Download Insect Management - Integrated Pest Management

Insect Control
• Cultural
• Mechanical
• Biological
• Beneficial
• Chemical
Cultural Control
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Soil Preparation
Plant selection
Rotation
Planting dates
Interplantings
Trap crops
Soil Preparation
Healthy soil encourages healthy,
unstressed plants. Proper pH
and fertilization are important.
Uncomposted organic matter
can encourage pests.
Plant Selection
Use disease- and insect freeplants. Buy plants from reputable
sources and choose resistant
cultivars when possible.
Rotation
Planting similar crops
in successive years
tends to increase
pest problems.
Planting Dates
Some pests can be avoided by
planting a crop before a pest moves
into the area.
Some root rot and germination
problems can be avoided by later
plantings.
Interplantings
Avoid placing all plants of one
kind together. Alternate groups
of different plants within rows
or patches.
Trap Crops
Plant a crop that is more
attractive to a pest than
the one you intend to grow.
Then treat the pest on the
infested decoy plants.
Mechanical Control
• Handpicking
• Traps
• Barriers
• Pruning
Handpicking
Inspect plants for egg clusters,
beetles, caterpillars, or other pests.
Squash them or drop them in sudsy
water.
Traps
Insect traps can be useful
for detection and sometimes
management. There are many
kinds. Be sure that you are
not attracting more pests into
an area.
Barriers
Mechanical barriers such as
collars, cages, netting, or
sticky barriers can be very
effective against specific pests.
Pruning
& Raking
Some pests can be controlled
by pruning out infected twigs or
raking fallen twigs or leaves
in which the insects overwinter.
Biological Control
Biological control uses predators,
parasites, or disease organisms
to attack unwanted pests.
Beneficials
Beneficial organisms such
as lady beetles, lacewings,
wasps, and syrphid flies,
can be protected, encouraged,
or introduced in the garden.
Chemical Control
Botanicals
Soaps
Horticultural Oils
Synthetic Insecticides
Biologicals
Botanicals
Botanical insecticides are naturally
occurring chemicals extracted from
plants. Some examples are nicotine, neem,
rotenone, and pyrethrum.
Soaps
Commercial insecticidal soaps work well
against soft bodied insects. They do less
damage against the parasites and predators
of some pests.
Horticultural Oils
These oils work best on soft-bodied
insects and disrupt metabolism. They have
low toxicity to humans. Be sure to read
the label to use them correctly.
Synthetic Chemicals
These are chemicals made in a
laboratory. Some kill insects by
contact, some through ingestion,
and some through inhalation.
Always follow label instructions
with all pesticides.
Biologicals
Biological insecticides use
other living organisms to
attack pests. It is similar to giving them
a disease. Examples are the bacterial
insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.)
and parasitic nematodes.
Stephen B. Bambara
Extension Entomologist
© Copyright 2001