1. Polyphemus Moth Family Saturniidae

2. Integrated Pest Management for Greenhouse and Nursery Insect Pests Jen Bergh Technical Support Specialist Turf & Ornamentals

3. Outline  Horticultural Production Environment  Pest Damage  Integrated Pest Management (IPM)  Decision Making  Programs & Rotations

4. Recipe for an Insect Pest Fecundity – many offspring Fast generations (enhanced by temp, H 2 O & sometimes N) High rate of mutation: evolving resistance No or few natural predators Concentration of favored resource Dispersal: ability to escape controls Recruitment: ability to migrate into previously controlled areas

5. The Horticultural Production Environment  Concentrated resources  Life history escape hatches  Pest adaptations  Population dynamics  Thresholds

7. Pest Damage  Types of damage  Feeding – herbivory (direct)  Egg laying – oviposition (direct)  Nuisance - presence  Disease transmission – vectoring (indirect)  Consequences  Scouting & ecological watch-outs

8. Scouting Watchouts Which is mite damage? Which is thrips damage?

9. Cryptic Pests

10. Scouting Watchouts

11. Cryptic Life Stages

14. Ecological Watchouts  Weather patterns – T, H, W  Microclimate  Crop transitions & refugia  Plant nutrition  Micro and macro-organisms  Population and genetic shifts

15. Integrated Pest Management  Scouting  Thresholds  Cultural & mechanical tools  Biological tools  Chemical tools  Resistance Mgmt

16. Decision Making  Setting:  Nurseries  Greenhouses  Landscapes  Turf  Thresholds & tolerance  Budget

17. Recipe for Effective Insect IPM Identify the insect & know its life cycle Treat susceptible life stage(s) Prevent resistance with multiple MOAs, rotation programs Use cultural controls to enhance insecticide efficacy: sanitation Monitor biological controls carefully – temp, light, N, vectoring Scout regularly to stay ahead of populations Treat before crop reaches the damage threshold

18. Case Study: Spider Mites SE US foliage greenhouse with population resurgence after knockdown miticide treatments  Perennial mite population  Usually just under threshold  Mid-July scouting revealed rising population  Preventative apps -> rescue application

19. Case Study: Spider Mites

20. Egg to Adult: @ 50-68°F = 28 days @ 77-95°F = 8 days One female ≈ 50 offspring Exponential growth curve @ 80°F = 13 X 10 6 mites/month = 13,000,000 spider mites

21. Case Study: Spider Mites SE US foliage greenhouse with population resurgence after knockdown miticide treatments  Rescue applications of miticide  No ovicidal activity  Imperfect spray coverage  Infrequent scouting  Autumn: population peaks with reproductive females getting ready to overwinter

22. Case Study: Tetranychid Mites Recommendation:  Improve spray coverage  Increase scouting  Scout sex ratios + presence of eggs  Scout <7 day intervals  Rotation Partners  Pylon Miticide  Another MOA Miticide  Extoxazole (MGR)*  Ultra-Pure Oil*

23. MGRs and Oils  Etoxazole:  Beethoven TR  TetraSan  Other MGRs and IGRs – target your pest  Oils  Ultra-Pure Oil from BASF  Highly refined, clean oil  Applying oils:  Seasonally  UV more risky than humidity  Consider nighttime applications  Test plants + weather patterns

24. Programs & Rotations  Axioms - SOPs  Rotations  Careful preventative applications  Preventing vs. managing resistance

25. Resistance Management  Rotate MOAs in program  Avoid >2 applications with AI or in MOA  Avoid sublethal doses  Improve spray coverage  Use multifaceted approach – eg., biologicals + cultural + chemical controls; contacts vs. systemics

26. Modes of Action – IRAC Groups

28. Resistance  Prevention:  <3 applications of the same MOA  Avoid sublethal doses  Be aware of non-target insects and dose responses  Management:  Identify new MOAs  Create new rotations  Use mechanical controls  Isolate crops

29. Resistance  Use Insect Growth Regulators – IGRs  Avoid increasing reproductives  Stop maturation  Prevent ovipositioning  IGRs or MGRs should be part of every insect rotation program

30. Conclusion  Open, dynamic systems  Tools  Information resources: CPS, BASF, universities, IR-4, consultants, other hort professionals

31. Contact Jen Bergh Technical Support Specialist Turf & Ornamentals jennifer.bergh@parnters.basf.com (541) 908-5164