1. Integrated Pest Management

2. What is IPM??
Recognition that in most cases some pest population level can be tolerated
Management vs. Eradication
Optimize & diversify pest management
Planning ahead to minimize or avoid future pest problems

3. Why Use IPM Practices? Concerns about environmental safety
Loss of long-term residual insecticides
Awareness of problems associates with overuse of pesticides

4. What Does IPM Include?? Cultural practices
Selection of turfgrass and ornamentals
Weed & disease management
Irrigation
Fertilization
Thatch management
Encourage biological control
Use of pesticides when needed

5. Implementation Pest Identification Pest Monitoring
Insect Sampling Techniques
Record Keeping & Evaluation

6. Pest Identification
All landscapes are inhabited by a diverse array of organisms
insects
spiders
mites
nematodes
other small animals

7. Insects: Good or Bad?? ~ 100,000 species in the continental U.S.
~ 150 may be pests
Many are beneficial
Parasites
Predators
Pollinators
All others cause no damage

8. What is it??? Landscapers must be able to tell the difference between:
Primary pests
Incidental pests
Beneficials

9. Pest Monitoring Early detection is essential
Frequent, systematic monitoring

10. Things to Look For
General thinning of grass or plant leaf discoloration
Spongy areas in the turfgrass
Irregular brown patches
Plants that break off at ground level or are missing parts

11. Other Things That Mimic Insects
Heat &/or drought stress
Nutritional deficiencies
Turf and ornamental diseases
Soil compaction

12. Other Things That Mimic Insects
Chemical burns
fuel spills
fertilizers
herbicides
insecticides
Scalping
Urine
Improper Pruning

13. Other Things to Look For
Bird and animal feeding activity
Skeletonized leaves
Fecal pellets (frass)
Sawdust-like debris
Stem tunneling
Silken tubes
Webbing

14. Sampling Techniques
Detergent flush
Flotation
Soil examination

15. Detergent Flush 1-2 fl oz dishwashing detergent/gallon
1 gallon/4 sq ft
Sample edge of damaged area
Wait 5-10 minutes

16. Detergent Flush Results
Insects flushed
webworms
cutworms
armyworms
mole crickets
billbug adults
earthworms

17. Flotation Insert metal cylinder into soil
Fill with plain water and keep filled
Wait 3-5 minutes for insects to float to top

18. Flotation Results Used primarily for sampling chinch bugs
Also for chinch bug natural enemies

19. Soil Examination Cut three sides of a 12-inch square Peel back sod
Examine root zone
Examine soil under root zone
Can use a cup cutter

20. Soil Examination Results
White grub eggs
White grubs
Billbug larvae

21. Record Keeping & Evaluation
Provides historical, site specific information
Use to predict problems
Increase scouting at critical times
Record all cultural and pest control treatments
Evaluate results

22. Mapping Start with a general map of the area Identify problem areas
Self made map
Irrigation maps
Architectural maps
Identify problem areas

23. Benefits Accurate record of what you have done
Identify efficacy problems early
Cost/benefit assessment
Allows you to be proactive

24. Pest Management Options
Cultural Methods
Biological Control
Insecticides

25. Cultural Methods Turfgrass and Plant Selection Effective Maintenance
select ones adapted to local conditions
Effective Maintenance
avoid overly maintained grass and plants
use good horticultural practices

26. Biological Control Conserve and enhance existing biological controls
Release of beneficial organisms

27. Insecticides Benefits Problems rapid corrective action
relatively low cost
result in substantial aesthetic or economic benefit
Problems
pest resistance
outbreaks of secondary pests
hazard to non-target organisms
hazardous residues
groundwater contamination

28. Insecticides in an IPM Program
Select carefully
Time application to most sensitive stage of the pest
monitor pests regularly
Use treatment thresholds
Spot treat problem areas
Calibrate application equipment

29. Application Techniques
Where does the pest feed and live?
Grass blades?
Thatch?
Soil or root zone?

30. Application Techniques Surface Active Insects
Mow and remove clippings
Irrigate before application
Light irrigation after application if label says so
Avoid irrigation for hours for blade-feeders
aphids, mites, armyworms

31. Application Techniques Thatch Inhabiting Insects
Mow and remove clippings
Irrigate before application
Irrigation after application with 1/2 inch water

32. Application Techniques Soil Inhabiting Insects
Mow and remove clippings
Dethatch or aerate if thatch layer is >½ inch thick
Irrigate hours before application ½ inch water
Irrigation after application with ½ inch water

33. Application Methods
Sprays
Granules
Subsurface
- liquid
- granules

34. Tips – Night Feeding Insects
Irrigate during afternoon
Apply treatment late in the day
avoids IR breakdown
ensures freshest material when pests are active

35. Water Management Maintain good moisture levels
If dry, water before application
Follow label directions in ALL cases

36. The Label Is the Law Always read the label before use
Follow label safety rules
Use labeled rates
Follow label instructions regarding irrigation
Triple rinse containers into spray tank
Dispose of pesticide containers properly

37. Chemical Pest Control

38. Pesticides are chemical substances used to kill or control pests.
Because it is virtually impossible to eradicate an entire population of pests, pesticides should be used as a tool to manage pest populations to a tolerable level.

39. Pesticides
Inorganic pesticides - made from minerals such as copper, boron, lead, sulfur, tin and zinc such as Bordeaux mixture.
Synthetic organic pesticides - man-made, contain hydrogen and one or more elements such as chlorine, phosphorous and nitrogen such as Sevin, malathion and diazinon.
Microbial pesticides - microscopic organisms such as beneficial nematodes, viruses, bacteria and fungi.
Plant-derived organic pesticides - made from plant parts such as neem, rotenone and pyrethrins.

40. How Pesticides Work
Protectants - applied to plants, animals, structures and products to prevent injury or damage.
Contact poisions - kills pests on contact.
Stomach poisions - kills when swallowed.
Systemics - taken into the sap of plant.
Translocated herbicides - kill plants by being absorbed by leaves, stems or roots and moving throughout the plant killing it.

41. How Pesticides Work
Fumigants - gasses which kill all living organisms when inhaled or absorbed.
Selective - will kill only a certain kind of plant or animal.
Nonselective - kills many kinds of plants or animals.

42. Using Pesticides Preplant - used before the crop is planted.
Preemergence - used before weeds emerge.
Postemergence - used after the weed has emerged.
Broadcast - uniform application to an entire specified area.
Directed - aiming a pesticide at a portion of a plant or a selected plant.
Drench - saturating a soil with a pesticide.

43. Using Pesticides Foliar - application to the leaves of a plant.
Spot treat - application of a pesticide to a small selection or area of the site.

44. Pesticides Formulations
Liquid Formulations
Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC or E) - active ingredient is mixed with an oil base and diluted with water. EC need little agitation to remain mixed but can cause plant damage.
Aerosols (A) - active ingredient in a solvent or solution and will form fine droplet when sprayed under pressure.
Liquid Gases - some fumigants are gasses which become liquid under pressure. Some stored as liquids and turn to gases after applied.

45. Pesticides Formulations
Dry Formulations
Dusts (D) - ready to use and contain the active ingredient plus a very fine powder to help dispense the chemical. Usually has a low amount of active ingredient. Be careful of drift.
Granules (G) - active ingredient is usually 2 to 40%. Safer to use than dusts or sprays and may give a more even pesticide application.
Wettable Powders (WP or W) - look like dusts but need to be mixed with water and sprayed. Need good agitation to remain in suspension. Safer for plnats than EC due to low burn potential.

46. Pesticides Formulations
Dry Formulations
Soluble Powders (SP) - active ingredient mixed with a powder to be mixed with water.
Baits (B) - edible or attractive substance mixed with a pesticide.
Flowables (F) - combines the qualities of an EC and WP. Requires agitation.
Microencapsulated material - pesticide surrounded by a plastic coating slowly dissolving.
Weed and Feed - fertilizer mixed with a pesticide.

47. Pesticides Toxicity
Caution: need one cup or more to cause sickness or death
Warning: need one tablespoon or more to cause sickness or death
Danger: need one teaspoon or more to cause sickness or death

49. The End