Module 1 - IPM What?, Why?, When?

Scouting for pests. Image by Midori Horticultural

ANNOUNCEMENTS

INTRODUCTION
Integrated Pest Management is one of the more commonly misunderstood terms by horticulture students. One of the more succinct definitions can be found at Wikipedia: "In (horticulture), Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a pest control strategy that uses an array of complementary methods: natural predators and parasites, pest-resistant varieties, cultural practices, biological controls, various physical techniques, and pesticides as a last resort. It is an ecological approach that can significantly reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides.

Applying IPM principles effectively takes training and practice. This chapter provides a brief introduction to IPM. We will cover some basic principles in this introductory module, but will return to this chapter throughout the course to build foundational IPM skills.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• List and describe the 5 components of an IPM program
• Differentiate between different pest management methods
• Utilize Pesticide Terminology
• List potential challenges of using pesticides
• Explain the concept of pesticide resistance and describe IPM strategies to avoid it
  

TERMS TO KNOW

• pests, beneficials
• cultural practices, action threshold
• surveying, scouting
• cultural, mechanical, physical, biological, and chemical control
• reduced risk pesticide
• pesticide resistance
  

READING and MULTIMEDIA ASSIGNMENT

1. Wikipedia article on Integrated Pest Management
2. Chapter 2. Designing and IPM Program. pages 3-19 in your text
3. Watch YouTube Video on IPM -UNL Backyard Gardener
4. Watch YouTube Video on scouting wine grapes for pests

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. According to your text, what are the 5 components of a pest management program? Using complete sentences briefly describe the importance of each component . What component(s) are highlighted in the grape video? (20 pts)
   
   
2. How does scouting for pests in the landscape differ from scouting for pests in food crops or during intense greenhouse production? Explain how a video teaching pest scouting in the landscape might be different than the one you watched on scouting grapes.(10 pts)
   
   
3. Differentiate between cultural and biological control of pests. (20 pts) Use complete sentences and give examples (not in your text) to the two management methods.
   
   
4. You have been asked to give a talk to a local garden club concerning IPM. It is clear that this well meaning group equates IPM with only mechanical and biological control. They are especially fond of organic methods. Discuss in several paragraphs how you would explain the importance of pesticide use to a success IPM strategy for a local native plant garden. Be sure to cover the difference between a botanical and synthetic pesticide (20 pts).
   
   
5. Explain to the garden club in 4 the benefits of Reduced-risk Pesticides. The backyard gardener video you watched might be a good place to start when explaining pesticides to the club. How might this video be expanded to give a talk horticulture students learning about pest management (what do you think might need more emphasis?) (10 pts)
   
   
6. List four potential fates of pesticides that don't reach their intended targets. For each fate, list a real world example of environmental damage caused by an accidental release. (12 pts)
   
   
7. Describe the difference between a systemic pesticide and a contact pesticide (8 pts).

This Cryptolaemus beetle larva was being used as a natural predator - a biological control in a tropical butterfly greenhouse. Photo and description courtesy of Eco Heathen

EXTRA CREDIT (2 pts each)
1. What does the acronym USDA SARE stand for? How could this agency impact the owner of a small horticultural business?

2. How can pheromones be used to monitor insect pest populations? Give an example.