IPM Alana Scheibe Erin Miller Lauren Park and

IPM Alana Scheibe, Erin Miller, Lauren Park and Sam Roberts Period 4 APES

What is IPM? �Integrated Pest Management (IPM) �effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management �current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment �least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.

What is IPM �can be applied to both agricultural and non-agricultural settings �home, garden, and workplace.

How IPM Works �Series of pest management evaluations, choices, and controls � 4 steps: ◦ ◦ Set Action Thresholds Monitor and Identify Pests Prevention Control

Set Action Thresholds �The point at which pest populations or the environmental conditions indicate that pest control must be taken. ◦ Ex. Observing weeds or excess plants over a significant amount of space.

Monitor and Identify Pests �Not all insects, plants, weeds or other organisms require control. �This part of IPM identifies pests, to make sure if they are a threat or not. �This part of IPM removes the possibility of needing to use pesticides.

Prevention �First step in pest control �Manages the crop, land, or indoor/outdoor space. �To prevent pests from becoming a threat. �Can be very cost efficient and effective with no risk to people or environment

Control �If previous steps show that pest control is needed, IPM programs chose proper control methods �Chosen based on the most effective and least risky

Control Methods Effective, less risky: �Chosen first ◦ Highly targeted chemicals (pheromones) ◦ Mechanical control (weeding or trapping) If doesn’t work: �Added ◦ Targeted spraying of natural pesticides ◦ Introduction of other species *Spraying of commercial pesticides is a last resort*

What are the benefits/drawbacks of IPM? Benefits: �Promotes healthy plants, which can withstand damage from pests �Reduces the needs for pesticides �Promotes clean, pesticide-free water ◦ Which, in turn, improves human health �Provides a sustainable, long-term control of pests, versus short-term treatments

What are the benefits/drawbacks of IPM? Drawbacks: �Sometimes, more expensive to buy the more sustainable pest-control than the easily accessible and cheap pesticide �More time is required for methods to prove effective �Sometimes, the natural enemy of pests can over time become pests themselves

What are some examples of IPM? Natural: �Using garlic, cayenne pepper, and water will create an anti-pest spray that can be used on plants to prevent infestation. �Beer kills slugs; they are attracted to the taste and smell of beer, which can help protect garden vegetables and plants.

What are some examples of IPM? Introduction of other species: �Goats are often used to clear an overrun of weeds or invasive plants, such as blackberry bushes, they significantly reduce numbers and make clean up easier. �Lady bugs can be used to eat aphids that overrun gardens

What are some examples of IPM? Introduction of other species: �Marigolds, the flower, have a stench that is disliked by many insects. They can be planted around gardens to ward off nematodes that threaten the plant’s health �Mustard greens are known as “trap crops, ” which attract beetles so they can be easily removed by humans