Natural Pest Control in the GardenApril 1, 2013Bart RennerNorth Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

Backyard Unicorn production

Components of a unicorn

April Fools!!!

What does natural Pest Control Mean???

• Generally considered the management of garden pests without the use of conventionally manufactured chemicals, hormones and antibiotics.

• Not necessarily “Organic”

• Does not mean you can drink it

• Make sure you still use “PPE” (personal protective equipment)!!

Biological Pest control

• Using other living organisms to controls pests

http://ferrebeekeeper.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/braconid.jpeg

Integrated pest management

http://www.sustainablefood.com/promote/uploads/images/IPM.gif

“Many Little Hammers” approach

Biological control

pesticides

Cultural controltillage

intercropping

Soil fertility

Copper sulfate

• Naturally occurring salt

• Used to control mildew, leaf spots, blights and apple scab

• Can also control grape diseases (Bordeaux mixture)

• Also an effective algacide

Serenade- fungicide

• patented strain of Bacillus subtilis

• Kills microbes on contact

• Controls Fire Blight, Botrytis, Sour Rot, Rust, Sclerotinia, Powdery Mildew, Bacterial Spot and White Mold.

Insecticide/ fungicide: NEEM Oil

• Azadirachtin and liminoids, both from the seed kernels of the neem tree fruit.

• Disrupts the insects hormonal system, causing them to not reach maturity

• Generally will not harm beneficials

• Washes off in the rain, breaks down in sunlight

Methods for controlling fungus:

1. Avoid contaminated material

2. Plant resistant varieties

3. Fungicides

4. Scouting and monitoring

Early blight

• Fungus that affects tomatoes and potatoes

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Alternaria_solani_-_leaf_lesions.jpg

Early Blight on tomato

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Alternaria_solani_-_stem_lesions.jpg/220px-Alternaria_solani_-_stem_lesions.jpg

Early blight on potato

http://www.plantpath.wisc.edu/wivegdis/images/potatoeb.gif

Late blight

http://nysipm.cornell.edu/publications/blight/

Fusarium Wilt

•  Affects tomato, tobacco, legumes, cucurbits, sweet potatoes and banana, to name a few.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/programs/tomato/diseases/fusarium_wilt_race_3_Polk_1.jpg

Verticillium wilt

• Similar to Fusarium

• Affects basil, beans, strawberries, peas, and watermelon

http://easyguidetoorganicgardening.com/organicgardening/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/tomato_verticillium_wilt1-300x212.jpg

Verticillium wilt

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/IPM/images/tomatoes/diseases/tomato_D32a-Verticillium-021-OMAFHRT_zoom.jpg

Downy mildew

http://www.shouragroup.com/Images/gallery/vegetables%20big/squash_downy_mildew.jpg

Downey Mildew

http://blogs.cornell.edu/ccesummerinterns/files/2011/07/100_3776.JPG

Powdery mildew

Insecticidal soaps

• Sodium or potassium salt combined with fatty acids

• Penetrate insect’s cells and cause them to collapse

• Must come into direct contact with pest, no longer effective when dry

Insecticide: Pyrethrins

• Natural organic compounds normally derived from Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium 

• neurotoxins that attack the nervous systems of all insects

• Break down with light and air exposure

• Careful of the bees!

Insecticide: Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)

• Generally a powder that is sprinkled on plant, must be eaten by insect

• Bt releases toxins in the stomachs of susceptible insects and makes them stop eating

• Very host specific, will not harm humans or pets (can be irritant on skin).

Insecticide: Horticultural oil

• Highly refined petroleum oil- coats and suffocates insects

• Adelgids, aphids, caterpillar eggs, leafhoppers, mealybug, mites, scale, spider mites, thrips and whiteflies

Insecticide: Diatomaceous Earth

•Absorbs lipids from the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate.

•Effective against a wide variety of insects when applied properly

•Not effective when wet

Insecticide: Milky spore

• Bacteria (Paenibacillus popilliae), which dwell in soil.

• Cause the “milky spore disease” in Japanese beetle larvae

• Very specific to larvae

• Cold and drought tolerant

Flea beetles

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Phyllotreta.vittula.jpg

Thrips

http://utahpests.usu.edu/admin/images/uploads/UtahPests/small-fruit-advisory/2009/05-15/IMG_3915.jpg http://www.jasons-indoor-guide-to-organic-and-hydroponics-gardening.com/images/thrips-in-stages.jpg

Cucumber beetles

• Click here for more info

Pests: Cabbage worm

Images:1. https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSHqOKFxDpH8Y-2Iys0hnksmshn6KLKP3N7XmSgldXWlIGalK-CIw2. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT_OyMHleZwMQY4g2l2CFT-uuVd1NoVfWUN_Y1UbEF_c2mkGyr5Lw3. http://milkingweeds.blogspot.com/2008/06/cabbage-worms.html

• Click here for

More info

Pests: Cabbage maggot

Images:http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/cabbagemaggot.htmlhttp://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/cabbage-maggot

• More info

Pests: Aphids

Image:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphidhttp://schools-wikipedia.org/wp/a/Aphid.htmhttp://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2005/jun/072801.htm

Colorado Potato beetles

Images:http://livingwithinsects.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/colorado-potato-beetle-larvae.jpghttp://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/bstud/say1.jpg

Japanese beetles

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Jblarva.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Jbadult.jpg

Release of biological agents to control pests.

• Can be complicated and needs to be done under survellance

• Click here to view common biological controls in North Carolina

Photo: Fire ants trying to avoidthe sting of a phorid fly. Photo courtesy of Bugwood Network

Pesticide Safety

• 3 modes of exposure:

• Dermal, inhalation, ingestion

Further resources

• NCSU plant disease clinic