Transcript Document
Fundamental Principles of Pest Control Dr. Richard M. Houseman Department of Entomology University of Missouri-Columbia Objectives • Unit 1: pg. 1-39 “Applying Pesticides Correctly” – Pests – Identification and Damage • • • • Insects Plant Diseases Weeds Vertebrates – Pest Management – Pesticides • Mode of Action Core Manual • ‘Learning Objectives’ – Clues to what is important • ‘Terms to Know’ – Definitions of common words • ‘Test Your Knowledge’ – Example test questions Pest Management (pg.5) Objectives 1. Prevention = keep from becoming a problem 2. Suppression = reducing to an acceptable level 3. Eradication = destroying an entire pest population Management Strategies • Mechanical • Exclusion/removal • Heat/cold • Biological • Natural enemies, microbials • Pheromones/hormones • Cultural • Tilling, burning, mowing, flooding • Crop rotation, trap crops • Planting/harvest timing Management Strategies • Sanitation • Eliminate breeding sites • Remove pathogens/sources • Disinfect equipment/tools • Host Resistance • Using disease-resistant varieties • Genetics • Manipulate host resistance • Sterility in pest Management Strategies • Chemical • The use of natural or synthetic substances that directly cause the death, repulsion, or attraction of pests. Considerations • • • • Mode of Action Persistence Non-target effects Resistance Mode of Action • Mode of Action – The way a chemical kills a pest. Examples: • Repellents, poisons, eradicants, systemics Persistence • Persistence – The length of time a chemical is active after being applied. Categories: • Non-Persistent – Kills the pest, breaks down in a relatively short period of time • Persistent – Residues remain active for period of time after application Non-Target Effects • Non-Target Effects – Pesticide effects on non-pest organisms. Potential risks: • May kill beneficial organisms • May create new pests – Ex.-Killing natural enemies of a non-pest. Resistance • Resistance – Lessening of the effectiveness of a pesticide for reducing the pest population Principles: • Chemicals kill only susceptible pests • Survivors pass traits for survival to their offspring • Resistance develops over generations Resistance • To promote: – Use same pesticide repeatedly – Use over large areas – Use highly residual chemicals • To limit: – Rotate pesticides – Target applications – Use persistent chemicals wisely Pests (pg.3) • A Pest is any unwanted organism – Based on what organism does, not on what they are. • Compete for food or water • Cause injury, disease, or annoyance Pests (pg.3) Types of Pests 1. Continuous = nearly always present 2. Sporadic = occasionally present; migratory/cyclical 3. Potential = not normally pests, require control only in certain situations Pest Identification (pg.3) • How to Identify? • Physical features • Damage or Symptoms • Why Identify? • Pests differ in their habitats, behavior, life cycles, and susceptibility to control methods. Insect & Insect-like Pests (pg.6) • Physical Features • Segmented bodies • Jointed appendages • Exoskeleton made of chitin • Bilateral symmetry Insects • Three body regions (pg.6) • Head – 1 Pair of antennae – Various mouthparts • Thorax – 3 pairs of legs – 2 pairs of wings • Abdomen – Body systems Insects • Life Cycle (pg.7) – Metamorphosis 1. None Only change is size 2. Gradual Egg, nymph, adult 3. Incomplete Egg, nymph, adult (H2O) 4. Complete Egg, larva, pupa, adult Insect-like Groups (pg.8) • Arachnids – Spiders, mites, ticks • 2 regions, 8 legs • Crustaceans – Pillbugs • 3 regions, >8 legs • Chilopods – Centipedes • Many regions & legs • Diplopods – Millipedes • Many regions & legs Insect-like Groups • Nematodes – Microscopic roundworms • Mollusks – Slugs, snails Look like insect larvae – Non-segmented – No metamorphosis Insect Pests of Plants (pg.10) • Types of damage – – – – – Leaf eating Plant-sucking Internal feeding Stem boring Root feeding Pests of Animals (pg.11) • Types of damage – – – – Stinging Biting Blood sucking Toxin injecting Insecticides (pg.15) • Modes of Action 1. Repellents Keep insects away from an area or host 2. Disrupters Interfere mechanically with body function 3. Poisons Deactivate biological systems in the body – Stomach = must be eaten – Contact = must be touched Plant Pathogens (pg.16) • Plant Disease – Any condition that causes a plant to function or appear different from normal Plant Diseases (pg.16) • Plant Responses to Disease Agents 1. Overdeveloped tissues ie. galls, leaf curls, swelling 2. Underdeveloped tissues ie. stunting, lack of chlorophyll 3. Death of Tissues ie. leaf spot, wilting, blight, cankers Plant Diseases • Pathogens include: – – – – Fungi Bacteria Viruses Mycoplasmas Fungi (pg.16) • Feed on other organisms • Most are beneficial – Decomposers • A few parasites – Feed on living plant tissues • Reproduce by spores • Microscopic, resistant stage Fungi • Symptoms • Soft rot of fruit • Rusts, smuts • Curling, powdery mildew of leaves • Spots on leaves Bacteria (pg.17) • Microscopic • Symptoms • Blights, spots , rots • Reproduce by cell division Viruses (pg.17) • Sub-microscopic • Symptoms • Abnormal growth, mosaics • Reproduce inside host cell • Vector transfer Mycoplasmas (pg.17) • Smallest living things • Plant-feeders • Symptoms • Yellow, stunting • Reproduce independently • Insects, mites, grafting Fungicides & Bactericides • Modes of Action (pg.20) – Protectants • Applied before or during initial infection – Eradicants • Applied after infection – Systemics • Internal transport to all tissues of plant Weeds (pg.21) • A weed is any plant growing where it is not wanted. Effects: – – – – Compete for resources Contaminate harvest Harbor pests or release toxins Look ‘bad’ Weeds • Development (pg.21) – – Seedling Vegetative Producing leaves, stems, roots – Reproductive Producing flowers, seeds – Maturity Weeds • Life Cycles (pg.21) – Annuals = one year – Biennials = two years – Perennials = more that two years Weed Identification (pg.22) • Grasses • Narrow, parallel veins, round stems • Sedges • Narrow, parallel veins, triangular stems • Broadleaves • Fan-like, branching veins Herbicides (pg.25) • Modes of Action or – Contact • kills parts of plant the chemical touches – Translocated • absorbed and distributed throughout the plant – Selective or • kills only undesireable plants – Non-selective • kills all plants in an area Herbicides Herbicides (pg.26) • Modes of Action (cont’) or – Foliar • Applied to leaves of the weed (foliage) – Soil • Applied to the ground around the weed Example: 2,4-D is a foliar-translocated-nonpersistent-selective Vertebrates (pg.29) • Have backbones • Many potential pests • Various situations and impacts. • Eat crops, kill livestock, transmit disease, contamination, etc. Poisons (pg.30) • Few pesticides available – Rodenticides: most commonly-used – Piscicides – Avicides • Usually highly toxic to humans Summary • Identification of the pest and an understanding of its biology is important. • The best pest management programs combine all of the available control tactics. • When using chemicals, it is important to understand their mode of action, persistence, risk of resistance, and their effect on non-target organisms.