ft. of turf 3 lbs/1000 sq. ft. of turf Sites: interiorscapes, ornamental gardens, parks, golf courses, lawns, grounds; NOT on plants grown for sale Sites: interiorscapes, ornamental gardens, parks, golf courses, lawns, grounds; NOT on plants grown for sale

Insecticide Recommendations

Author: Eileen A. Buss Photos: University of Florida University of Kentucky University of Kentucky Entomology & Nematology Department Copyright University of Florida 2002