Module 4 - Insect Pests II and Mites, Snails, and Slugs and Pesticide Rules and Regs

Snail feeding on ornamental plant. Image Source: MyAngelG

ANNOUNCEMENTS

INTRODUCTION
In addition to invertebrate insects mites, snails, and slugs can be devastating pests in certain situations. You will learn more about them in the brief reading assignment required this week.

If you get serious about IPM and live in North Carolina you will need to become a licensed pesticide applicator. This week's module also gives you a brief taste of what types of information you will need to know when testing for this certification. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the certifying body.

The 1971 North Carolina Pesticide Law requires that the following persons be certified prior to working: private pesticide applicators, commercial applicators, pesticide dealers and pest control consultants. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Food and Drug Protection Division, Pesticide Section is the agency responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Law and rules. (see NCDA & CS for more information)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Describe the damage to plants caused by Mites, Snails, and Slugs
• List some basic control measures for these three broad classes of pests.
• Explain the steps to becoming a certified pest applicator in North Carolina
• Describe the job duties of certified pest applicator.
• Review the information that you will be tested on should you elect to become a pest applicator in North Carolina.
• Describe how biotech could reduce chemical applications and allow farmers to keep less land in production and possible conserve more as habitat.
  

TERMS TO KNOW
READING AND MULTIMEDIA ASSIGNMENTS

• Read the rest of Chapter 4. pages 197-207. on Mites, Snails, and Slugs
• Read Licensing, Certification and Recertification Guide for Pesticide Applicators in North Carolina.
• Read and work through Private Applicator Workbook. These types of questions will be on the FINAL EXAM.
• Watch YouTube Video on Job Description for Pesticide Handler
• EXTRA: Watch YouTube Video on one Farmer's Opinion of Biotech

Large modern agricultural field sprayer. Booms open up on either side giving about 40 ft of coverage. Image Source: Danton Pix

STUDY QUESTIONS - Part I

1. Differentiate between insects and mites (4 pts).
   
   
2. How do most mites damage horticultural crops? (2 pts)
   
   
3. What taxonomic order does the 'spider mite destroyer' belong to? (2 pts)
   
   
4. How do snails and slugs move? How can this knowledge help you identify them as a pest? (2 pts)
   
   
5. Describe two types of controls for snails and slugs that do not involve pesticides. What type of management category does each of the controls you describe fall under (4 pts).

Horse drawn pesticide sprayer from late 19th century. Used on Prince Edward Island to spray potato fields. Image Source: Buddy Tignor

Part II - True false 4 pts each.

1. Sprayers are used to apply pesticide solutions and wettable powders.
2. A low pressure field sprayer uses gravity and the weight of the liquid in the tank to apply the pesticide solution.
3. A low pressure field sprayer would be ideal for applying pesticide to a peach orchard.
4. High pressure sprayers provide good spray penetration.
5. High pressure sprayers would be good for a pepper producer.
6. An airblast sprayer uses a fan to convert the pesticide solution into tiny droplets.
7. A regular flat fan nozzle is used on booms with overlapping spray streams this type of flat fan nozzle is used for band spraying.
8. When discussing cone spray nozzles two categories are often used. The hollow and full cone spray nozzles are the two types.
9. A solid stream nozzle would be used when you want good foliar coverage including under the leaves.
10. The materials nozzles are made of should be resistant to Corrosion, but the applicator need not be worried about abrasion resistance.
11. Brass nozzles are more resistant to abrasion than Tungsten carbide (ceramic nozzles).
12. The best all-around material for extensive nozzle use is stainless steel.
13. The pesticide label specifies how much pesticide must be applied per acre in terms of the undiluted pesticide as it arrives in the container from the manufacturer.
14. When calibrating a sprayer the pesticide applicator wants to simulate the actual ground speed of the sprayer, pumping pressure, nozzles to be used, and pesticide in the tank. It is important to use the actual pesticide mixture because water may not flow out to the sprayer at the same rate.
15. If it takes 5 gallons to spray 1/4 of an acre then it will take 200 gallons to spray 10 acres.
16. The actual flow rate leaving the sprayer is dependent on the type of pesticide formula used and the nozzles selected for the sprayer.
17. To apply pesticide evenly, the sprayer must move at a constant speed and operate at a constant pressure.
18. Nozzle pressure is very important to adjust for longevity, but nozzle height has little or no effect on the life expectancy of the nozzle.
19. The threshold for nozzle replacement occurs when an individual nozzle has a flow rate that is more than 25% different than the average of all the nozzles being used on a given sprayer.
20. The best way to improve your chances of successfully passing the pesticide applicators exam is to attend a review session hosted by your local extension service.

Part III - Choose six false statements above and rewrite them so that they are true (6pts).

EXTRA CREDIT (+2)
Explain why copper is an effective barrier for snails.