Clean Waters Starting in Your Home and Yard

Integrated Pest Management and Biological Controls for the Homeowner

Does the word “pest” bring to mind your as the only pest control method. A more intelli- little sister or a nosy neighbor? A pest, by definition, gent use of these products reduces their nega- Clean Waters is a is any unwanted organism. In garden, landscape or tive impacts on the applicator and the overall collaboration of the lawn management, insects, animals, bacteria, fungi, environment. An example of the IPM approach is Connecticut Sea viruses and weeds may all be pests. Integrated pest to spot spray only the problem plants, rather than Grant Extension management, or IPM, is a pest management strate- treating the entire area. Program and the Homeowners taking care of their property, University of gy that has received increased attention in recent Connecticut years. As a homeowner, you can practice IPM on whether it is the lawn, landscaping or gardens, Cooperative your own property, whether you are growing and can have a significant impact on the overall health Extension maintaining trees and shrubs, turfgrass, herba- of the landscape. Many people may not be aware SystemÕs NEMO ceous perennials, flowering annuals, or a fruit and of simple cultural practices that can prevent or Project, educating reduce their most troublesome pest problems vegetable garden. individuals about without using chemicals. The following informa- the impacts of tion will assist with pest control, while also pro- everyday activities What is IPM? on water quality tecting the environment and water quality. and simple tech- Accurate pest identification is needed for suc- niques that help IPM is a decision-making process that uses bio- cessful pest management, especially if you want protect water logical, chemical and cultural practices to manage to use biological control organisms that are host resources from the pest problems in the production and maintenance specific. First, determine if there is really a prob- home well to Long of plants, in a way that minimizes risks to human lem. Most insects have no negative effect on Island Sound. health, society and the environment. plants and many provide important services like pollination. Frequent inspections or scouting of • Biological control is the use of naturally occurring valuable plants, once every one to two weeks, will predators, parasites and pathogens to manage pests. A enable you to catch pest problems early when common example is using lady beetles to reduce aphid they can be more easily treated. If you cannot populations before they cause plant damage. diagnose the problem, have a sample analyzed • Chemical control is the use of commercially available for correct identification. For example, it is com- pesticides to protect plant material. pletely ineffective to treat unusual leaf spots with • Cultural control involves selecting the appropriate a fungicide if bacteria, insects, or poor environ- plant material for the growing conditions on your proper- mental conditions are actually causing the prob- 4 ty, and then maintaining the plant’s health through prop- lem. Your local Cooperative Extension office or Agricultural Experiment Station can help you er fertilization, irrigation and pruning practices. Healthy make proper identification of your pest problems. plants are less susceptible to insect and disease attack.

The most common misconception about IPM is Where Do I Begin? – Cultural Practices that it does not include chemical pesticides, which would be an “organic” approach. This is not true. IPM begins with the establishment of the prop- IPM may involve the use of chemical pesticides, but er growing environment. Soil preparation and cul- Fact Sheet December 1999 in a way that minimizes the overall reliance on them tural practices such as proper mowing, pruning,

¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ fertilization and irrigation are extremely important the environment. Beneficial organisms include a to plant health. If a plant is not in the correct wide assortment of organisms such as: bacterial growing conditions (improper soil, too much or and/or fungal diseases; spiders; mites; cen- too little moisture, and tipedes; nematodes; various lady beetles; excessive or inadequate ground beetles; rove beetles; lacewings; preda- sunlight), it will be prone to cious bugs (minute pirate bugs, big-eyed bugs, problems. Also, try not to damsel bugs, stink bugs); and numerous para- wound plants unnecessari- sitic wasps. Most pest management practices ly. Mow and prune correctly are designed to manage against the pests; and avoid mower and other instead, manage for beneficial organisms that mechanical injury to healthy are already providing valuable pest control. trees and shrubs. It is also Why is biological control important? The necessary to recognize the preservation and use of common beneficial etts-White fact that plants, like other organisms ensures that the natural ecological living organisms, age. balance is maintained and promotes a safe

Judy Rick Plants that are old and home landscape by reducing pesticide use. The dying, or stressed, are more susceptible to pest misuse of pesticides can impact directly on ben- problems. eficial organism/pest interactions. Pesticide Do not allow pests to become established. resistance develops in pest organisms that Purchase plant material that is free of disease or were once killed by a specific application of pes- insect problems. You may never have a problem ticide and through genetic evolution can now with certain insects if you do not introduce them survive the application. Increased rates of appli- into your landscape. Given the opportunity, use cation may not provide greater control either, pest-resistant plant varieties to reduce pesticide making a once reliable pest control weapon use- usage in your landscape. less. Pest resurgence occurs when natural bio- Proper sanitation will help prevent many pest logical control organisms are reduced by broad- problems. Many pests survive the winter among spectrum pesticides, either by one that persists weeds or in plant debris. Remove weeds and any in the environment for long periods of time or by decaying plant material. If possible, when a plant numerous applications of chemicals with short has died due to a pest problem, replace it with a residual times, to a level where they can no pest-resistant variety of the same species or with longer keep the pests in balance. This causes an a different species to prevent repeating the prob- increase in the pest populations. lem. Exclusion barriers, such as plastic netting for A disruption of natural enemies can also lead birds and Japanese beetles, or plastic or woven to secondary pest outbreaks. Pesticides landscape fabric for weeds, can also prevent or reduce the natural enemy populations and a pest reduce pest damage. Soil solarization, the prac- insect, that was not causing the original problem, tice of covering soil with clear plastic to raise the increases in population to a damaging level. soil temperature for two to three weeks, will kill Pesticides also affect non-target organisms such many weed seeds. as wildlife, pets and humans. One method of biological control is augmen- Calling in Reinforcements – tation. This practice involves the purchase and Biological Controls release of beneficial organisms, usually insects, into the infested area. In order for this practice to Landscapes and gardens have natural popula- be effective, the correct organism must be pur- tions of helpful organisms at work. These “work- chased and released at the appropriate time. ers” are the beneficial predators, parasites and Many beneficial insects choose specific hosts or

t Sheet #4 pathogens that naturally target pest organisms in prey as food sources. Anyone considering this ac F

¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ 2 tactic must have the knowledge to select the prop- horticultural oil rather than a longer residual er beneficial insects. synthetic insecticide. Conservation of natural enemies present in the • If synthetic insecticide is to be used, try to use environment is the easiest and most cost-effective one with a short residual activity. method of biological control available for garden- • Use granular formulations or systemics (which ers. Conservation involves changing and improving are absorbed into management practices to either reduce harmful the plant through effects on beneficial organisms or to improve the the roots or leaf environment to increase their populations. surfaces) instead of Reducing pesticide impacts would be the first and long-lasting foliar most important change to conserve natural ene- sprays. mies. Many insecticides and some fungicides • If possible, time directly affect natural controls by killing them at the pesticide applica- time of application. Others have long residual activi- tions for when Judy Rick ty and harm beneficial organisms that later move natural enemy into the treated area. Pesticides can also indirectly populations will not etts-White harm beneficial organisms by causing lengthened be harmed, such as development time of the immature stages, reduced during pupation or prey consumption, reduced reproductive capability, when they are on another host plant. and repellency, where beneficial organisms are dri- • Use reduced rates whenever possible and treat ven away from the treated plants by the chemical only infested plants, not entire areas. pesticide. An easy and colorful method of promot- When selecting and using chemical pesticides, ing beneficial insects is to grow a wide variety of keep in mind that low toxicity does NOT mean plant materials in the home landscape or garden. non-poisonous! It means that these pesticides An herbaceous perennial border, with a variety of pose the least environmental risk, as they tend species that flower at different times during the to break down rapidly into non-toxic compo- growing season, will provide alternate food sources nents when exposed to air, high temperatures, (i.e. pollen) for some beneficial insects when there and sunlight. are no prey insects available. Reference List Adams, R. 1994. Integrated Pest Management for Insects and The Last Resort: Chemical Pesticides Related Pests on Ornamental Plants: A guide for arborists and groundskeepers. University of Connecticut If you have a pest problem serious enough to Cooperative Extension System. require the use of a chemical pesticide, check the Casagrande, R, B. Maynard, R. Clark, S. Gordon, K. Lagerquist, W. Green, and A. Simeoni, Jr. 1995. Sustainable product label to be sure both the plant and pest are Trees and Shrubs for Southern New England. University of listed. Read The Entire Label Carefully and, Rhode Island Cooperative Extension. above all, Follow The Directions Exactly. Kerbow, Dawn. 1994. Pesticide Alternatives for the Remember that The Label Is The Law, literally, Homeowner. University of Connecticut Cooperative for pesticide application. By using higher applica- Extension System. tion rates than the directions call for, you will only Klass, C. and D. Karasevicz. 1998. Pest Management Around waste money and risk contaminating the environ- the Home, Parts I & II. Cornell Cooperative Extension. ment without eliminating any more of the pests. Miscellaneous Bulletin S74. The following recommendations can reduce pes- Olkowski, W., S. Daar and H. Olkowski. 1991. Common-Sense ticide impacts. Pest Control: Least-toxic solutions for your home, garden, pets and community. The Taunton Press, Newtown CT. • Use the fewest number of applications possible, Raupp, M., R. Van Diesche and J. Davidson. 1993. Biological and use only when necessary. Controls of Insect and Mite Pests of Woody Landscape • When possible, use insecticidal soap or

Plants: Concepts, agents and methods. University of t Sheet #4 Maryland Cooperative Extension Service. ac F

¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ 3 INSECT, MITE AND SLUG MANAGEMENT Control Method Target Physical barrier a wide variety of insects (row covers, etc.) Hard stream of mites water Hand picking all visible insects and eggs Bacillus Colorado potato beetle, elm thuringensis “BT” leaf beetle, many moth larvae, and mosquitoes

etts-White Diatomaceous household pests, slugs, many earth crawling insects

Judy Rick Insecticidal soap mites, aphids, mealy bugs, thrips, fungus WEED MANAGEMENT Horticultural oils aphids, psylla, scale, mites, Control Method Target mealy bugs, leafhoppers Soil solarization most weed seeds Pyrethrum many flying insects Hand pulling all weeds Neem beetles, moth larvae, whiteflies, Mulch, plastic or fabric barriers all weeds leafminers, gypsy moths, and Repeated cutting back all weeds mites Boiling water all weeds Rotonone beetles, weevils, slugs, loop- Glyphosate all weeds ers, mosquitoes, thrips, flies Nematodes borers, grubs, cutworms The Connecticut DISEASE MANAGEMENT Ryania codling moth, thrips, corn Sea Grant College Control Method Target borers Program, based at Soil solarization club root, corky root, some Sabadilla bugs, leafhoppers, striped the University of fusarium and verticillium cucumber beetles, caterpillars, Connecticut, is part of a national wilt, crown gall thrips network of univer- Bordeaux mix brown rot, shot hole (tree fruit), sity-based pro- some grape diseases, apple The materials listed above are registered for use grams sponsoring scab, apple black rot, anthrac- on specific pests, plants, or areas of the country. coastal and nose, early blight, and late blight marine-related Information is for educational purposes only. The research, outreach Fungicidal soap brown rot, peach scab, apple recommendations on this fact sheet are based on and education. scab, powdery mildew, downy available knowledge at the time of printing. Any ref- mildew erence to commercial products, trade names or Horticultural oil powdery mildew brand names is for information only; no endorse- Lime sulfur powdery mildew, anthracnose, ment or approval is intended. Registrations change apple scab, brown rot, peach frequently. leaf curl USE PESTICIDES ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH Sulfur brown rot, peach scab, apple CURRENT FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS. scab, powdery mildew, and downy mildew Written by – Terramycin some bacterial diseases Timothy M. Abbey, Nursery IPM Specialist, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station Windsor CT 06095 For more information contact: Connecticut Sea Grant, 1084 Shennecossett Rd. Groton, CT 06340 t Sheet #4 www.seagrant.uconn.edu ac F

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