Transcript Slide 1

Chapter Six: Pesticide Use
and Safety and IPM
Renee Hypes, IPM Technician
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Pest
 What is a pest?
 For the purposes of pesticide application, there is a legal
definition of pest.
 "Pest" means any deleterious organism that is: (i) any
vertebrate animal other than man; (ii) any invertebrate
animal excluding any internal parasite of living man or other
living animals; (iii) any plant growing where not wanted, and
any plant part such as a root; or (iv) any bacterium, virus, or
other microorganisms (except for those on or in living man
or other living animals and those on or in processed food or
processed animal feed, beverages, drugs as defined by the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and cosmetics as
defined by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Any
organism protected under federal or state laws shall not be
deemed a pest for the purposes of this chapter.
Pest
 And because there is a legal definition of pest,
there also is a legal definition of pesticide.
 "Pesticide" means: (i) any substance or mixture of
substances intended for preventing, destroying,
repelling, or mitigating any insects, rodents, fungi,
bacteria, weeds, other forms of plant or animal
life, bacterium, or viruses, except viruses on or in
living man or other animals, which the
Commissioner shall declare to be a pest; (ii) any
substance or mixture of substances intended for
use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant;
and (iii) any substance intended to become an
active ingredient in any substance defined in
clause (i) and (ii).
Pest Management and DecisionMaking
 This is where IPM comes in, which we will talk
about in more depth later.
 The book poses excellent questions to facilitate
decision-making in terms of pests.
 Is the problem actually caused by a pest?
 What kind of pest?
 Is the problem severe enough to require action?
 Can the pest be controlled at this stage of life/growth?
 Are pesticides registered for the pest and site?
 Is pesticide use the best management option?
 Is pesticide use cost-effective?
Pest Management and DecisionMaking
If there is a problem that requires
action, there are factors that will help
with what action to take
Pest life cycle and habits
Pest population size and distribution
Factors that attracted pest to site
Management options
Ways to prevent future problems
Safe Use Precautions
If you decide to use a pesticide, the
label must be followed.
In place of specific instructions on the
label, always use common sense.
Before your trip to Lowe’s, Ace or
Cooke’s, be sure of your pest.
Consult a knowledgeable friend,
extension agent or knowledgeable
garden center employee.
Safe Use Precautions
Be as close to 100% positive as
possible on what you’re trying to
control.
Misidentification will waste time,
money and effort.
Also, unnecessary exposure of
pesticide to yourself and the
environment will result.
Safe Use Precautions
 Read labels carefully and make sure you
understand it
 If you have questions ask someone at the
store or call an extension agent for advice
 Before leaving make sure you have all of
the necessary equipment including PPE
 Make sure the product is labeled not only
for the target pest but also the site
Safe Use Precautions
The book also recommends not
buying pesticides intended for
professional use.
Professional pesticides may be
cheaper per unit, but usually you end
up with way more than needed
Professional formulations also have a
greater risk for mistakes and
consequently exposure
Safe Use Precautions
 Generally professional pesticides require
very little concentrate per water which
makes mixing smaller amounts harder,
such as a gallon
 The requirements for PPE are usually
more strict as are other precautions
particularly for the environment
 All of these stipulations also mean a
longer, more difficult to understand label;
another good reason to stay away from
professional products.
Pesticide Terminology
 Acaricide
A substance used to kill acarids (a subclass of
aracnids that includes mites and ticks)
 Attractant
A substance used to lure a pest
 Avicide
A substance used to kill birds
 Bactericide
 Fungicide
Pesticide Terminology
Growth Regulator
Herbicide
Insecticide
Miticide
Nematicides
A substance used to control nematodes
Repellants
Rodenticide
Pesticide Terminology
Band
Spraying in-between rows, a small strip
Broadcast
Dip
Directed
Drench
In-furrow
Application to or within the furrow
Pesticide Terminology
Spot treatment
Sidedress
Over-the-top
Contact
Stomach
Systemic
Translocated/translaminar
Selective/non-selective
Pesticide Label
 Labeling-all of the printed information on or
attached to a pesticide container
 The EPA is the federal agency that gives
broad approval for a product that claims to
have pesticidal activity
 In Virginia, manufacturers also have to be
approved by VDACS
 This approval process ensures the claims
made by the company can be proven and
also that the product conforms to safety
standards
Pesticide Label
The most important thing to know
about pesticides is that the label is
the law!
The label is the law!
The label is the law!
The label is a contract between EPA,
manufacturer, seller and purchaser.
Purchasing a pesticide is agreeing to
the terms on the label.
Pesticide Label
The label has parts
Brand name
Common name
Chemical name and
composition/ingredient statement
EPA registration number
EPA establishment number
Name and address of the manufacturer
Net contents
Pesticide Label
Restricted use designation
Restricted use chemicals require a pesticide
license and will not be in most retail
establishments and are not meant for
homeowner use
Precautionary Statements
Signal Word
Danger/Poison
Warning
Caution
Statement of Practical Treatment
Pesticide Label
PPE
Hazards to human and domestic
animals
Environmental hazards
Directions for use
Misuse statement
Storage and disposal
Emergency assistance
Pesticide Formulations
 Aerosol (A)
 Bait (B)
 Dust (D)
 Emulsifiable Concentrate (E,EC)
 Granule (G)
 Ready-to-use (RTU)
 Water Dispersible Granule (WDG), Dry
Flowable (DF)
 Wettable Powder (WP)
Adjuvants
 Adjuvants are added to increase
effectiveness or safety
 Includes activators, compatibility agents,
deflocculators, detergent, dispersants,
emulsifiers, foam and drift suppressants,
and spreading, sticking and wetting agents
 Sometimes they are already part of the
formulation, sometimes they need to be
added or are unnecessary
Compatibility
Not all pesticides can be mixed
together
The label will give instructions on
what can and cannot be mixed
Sometimes the label will also tell you
to perform a jar test, but this is
usually only with professional
pesticides
Personal Safety
 One of the first things to know about
personal safety is what PPE is and what
PPE the pesticide you are using requires
 The label will give instructions on the
minimum PPE, this is a requirement, not a
suggestion!
 Most often PPE consists of long pants,
long-sleeved shirt, shoes plus socks and
sometimes chemical resistant gloves and
eye protection
Personal Safety
 Be aware of what you need to wear for
each activity, mixing and loading may
require more PPE that applying
 Eating, drinking, smoking and chewing
gum should not happen while spraying,
nor should these items be present when
you spray
 Pesticide contaminated clothing should be
washed separately from other laundry and
an empty cycle should be run after
washing PPE
Symptoms of Poisoning
 Different pesticides affect people
differently but knowing common symptoms
can help you get help faster
 Symptoms of mild poisoning or early acute
poisoning include
Fatigue
Headache
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Excessive sweating and salivation
Symptoms of Poisoning
Nausea
Vomiting
Stomach cramps
Diarrhea
Moderate poisoning or intermediate
acute symptoms include
Increased severity of early symptoms
Inability to walk
Weakness
Symptoms of Poisoning
Chest discomfort
Muscle twitches
Constricted pupils
 Severe or acute poisoning
Unconsciousness
Sever constriction of pupils
Muscle twitches
Convulsions
Secretions from the mouth and nose
Breathing difficulty
Death
Symptoms of Poisoning
 Acute symptoms appear within 24 hours
and are usually reversible with treatment
 An MSDS will tell you what to expect and
give numbers to call in emergency
 If symptoms appear after 12 hours check
with a doctor to make sure you have
pesticide poisoning and not something
else
Emergency Procedures
The label will list specific procedures
for specific pesticides
Depending on the specific pesticide it
may be particularly harmful to the eye
or skin and require certain remedies
In general, if a pesticide gets on the
skin, wash with soap and water as
soon as possible and remove
contaminated clothing
Emergency Procedures
 Clothing soaked with concentrate should
be thrown away
 If pesticide gets into the eye, flush with a
gentle stream of water for 15 minutes
 If someone has been acutely poisoned,
seek medical attention immediately
 Give the doctor the name of the pesticide
and how much was ingested
 Take the pesticide and the MSDS with you
 Or call poison control-1-800-222-1222
Protecting the Environment
Protecting insect pollinators (bees)
Avoid spraying when plants are blooming
Spray in the early morning or evening
Choose spray formulations over dust and
do not apply when temperatures are cool
because residues will stay active longer
If you have any concerns about bees,
including identification, habits and swarm
or nest collection contact the state apiarist
at VDACS or the local master beekeepers
Protecting the Environment
Persistence and Accumulation
Persistence refers to how long a pesticide
remains active in the environment
Most are broken down by sun,
temperature or microbial activity
Pesticides that build up in the tissues of
animals are said to accumulate
Most pesticides that accumulate have
limited uses or are off the market
Pesticide Movement
 Drift
Spray droplets
Pesticides attached to soil particles that erode
 Volatilization
Tendancy for a liquid to turn to gas
Some volatize more readily than others like 2,4-D
ester
 Do not mix, store or apply pesticide near
any source of water or a storm grate
IPM
We’ll talk about that more in depth
later!
Application Equipment
There are different ways to apply
different pesticides
Most of the time the application
method is determined by the
formulation
Reading and understanding the label
will tell you haw the pesticide should
be applied
Application Equipment
Any application equipment should be
maintained properly
Cleaned after use
Stored properly
Applicators used for herbicide should
not be used for any other pesticide or
fertilizer
Caution should also be used when
using non-selective herbicides
Application Equipment
Sprayers
Use compression to force
liquid/suspension out
One of the most common ways to apply
pesticide
Hand duster
Either separate device or built in to the
container
Hard to get uniform coverage and tends
to drift easily
Application Equipment
Spreaders
For granule formulations
More uniform coverage and low drift
Be careful when applying near hard
surfaces and clean excess when finished
Sprayer Calibration and Application
Techniques
 Calibration ensures the equipment
performs to certain specifications
 When using sprayers and spreaders it is
important to make sure the equipment is
applying the correct amount
 This is especially important for labels that
express rate as an amount per area, such
as ounces per 1000 square feet
Sprayer Calibration and Application
Techniques
Calibrating a sprayer does not take
much time and is relatively easy
Clean out the sprayer including the hose
Mark out an area, something easy like 10
x 10
Fill the sprayer with a known volume of
water, such as 1 gallon
Spray the area in a continuous fashion as
you would when spraying actual
chemicals
Sprayer Calibration and Application
Techniques
Spray the remaining volume out of the
sprayer and measure it
Subtract the remaining amount from the
starting amount of liquid
This amount over the area sprayed is
your rate
When spraying or spreading it is
important to have a good pattern to
achieve uniformity
Sprayer Calibration and Application
Techniques
Try not to spray so that you are
walking through it
A good way to get a uniform
broadcast application is to spray half
the rate in one direction and then
again in a perpendicular direction
Storage and Disposal
Always read the label for instructions
on how to properly store and dispose
of any chemical
There are general guidelines but the
label will have specific concerns and
requirements
Storage and Disposal
 In general a pesticide storage area should
have
Security
Good ventilation
Good lighting
Moisture control
Protection from temperature extremes
Enough space to store and separate pesticides
Construction so that spills and leaks can be
contained
Storage and Disposal
Make sure you have clean-up
materials at hand
The clean-up supplies should be for
pesticide only
Pesticides should always be stored in
their original container!
Changing containers can be
confusing and the second container
may not be able to hold the pesticide
Storage and Disposal
 Pesticide should always be stored by itself
and never with food (animal or human),
cleaning products or drugs
 Keep track of what has been purchased
and use older pesticides first
 Check for deteriorating containers and
labels
 Replace labels when necessary ensuring
they are fixed to the container
Storage and Disposal
 By keeping good inventory and only
buying what is needed for the growing
season, disposal problems are eliminated
 If the product is still legal for use the best
and most recommended way to dispose of
it is to use it according to the label
 If you cannot use it, see if you can give it
to another gardener
Storage and Disposal
 The label will give specific directions on
disposing of unused concentrate
 It may be returned to the manufacturer or
the point of sale but generally that only
happens when the product is illegal for use
 Another way to dispose is to participate in
a homeowner waste collection program or
VDACS pesticide disposal program
Storage and Disposal
 NEVER pour concentrate out anywhere
 Plan carefully to avoid dealing with excess
dilution
 Storage is not recommended, but to use
what is mixed according to the label
 Try to reuse rinsate in another mix
 Containers should also be disposed of
according to label directions
Pesticides and the Law
The EPA and VDACS are the
agencies that regulate pesticides in
Virginia
FIFRA is the federal legislation on
pesticides
The Pesticide Control Act is the
Virginia legislation that governs
pesticides
Choosing the Right Pesticide
 If you are unfamiliar with pesticides or
have a new problem contact the local
extension agent for advice
 A knowledgeable garden center employee
is also helpful
 There are internet resources for pest
control as well, including the Virginia Pest
Management Guide published yearly by
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Choosing the Right Pesticide
Some things to consider when
choosing a pesticide are
Site
Equipment and PPE
Minimize waste
Least toxic
Environmental hazards
Disposal
IPM!
What is IPM?
Science-based decision-making process
that identifies and reduces risks from
pests and pest management related
strategies
IPM coordinates
Pest biology
Environmental information
Available technology
IPM
The goals of IPM are
To prevent unacceptable levels of pest
damage
Use the most economical means
Pose the least risk to people, property,
resources and the environment
IPM
There are 5 basic steps in IPM
Pest identification
Pest biology
Monitoring/scouting
Establish thresholds and determine
treatments
Evaluation of results
IPM
The first step is proper pest
identification
To that I would also add plant
identification too
Without proper identification of the
host as well as the problem, effective
treatment cannot happen
IPM
Basic plant identification
Woody or herbaceous?
Perennial, biennial, annual?
Simple or compound leaves?
Color variation?
Flowers or fruit visible?
Habit?
Leaf shape
IPM
IPM
Disease Identification
Symptoms
Dieback
Chlorosis
Wilting
Necrosis
Growths/galls
Cankers
Odd coloration
IPM
Signs
Fruiting bodies
Mycelia
Bacterial ooze
IPM
Insect identification
Eight legs or six?
Complete or incomplete metamorphosis?
Wings
Held like a tent
Fixed
Fold flat
One set hard, or patchy-looking
Only one set
IPM
Antennae
Clubbed
Segmented
Feathered
Elbowed
Body segments
Thin abdomen
Fat abdomen
Distinct/indistinct separation of segments
Head visible from above or hidden
IPM
IPM
IPM
IPM
The next step in IPM is
understanding pest biology
It is impossible to go over the
specifics of all the pests you might
encounter so learning how to find and
utilize good resources is key
Good resources can be books, other
knowledgeable persons, or the
internet
IPM
Some of my most used books
Websites
Various state extension websites
www.bugguide.net
Knowledgeable persons
Extension agents
AREC personell
IPM
The Pest Management Guide from
VA cooperative extension
Can have it in print or bookmark the
website
Updated every year
Looks like this
IPM
Important aspects of pest biology
Life cycle
Habitat-does it change with stage of life
Feeding habits
Vulnerability
Specific stage of life
Specific type of pesticide
IPM
Monitoring and scouting
In order to effectively manage pests, it is
necessary to assess populations
Knowing pest biology will determine when
is the best time to be looking for the pest
Helps determine populations and in
conjunction with thresholds determines
treatment
Also can determine populations of
beneficial bugs
IPM
Monitoring or scouting can be once a
month, week, biweekly or just a few times
a year
Pest pressure and thresholds will
determine a schedule
Tools for monitoring include
Hand lens
Pen and notebook to keep track
Min-max thermometers
IPM
Determining thresholds and
establishing treatments
In IPM, thresholds need to be established
A threshold is the point where action is
taken
Thresholds can be number of pests, or
amount of damage to plants
There can also be multiple thresholds for
multiple treatments
IPM
After thresholds are set, treatments
can be determined
Treatments can escalate as
thresholds increase
Treatments should include as many
of the following types as possible
Cultural
Focus on plant health
Proper conditions for optimal growth
Crop rotation
IPM
Physical/Mechanical
Physically altering the environment or the pest
to obtain a level of control
Tilling
Hand-weeding
Row covers
Resistance
Using plants that are resistant to pests
Biological
Other living organisms to control another
Such as ladybugs, Beauvaria bassiana
IPM
Chemical
Pesticides
Evaluate results
Keeping track of what was used and
when can give a good idea of how well it
worked
Review records at end of season to find
trends and make the program better for
the coming year
IPM-Examples
 Aphids
Identification
 Small, often smaller than a grain of rice
 Two projections on the rear called cornicles
 Can be many different colors and are soft-bodied
 Tend to congregate
 May see cast skins and sooty mold
 Leaves of plants can be distorted and curled
 May see winged males
 Segmented antennae almost as long as the body
 Fat abdomen
 Incomplete metamorphosis
IPM-Examples
IPM-Examples
Pest biology
Have incomplete metamorphosis
Populations are primarily females
All females can produce other female
aphid nymphs
Aphids give live birth
Males may or may not be produced
Eggs are the overwintering stage
Can complete a life cycle in as little as ten
days
IPM-Examples
Set thresholds
Depends on the plant
How much damage can it sustain
How long are the insects active on the plant
What is the chance for re-infestation
Depends on the situation
How much damage is acceptable
What control options are available
Set threshold based on damage to plant
or insect population?
IPM-Examples
Determine Treatment(s)
Cultural
Keeping healthy, vigorous plants to out-grow
damage
Mechanical/Physical
Row covers
Syringing-a forceful spray of water to dislodge
the aphids
Resistance
May not have varietal resistance but different
species
IPM-Examples
 Biological
Predators-ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps
Beauveria bassiana
Pyrethrum
Neem oil
 Chemical
Soaps and oils work well
Other contact insecticides
 Rotenone
 Pyrethrins
IPM-Examples
Systemic insecticide
 Imidacloprid
 Monitoring/Scouting
How often
Weekly or monthly?
 Evaluation of results
Keep records of monitoring and controls
Did you achieve the amount of control desired
Do any adjustments need to be made
IPM-Examples
Pest identification
Pest biology
Set thresholds and determine
treatments
Monitoring/scouting
Evaluate results
Pesticides and IPM
Any questions?
[email protected]
565-8721