Download Blast that Pest! - Florida Agriculture in the Classroom

Blast that Pest!
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a tool to managing pests. It wor ks well in some
systems. IPM is a pest management strategy that uses a combination of practices to reduce pest
damage while reducing the risk of harm to individuals, animals and the environment. Research
has shown that no single control measure works consistently over a long period of time. This is
because pests can develop a resistance to pesticides, and a recurrence can happen. The idea of
IPM is to use many different methods to manage pests. Manage means to limit the number of
pests, not necessarily kill them all. An IPM system involves these three parts: the host, the
pest, and the environment. The host can be humans, animals, plants, or other mater ials
that the pest damages. The pests, of course, are the organisms causing the damage. The surroundings of the pests and host are known as its environment. It is important to know that a
change in any of these factors can affect the others. Let’s say you wanted to grow some corn
(the host). How well your corn will grow depends on the kinds of pest in the area and the time
of year (the weather) you decide to plant. The weather will not only affect the growth of your
plant but it also affects the kinds of pests that will develop.
Crucial steps in IPM involve pest identification, prevention, monitoring, and establishing a tolerable level of plant loss. When the amount of plant damage is no longer tolerable, we turn to
IPM methods for control. The combination of methods used to control pest populations include chemical, cultural, genetic, mechanical, biological and regulatory controls.
© Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc.
Chemical controls include pesticides, repellants and attractants. (insects = insecticides; weeds
= herbicides; nematodes = nematicides; fungi = fungicides; bacteria = bactericides)
Cultural pest control uses management techniques to control pests. Examples: keeping tools
clean, crop rotation and inter-planting.
Genetic pest control uses genetic manipulation to make plants resistant to specific pests. Examples: planting crops that are resistant to fungi and nematodes.
Mechanical pest control methods involve tools or equipment for control. Pests are destroyed or
removed. Examples: mowing, plowing, pruning, mulching and shoveling.
Biological pest control uses living organisms that are predators to control pests. Such
predators can be a barn cat used to catch mice, an owl, or a ladybug.
Regulatory pest control involves laws that monitor movement of plant and animals infested
with a certain pest. Agricultural inspection stations help enforce these laws.
What are the advantages to using an IPM program? An IPM program allows an individual to
use a variety of methods to best control their pest problem. IPM has proven to be more
economical, resulting in a lower cost of managing pests. IPM also reduces the hazards of
unwanted pesticide exposure. IPM benefits pesticide users, fish and wildlife, the environment,
and society as a whole.
© Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc.