3/30/2012

1

Pest ManagementSpring 2012

Pest ManagementSpring 2012

Part I: Dr. Koehler on April 5th

Part II: Dr. Miller on April 10th

These are the slides for April 10th. To prepare forDr. Koehler’s lecture, read the files posted on the website.

What is a pest? What is a pest?

A pest is an organism that comes into conflict with humans. 

•NuisanceNuisance

•Medical

•Agricultural•Structural•Turf•Forest

Objectives

• Pest management is a global problem. Provide your informed opinion on how we can most safely manage pests. What advice on pest management would you give to farmers tomanagement would you give to farmers, to scientists, and to your friends and family?

– Describe, with examples, five ways we can control pests without insecticides.

• Outline the philosophy of IPM

How do we know when to start taking action against a pest?

Economic Injury Level – The pest density at which the loss caused by the pest equals in value the cost of available control measures

Basically, when it starts costing more to let the pest eat your crop than it costs to kill the pest. 

3/30/2012

2

How do we know when to start taking action against a pest?

Insecticides

• Effective and cheap after World War II

• From 1950 to 1985

– Insecticide use increased by 10x

l i h i d f %– But, losses to insects have increased from 7% to 13%. Why?

The undesirable effects of insecticides

1. Pesticide resistance

In any pest population there may be some pests with the genetic ability to survive a pesticide application

Pesticide resistance

A number of the offspring of the survivors inherit the resistance allele. These resistant pests survive the

• Mutation

• Selection event

• Pesticide application

• Adaptation

• Fitness

• Evolution

resistant pests survive the next spray.

Year 1Year 1

Year 2Year 2

Pesticide Resistance Resistance to Pesticides

st s

peci

esN

umbe

r of

res

ista

nt p

es

3/30/2012

3

The undesirable effects of insecticides

1. Pesticide resistance

2. Destruction of non‐target organisms

3. Pest resurgence (from 1 & 2)

The undesirable effects of insecticides

1. Pesticide resistance

2. Destruction of non‐target organisms

3. Pest resurgence (from 1 & 2)

4. Secondary pest outbreak (from 1 & 2)

5. Adverse environmental effects

The undesirable effects of insecticides

1. Pesticide resistance

2. Destruction of non‐target organisms

3. Pest resurgence (from 1 & 2)

4. Secondary pest outbreak (from 1 & 2)

5. Adverse environmental effects

6. Dangers to human health

Botanical Controls: Insecticides

• Alkaloids – including modified nicotine (neonicotinoids)• Rotenone from roots of beans• Pyrethrins/oids from flowers (Chrysanthemum)• Neem from the neem tree

Safest for mammals and birds

But, these can still be dangerous!

3/30/2012

4

Chemical Controls: Insecticides

Chemical Classes• Chlorinated hydrocarbons 

– DDT ‐ dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane

• Organophosphates– Malathion – Irreversibly inactivates 

t l h li tacetylcholinesterase

• Carbamates– Reversibly inactivates acetylcholinesterase

• Pyrethrins/oids– Binds to Na+ channels  causing paralysis

• Neonicotinoids– Bind to postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine 

receptor

Always buy the least toxic pesticide possible!

Check out UF information:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in197

Besides pesticides, what are some other ways to get rid of pests?1. Mechanical/Physical Methods

• Just keep them away! Block them.

2. Cultural/Environmental Controls

• The ways in which you farm…

3 Biological Control3. Biological Control

• Find something that likes to eat them.

4. Parapheromones

• Attract them in with irresistible odors.

5. Genetic Control

• Zap them with radiation.

• Transgenic crops

Mechanical/Physical Control

Besides pesticides, what are some other ways to get rid of pests?

• Mechanical/Physical Methods

• Cultural/Environmental Controls

• Biological Control

• Parapheromones

• Genetic Control

Cultural/Environmental Controls

Sanitation

• Removal of waste residues

• Efficient storage

• Removal of alternative hosts• Removal of alternative hosts

Soil & Water Management

• Proper fertilization

• Drip/flood irrigation

3/30/2012

5

Space/Time Disruption

• Crop rotation

• Crop spacing

Cultural/Environmental Controls

• Crop/pest synchrony

• Trap cropping

• Intercropping

Space/Time Disruption

• Crop rotation

• Crop spacing

Cultural/Environmental Controls

• Crop/pest synchrony

• Trap cropping

• Intercropping

Besides pesticides, what are some other ways to get rid of pests?

• Mechanical/Physical Methods

• Cultural/Environmental Controls

• Biological Control

• Parapheromones

• Genetic Control

Biological ControlUse natural enemies!

Predators, parasitoids, parasites, microbes

Biological Control

Classical‐ importation and release of natural enemies against exotic pests.

Augmentation‐ periodic release of existing natural enemies

Conservation‐ protect and enhance natural enemies (selective insecticide, timing applications)

Besides pesticides, what are some other ways to get rid of pests?

• Mechanical/Physical Methods

• Cultural/Environmental Controls

• Biological Control

• Parapheromones

• Genetic Control

3/30/2012

6

Parapheromones(remember this? From sensory systems lecture)

Ceratitis capitata

Besides pesticides, what are some other ways to get rid of pests?

• Mechanical/Physical Methods

• Cultural/Environmental Controls

• Biological Control

• Parapheromones

• Genetic Control

Sterile‐Insect Technique

• New World Screwworm ‐Cochliomyia hominivorax

Genetic Control Genetic Control

Transgenic Crops

• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) ‐ bacterium

– δ‐endotoxins 

– cotton, corn, etc.

Bt and genetic engineering

Bt cotton and corn have been planted on a cumulative 200million ha worldwide since theirworldwide since their commercialization in 1996

Bt and genetic engineering

Concerns

• Genes from the modified plants may transfer to other plant varieties or species

i l b d• Transgenic plants may become new weeds 

• Non‐target organisms, such as beneficial insects, may be harmed

• Bt resistance will evolve, just as pesticide resistance evolves. It is only a matter of time.

3/30/2012

7

Who works in pest management?

• Growers

• Extension agents

• Chemists

• Geneticists• Geneticists

• Plant breeders

• Plant Pathologists

• Entomologists

• Microbiologists

Principles of Integrated Pest Management

1. Accept some level of pests – we just aren’t going to be able to get rid of them all!

2 Li i i d h2. Limit economic damage to the crop

3. Protect non‐target organisms, the environment, and human health

Pesticides can still be used, but usually at a lower level

What control measures are included in IPM?

1. Insecticides

2. Plant resistance improvement

3. Mechanical/Physical Methods/ y

4. Cultural/Environmental Controls

5. Biological Control

6. Parapheromones

7. Genetic Control

Pesticides can still be used, but usually at a lower level Pedigo (2002) Entomology and Pest Management

True IPM is only being used on 10% of U.S. crops

Why?

1. Need to have lots of data on insect pests and natural enemies. Who will finance the research?research?

2. Insecticides are promoted by companies and appear to be simpler to use than IPM

3. Training farmers – who will finance the training?

Who is responsible for safe pest management?

• Growers

• Extension agents

• Chemists

• Geneticists• Geneticists

• Plant breeders

• Plant Pathologists

• Entomologists

• Microbiologists

• You

3/30/2012

8

What do you think?

Should we get used to having insects in our food? Insect damage?

How much chemical risk is worth it for us or for our environment?our environment?

Are organic fruits, vegetables, and meats worth the extra effort and price?