integrated pest management - all star training · 2017. 12. 6. · integrated pest management...

© 2021 All Star Training, Inc.

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Integrated Pest Management

Overview

In recent years, individuals and communities have become even more interested in reducing

chemicals in their environments. Some horticulturists

have always promoted organic gardening but recently,

supermarkets and the makers of household cleaning

supplies have also joined the ecology movement. Many

supermarkets are adding sections in the produce aisle

for organic vegetables and environmentally friendly

cleaning supplies are being stocked next to the old

standards used by our grandmothers. So, it would

follow, that more attention is being placed on the use of

environmentally sensitive methods of pest control.

Definitions

Pests Populations of living organisms (animals, plants or microorganisms) that interfere with

daily living and often present health and safety hazards to humans and structures. Strategies for

managing pest populations are influenced by the pest species and the threat the species poses to

people, property or the environment.

Infestation The presence, spreading or swarming of a large number of pests on an organism,

structure or open area in a troublesome manner.

Integrated Pest Management Also referred to as IPM. A strategy that focuses on long-term

prevention or suppression of pest populations using a combination of tactics that minimize the

impact of control activities on human health and the health of other, non-target organisms.

IPM Plan A set of procedures detailing how particular pest problems will be handled by

professionals working in the field of pest management. A workable plan for a particular pest

infestation will include descriptions of planned activities to reduce pest presence or maintain a

pest-free environment. Details within such plans may include needed facilities or landscape

improvements, pest-proofing modifications, approved non-chemical and chemical control


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activities, pest monitoring, education plans and criteria for evaluating the need for control or the

success of control efforts.

Pest Control through Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

By using precaution strategies and information about pest biology, it is possible to integrate less

toxic and safer controls for the elimination of household, outdoor, and crop pests. IPM practices

using a combination of compatible methods to either prevent or combat pests. And through the

use of the IPM practices, costs are reduced and potential pesticide hazards to people and pets are

reduced. Sometimes the integrated controls and precaution strategies are not enough, and

pesticides will also need to be used as part of the IPM process.

Household Pests

Cockroach Flea

When we think of

household pests, we

normally think of the pests

that invade the home:

insects, spiders and

rodents. They invade

homes because they are

searching for food, water

and shelter. Everyone is

all too familiar with the

typical home pest invaders

such as cockroaches,

spiders, ants and mice.

Bedbug Ant

Spider Mouse


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However, bedbug infestations are on the rebound in the United States since DDT and similar

agents’ usage has been banned. The elimination of bedbugs is a perfect example of the need for

Integrated Pest Management. See Exercise 1.

Process for Integrated Pest Management

In order to have an effective Integrated Pest Management plan it is necessary to develop several

complementary strategies or methods.

Strategies Practice

1. Identify Pests Identify which pest is causing the problem. Once the pest is

identified, the attraction for the pest is also identified.

2. Develop a Plan Identify the best procedures for getting rid of the pest. Will

sprays or baits need to be used?

3. Monitor Pest

Populations

Determine if the pest population is still present, on the rise or

eliminated. Are the steps implemented taking care of the

infestation problem?

4. Prevention Decide upon the advanced measures that can be taken to make

sure the infestation problem does not reoccur.

5. Control How do you control the infestation population? Will sprays or

baits need to be used in the future?

Prevention Steps

With a good strategy for prevention in place, the risk of a pest infestation is greatly reduced.

Below are some steps that can be taken to prevent pests from entering the home.

Structures

• Fill cracks

• Cover holes

• Repair leaking faucets

• Use window screens and screen doors

• Keep windows and doors closed

• Weather-strip doors

• Inspect items for pests before bringing them into the home


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• Place grates or screens on drains and vents

Inside the Home/Structure

• Fill cracks in walls

• Cover holes

• Keep food in pest-proof containers

• Rotate stock of food so that the oldest food is eaten first

• Repair dripping faucets

• Check for leaking pipes

• Practice good sanitation by cleaning up and disposing of all food scraps from meals

• Wash dishes

• Sweep, mop and clean with the vacuum often

• Eliminate clutter

• Remove trash and recyclables daily and place in a covered bin

• Knock down spider webs

Outside the Home/Structure

• Keep tall grass, weeds and plants from growing near the house

• Remove ivies from the structure

• Keep shrubs trimmed and branches off the structure

• Keep trash, grass clippings, stacks of wood or debris away from the house

• Eliminate places for pests to hide

• Avoid outdoor lights near entrances

IPM Plan to Eliminate Bedbugs

In order to develop an Integrated Pest Management plan to eliminate a problematic pest, you

need to educate yourself about the pest. In this exercise bedbugs are used as the pest.

Background Information

As mentioned earlier, bedbugs are on the rise in the United States. Bedbugs are small nocturnal

insects of the family Cimicidae, and they live by feeding on the blood of humans and other


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warm-blooded hosts. Adults grow to 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch and can be seen by the naked eye.

They are generally active only at night and are attracted by warmth and the presence of carbon

dioxide. The bug pierces the skin of its host with two hollow tubes; with one tube it injects its

saliva, which contains anticoagulants and anesthetics, while with the other tube it withdraws the

blood of the host. After feeding for approximately five minutes, the bug returns to its hiding

place. The bites are usually felt some minutes or hours later. People often associate bedbugs with

filth but this is false. They are attracted to exhaled carbon dioxide, not by dirt and they feed on

blood, not waste. The cleanliness of their environment has no effect on bedbugs. This fact must

be considered when developing an IPM plan to eliminate bedbugs.

Bedbugs are not regarded as a medial threat, although they have been known to harbor pathogens

in their bodies, including plague and hepatitis B. However, some individuals can get skin

infections as a result of scratching the bites.

Methods of Initial Infestations

Bedbugs can be transported in luggage, and are often acquired at hotels, motels and bed-and

breakfasts. In addition, they can be brought in the home by bringing in infested furniture or used

clothing. They may also travel between units in multi unit dwellings (apartments and

condominiums).

Because bedbugs are very flat, they hide in tiny crevices, such as cracks in walls or ceilings.

Although they can be found on their own, they are most often found in groups. Bedbugs are not

social insects and do not build or stay in nests. Most often, bedbugs are found in beds, either the

seams of the mattress, box springs or within the structure of the bed itself. Although they can

travel as far as 100 feet to feed, they usually remain close to their host either in the bed or sofas

where people sleep.

Exercise 1 – IPM Plan Strategies

IDENTIFICATION

Look for dark stains

on bedding (bedbug

fecal stains).

Identify the pest by using a

picture and information you

have about the pest.


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PLAN DEVELOPMENT

MONITOR

PREVENTION

Look for bites on host.

(Distinct lines pattern of

3 bites)

Use a light source.

Shine a flashlight near

the host about an hour

before dawn,

How should the infestation

be isolated?

Make temporary barriers so

the pests don’t spread.

What are the best methods for elimination?

Should furniture be discarded?

Will sanitation work alone?

If using sanitation as a method, what is the best

method of sanitation?

Are other warm bloodied

animals in the household acting

as hosts? Cats, dogs, mice.

What is the best treatment?

Will chemicals need to be

used?

What types of chemicals

and how applied?

Are neighbors experiencing

problems?

Are other rooms of the

house infested?

Were the bugs eliminated within a

normal time frame?

Are bedbugs still present within a

few weeks, months?

Do measures need to be

taken for another or

different treatment?

Have the recommended

changes been made in the

household?

Were changes made to limit

infestation from outside

spaces?

What measures can be

taken to prevent another

infestation?

Will a follow up chemical

treatment be needed?

Should treatment be

routine?


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CONTROL

Flying Pests

Flying Pests are a

nuisance when we are

outside, but they can

also enter the

household. When

inside, they are no

longer just a nuisance,

but also pests. Many

flying pests also

present health and

safety hazards.

In some cases, riding

a household of certain

pests may require the

use of traps. In those

cases, the use of traps

Moth Fly

Mosquito Wasp

Bat

Are the homeowners educated

about the pest and how the pest

infests homes?

Have cracks been

caulked?

Is the problem eliminated?

Are the initial causes taken

care of?

Are steps for prevention

still being taken?


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should be used when

developing the IPM

plan.

IPM Plan to Eliminate Mosquitoes

In order to develop an Integrated Pest Management plan to eliminate a problematic pest, you

need to educate yourself about the pest and the effective methods used to control the populations.

In this exercise mosquitoes are used as the pest.

Background Information

Mosquitoes are a nuisance. Besides being pests, they can also present serious risks to public

health through the diseases they transmit. Public Health Departments constantly monitor

diseases spread by mosquitoes such as, West Nile Virus, Encephalitis, and more recently Dengue

Fever. Cases of Dengue Fever have always been monitored by the Worldwide Health

Organization as it has been a problem in other countries, but there is concern that it may be

spreading to the United States.

Mosquitoes are small, flying midget like insects. Female mosquitoes suck blood and males suck

plant juices and rely on other sources of sugar rather than blood. Blood is required to develop

eggs, so this is the reason why the females bite people, pets and livestock.

Their life cycles vary widely from species to species, but all start from an egg and develop into a

larva, pupa and adult.

Life Cycle of a Mosquito


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Egg

Adult Larva Pupa

Federal, State and Local Governments Role

Mosquitoes are best managed on an area wide basis, so the role federal, state and local

governments play in protecting the public from mosquito borne illness is critical. The Center for

Disease Control (CDC) monitors the sources and outbreaks of mosquito borne illness.

EPA’s Role

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides information and tools to federal,

state and local agencies, as well as the public.

The EPA also:

• Encourages non-chemical mosquito prevention efforts

• Provides outreach efforts to educate users on the proper use of insect repellents and

mosquito aides

• Ensures the safest possible use of pesticides by:

➢ Evaluating and registering pesticides before they may be sold, distributed, or used in the

United States.

➢ Reassessing and reregistering when appropriate, all older pesticides (those registered prior to

1984) to ensure that they meet current scientific standards.

➢ Assessing potential human health and environmental effects associated with the use of the

product. The producer of the pesticide must provide data from tests done according to EPA

guidelines. These tests determine whether a pesticide has the potential to cause adverse

effects on humans, wildlife, fish and plants, including endangered species and non-target


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organisms. Other tests help to assess the risks of contaminating surface water or ground

water from leaching, runoff, or spray drift.

➢ Approving the pesticide for use in accordance with label directions, if the pesticide meets

EPA requirements. However, no pesticide is 100 percent safe and care must be exercised in

the use of any pesticide.

➢ Serving as a source of information about pesticide and non-pesticide controls to the general

public, news media, and the state and local agencies dealing with outbreaks of infectious

diseases.

State and Local Governments Role

Surveillance

The first step in Mosquito control is surveillance. State or local mosquito specialists conduct

surveillance for diseases harbored by domestic and nonnative birds, including sentinel chickens

(used as virus transmission indicators), and mosquitoes. State and local mosquito control

authorities also conduct surveillance for larval habitats by using maps and aerial photographs,

and by evaluating larval populations. Other techniques include various light traps, biting counts,

and analysis of reports from the public.

Mosquito control programs also put high priority on trying to prevent a large population of adult

mosquitoes from developing so that additional controls may not be necessary. Since mosquitoes

must have water to breed, methods of prevention may include:

• Controlling water levels in lakes, marshes, ditches, or other mosquito breeding sites

• Eliminating small breeding sites if possible

• Stocking bodies of water with fish species that feed on larvae.

Both chemical and biological measures may be employed to kill immature mosquitoes during

larval stages

Chemical or Biological Measures to Control Mosquitoes

Controlling mosquitoes at the larval stage

Larvicides target larvae in the breeding habitat before they can mature into adult mosquitoes and

disperse.


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Larvicides include:

Bacterial Insecticides

• Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis

• Bacillus sphaericus

Insect Growth Inhibitor

• Methoprene

Other Materials

• Mineral oils

• Monomolecular films

Oils and films disperse as a thin layer on the surface of the water that causes larvae and pupae to

drown. Liquid larvicide products are applied directly to water using backpack sprayers and truck

or air raft-mounted sprayers. Tablet, pellet, granular, and briquette formulations of larvicides are

also applied by mosquito controllers to breeding areas.

Controlling Adult Mosquitoes

Adult mosquito control may be undertaken to combat an outbreak of mosquito-borne disease or a

very heavy nuisance infestation of mosquitoes in a community. Pesticides registered for this use

are known as adulticides and are applied either by aircraft or on the ground employing truck-

mounted sprayers. State and local agencies commonly use the organophosphate insecticides

malathion and naled and the synthetic pyrethroid insecticides permethrin, resmethrin, and

sumithrin for adult mosquito control.

Mosquito adulticides are applied as ultra-low volume (ULV) sprays. ULV sprayers dispense very

fine aerosol droplets that stay aloft and kill flying mosquitoes on contact. ULV applications

involve small quantities of pesticide active ingredient in relation to the size of the area treated,

typically less than 3 ounces per acre, which minimizes exposure and risks to people and the

environment.

Adulticides can be used for public health mosquito control programs without posing

unreasonable risks to the general population or to the environment when applied according to the

pesticide label.


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Property Owners’ Role

It is impossible to totally eliminate a mosquito population, but property owners can take

preventive measures to greatly reduce the mosquito population.

Prevention Steps

Remove the habitat where they live and breed by the following:

1. Eliminate standing water in:

• Rain gutters

• Old tires

• Buckets

• Plastic covers

• Toys

• Containers where water collects

2. Empty and change the water at least once to twice a week in:

• Birdbaths

• Fountains

• Wadding pools

• Rain barrels

• Potted plant trays

3. Drain or fill temporary pools of water with dirt.

4. Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.

5. Stock pond with fish, remove excess vegetation or use a bacterial insecticide, such as, Bacillus

thuringiensis.

6. Fill tree holes with sand or mortar.

7. Stock watering troughs with fish or change the water weekly.

8. Keep litter and debris out of street gutters or catch basins.

9. Clean roof gutters once a year to remove debris.

10. Avoid over watering of lawns and fields.


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Individuals’ Role

Individuals can also play a role in limiting their exposure to mosquitoes and their risk of being

bit.

1. Avoid being outside when mosquitoes are most active and avoid places where mosquito density

is high. Learn the activity patterns of the mosquitoes in your state. Different species are more

active at different times of the day.

2. If necessary, use an EPA-registered mosquito repellent.

3. Wear long pants and long sleeves if you are outside during the hours mosquitoes are biting, or if

there is a heavy infestation of mosquitoes in the area.

4. Wear light color clothing. It is believed that mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors.

5. Stay inside as much as possible, if there is a mosquito-borne disease warning in effect.

6. Use screens on windows and doors.

7. Replace outdoor lighting with yellow “bug” lights, as they tend to attract fewer bugs in general.

Turf Pests

At some point, property owners have had to deal with dead grass and/or yellow patches on their

lawns. Several different pests could be a single culprit, or the lawn may have several culprits at

work. When developing an IPM to combat lawn pests, identification is critical, because if you

remove the beneficial insects along with the insect culprits you may be doing more harm than

good.

Identification

Begin the identification process by examining the living areas of the grass, as well as, the dead

areas. The insects that are causing the damage are usually found in the living areas.

There are three (3) categories of turf pests and knowing the pest and the category it falls into will

be the first step in successful elimination.


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Root Feeders

Grubs

Grubs live below the ground and feed on

the roots of grass, thus killing the plant.

Their damage appears as yellow or dead

grass. Most of their destruction occurs

during mid to late summer. Since grubs

are actually the larvae of beetles, the best

time to control them is early summer.

Controlling in the fall is not effective

because they move into the soil for the

winter.

Mole Crickets

Mole crickets like to tunnel through the

soil similar to moles. They feed at night

during warm weather; they come to the

surface of the ground and feed on grass

and insects. This behavior, if left

unchecked can loosen the soil, causing it

to dry out and clip the roots of the grass.

During the day, and periods of drought,

they remain in their burrows. Mole

crickets can completely destroy the grass

and leave bare ground. Unfortunately,

they can not be eradicated; only

managed.


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Ants

The tunneling behavior of ants may

cause problems to the grass by loosening

the soil. If ants are appearing in large

numbers, prevention and extermination

methods should be taken.

Leaf Feeders

Sod Webworms

Sod webworms hide in tunnels or

burrows during the day, just below the

soils surface. Their damage appears

initially as chewed grass blades.

Because the sod webworms produce two

to three generations each year, a heavy

infestation can destroy an entire lawn in

only a few days.

Adult webworms hide in shrubs and seek sheltered spots during the day. Females scatter their

eggs over lawns in the early evening by flying over the grass. One method to identify sod

webworms is to pour a gallon of water that contains ¼ cup of household bleach over a square

yard of lawn. If sod webworms are present, the larvae will be seen at the surface. Another

indication of an infestation is large numbers of birds feeding on the lawn.

Army Worms

Army worms are the caterpillars of

moths. Moth eggs are laid on grass

blades and objects near lawns. The

eggs hatch into caterpillars and the

caterpillars begin feeding on the turf.

Army worms are mainly active at

night. Because there are three to six

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b9/Caterpillar_feeding2.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b9/Caterpillar_feeding2.jpg


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generations a year, they can destroy

the grass to the ground.

Cut Worms

Cut worms are the larvae of night

flying brown or greenish moths.

They get their name from their habit

of feeding on grass and cutting it off

near the soil. They feed at night and

during the day they hide in the soil or

under debris.

Suckers

Leaf Hoppers

Leafhoppers have piercing sucking

mouthparts; they feed on plant sap

and can transmit plant viruses. They

do damage to lawns by sucking sap

from the leaves and stems of grass.

Damage to established lawns from

leaf hoppers can be identified by

whitened patches in the lawn.

Spittle Bug

These bugs are distinguished from

other leaf hoppers by the spittle or

froth they produce and live in. The

nymphs will pierce grass tissue to

withdraw the sap. The damage they

do to lawns can be identified by

grass wilting, turning yellow and

then brown.


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Field Crops

There are 2 million farmers in the United States and crops from the United States feed the entire

world. An Integrated Pest Management plan is a valuable tool for increasing pest management.

The IPM plan for Agriculture must include the management of insects, weeds, and diseases that

effect field crops. Many University Extensions offer information to help farmers and gardeners

with information and education on biological controls.

Biological Pest Control

Biological control of pests and diseases is a method of controlling pests and diseases in

agriculture that relies on natural predation rather than introduced chemicals.

A key belief of organic gardening is that biodiversity furthers health. The more variety a

landscape has, the more sustainable it is. The organic gardener therefore works to create a

system where the insects that are sometimes called pests and the pathogens that cause diseases

are not eradicated, but instead are kept at manageable levels by a complex system of check and

balances within a living and vibrant ecosystem. Contrary to more conventional gardening

practices which often use chemical methods to kill both useful and harmful garden life forms

indiscriminately, this is a holistic approach that seeks to develop an understanding of the webs

of interaction between the myriad of organisms that constitute the garden fauna and flora.

The organic gardener will often hold the view for example that the eradication of the creatures

that are often described as pests is not only not possible, but also undesirable, for without them

the beneficial predatory and parasitic insects which depend upon them as a food or hosts would

not be able to survive.

In healthy natural woodland where there is little direct human intervention, pest and disease

organisms will always be present, but, unless there is a drastic environmental change, a state of

equilibrium will exist.

Therefore, biological control is about developing a range of techniques that use living organisms

to maintain the beneficial equilibria in garden and agricultural landscapes without causing

adverse effects to humans or the wider environment. An important part of the biological


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approach is to become familiar with the various life forms that inhabit the gardens and fields,

predators as well as pests, and also their life cycles, patterns of feeding and the habitats that they

prefer.

Pesticides

For an effective IPM plan, pesticides often must be included. It is important to remember that all

pesticides are potentially dangerous.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a pesticide as “any substance or

mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. A

pesticide may be a chemical substance or biological agent (such as a virus or bacteria) used

against pets including insects, plant pathogens, weeds, mollusks, birds, mammals, fish,

nematodes (roundworms) and microbes that compete with humans for food destroy property,

spread disease or are a nuisance. Pesticides are usually, but not always, poisonous to humans.

Types of Pesticides

• Bactericides for the control of bacteria

• Herbicides for the control of weeds

• Fungicides for the control of fungi

• Insecticides for the control of insects - these can be Ovicides, Larvicides or Adulticides

• Matricides for the control of mites

• Nematicides for the control of worms

• Rodenticides for the control of rodents

• Virucides for the control of viruses

Pesticides can also be classed as synthetic pesticides or biological pesticides, although the

distinction can sometimes blur.


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Pesticides Used in the Home

Pesticides most commonly used in the home come in the form of sprays, dusts and baits. Baits

are ideal for use in the home because of their tamper resistant containers and they can be used to

target specific pests. Be sure and make an accurate identification of the species before using bait.

Sprays and dusts are useful for applying to inaccessible areas where pests hide. When pesticides

are used incorrectly they present a potential risk to groundwater, wildlife, the environment and

individual health.

Precautions for using pesticides

• Read the product label

• Follow the safety precautions described on the container

• Wear protective clothing

• Store unused pesticides according to label directions

• Dispose of the containers safely

Never use pesticides that are designed for the farm, inside the home, as the chemicals found in

the pesticides are not designed to be used where people will have direct exposure. Improper use

can cause the following health problems:

• Dizziness

• Blurred vision

• Headaches

• Difficulty in breathing

• Confusion or memory loss

• Weakness

• Vomiting and diarrhea

• Death


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Pest Control in Schools

Many school districts require the approval and maintenance of an official IPM policy statement

to be used in the schools. Schools that have developed an IPM policy have been able to reduce

the pesticides used indoors, have found pest elimination more effective than just spraying, and

have been able to save money.

An effective school IPM policy should be based on the following:

• Strategies that rely on the best combination of pest management tactics that are compatible with

human health and environmental protection.

• Proper identification of pest problems

• Monitoring programs to determine when pests are present or when pest problems are severe

enough to justify corrective action.

• Use of non-chemical management strategies whenever practical.

• Preferential use of least-toxic chemical controls when pesticides are needed.

IPM Plan Objectives

1. Reduce any potential human health hazards or protect against a significant threat to the safety of

students, staff or the public.

2. Prevent loss or damage to school structures or property.

3. Prevent pests from spreading into and adversely affecting the community or to plant and animal

populations beyond the site.

4. Enhance the quality of life for students, staff and the public.

Essential IPM Plan Components

1. All activities designed to reduce pest populations will be based on accurate determination of the

pest’s identity and on knowledge of the pest’s biology and life cycle.

2. Significant, recurring pest problems will be observed and recorded by IPM staff using

monitoring methods so that pest populations can be detected and controlled.


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3. Predetermined action thresholds for important pest problems will be determined by IPM staff, so

results of inspections and monitoring programs can be used to help staff objectively determine

when control actions are justified.

4. All full range of control options including physical controls, mechanical controls, biological

controls and chemical controls (including the option of (“no action”) will be considered when

deciding on a pest management action.

5. Educational activities will be conducted to gain cooperation and understanding among District

staff, students and the public.

Summary

The benefits of an effective and well-planned Integrated Pest Management plan are numerous.

An IPM plan can greatly reduce hazards to people, property and the environment and be

economical at the same time. In order for an IPM plan to be successful it must be well thought

out and researched. It must include the strategies of proper pest identification, plan

development, monitoring, prevention and control. By educating ourselves about pests and their

habitats, methods of prevention, steps for elimination and the effectiveness and proper use of

pesticides we can all do our part in moving towards a more bio-diverse environment.

The paybacks for a successful plan can be far reaching, as IPM is applicable to all types of pest

control. Individuals involved in planning and carrying out Integrated Pest Management need to

rely on knowledge, experience, observation and an integration of multiple techniques. In so

doing, crop damage will be reduced, environmental hazards will be reduced, and the public will

worry less about health issues resulting from chemicals in the environment or disease carrying

pests. And as a result, the flora and fauna we all enjoy will continue to flourish.

integrated pest management - all star training · 2017. 12. 6. · integrated pest management...

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