1Pest Management Concepts forUrban Ornamentals & TurfDavid J. Shetlar, Ph.D.The BugDocLandscape EntomologistThe Ohio State UniversityHistoric PerspectiveEarly Pest Control –• Food & Fiber were primary needs; ornamentals& turf were luxuries for rich or aristocracy.• Emphasis was placed on physical/mechanical controls, resistant plants.• Chemicals were mainly elemental compounds: sulfur, lead, mercury.Historic PerspectiveAfter WWII –•Synthetic pesticides (herbicides insecticides•Synthetic pesticides (herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) discovered as part of war effort.• More free time, less emphasis on just food and fiber; development of modern landscapes plants.• Just kill the pests!Historic PerspectivePest Control in the 1960s –•More and more pests were becoming resistant•More and more pests were becoming resistant to pesticides; pesticides became increasingly toxic.• Environmental concerns arose – Rachael Carson’s Silent Spring.• Scientists began looking at alternatives to pesticides.Historic PerspectivePest Control in the 1970s –• Scientists developed the concept of Integrated Pest Management.• Development of elaborate sampling and monitoring systems for crops – ornamental and turf largely ignored.IPM ConceptsPest Control – Pest ManagementProgram –Way of ThinkinggygPreventive – ReactiveSingle Control – Multiple ControlsSpray Schedules – Pest Thresholds2IPM is a process where the selection, A DefinitionIntegrated Pest Management(IPM)integration, and implementation of pest control (biological, chemical or cultural) is based on predicted economic, ecological, and sociological consequences.IPM is NOT:a biological control programIPM Principles and Conceptsan organic programa pesticide free programthe most expensive approachthe least expensive approachIPM is:a decision making process thatib d l i l iIPM Principles and Conceptsis based on ecological, economic and sociological values/restrictions,uses pest monitoring and sampling,and considers all of the control options.Traditional Approaches(based on crops)sample pest populations on a IPM Principles and Conceptspp ppregular basis.develop pest economic injury levels.determine economic threshold levels (action thresholds) for each crop and pest.Problems Applying Field Crop Concepts to Urban AreasIPM Principles and Conceptsurban areas are aesthetic “crops”general public fear or distaste of pests (“I don’t like bugs!”)extremely diverse habitats are involved, not monocultures.IPM Principles and ConceptsHow do we handle diverse habitats?Number of Plants–urbanNumber of Plants–urban landscapes can contain over 100 species of plants!Number of Pests – each plant may host 1 to 5 pests each!3Urban Approaches(for landscapes)IPM Principles and ConceptsKey Plants - plants prone to damaging pest problems.Key Pests - pests that can cause serious damage or plant loss.“Traditional” Ornamental Plant Maintenance ProgramFertilize spring and fall – all plants treated the same.Mulch in spring and put down preemerg-ence herbicide (crab grass and other annualence herbicide (crab grass and other annual weeds)!Visit landscape 4-5 times per year and use “cover spray” (contains mixture of miticide, fungicide and insecticide)!Sell other services – pruning, weeding, etc.Current Approach to Ornamental Plant MaintenanceMAP landscape, identifying key plants and key pests.Evaluate individual plants and consult with powner about desires for plants – maintenance, push growth, etc.Use targeted pesticide applications.Recommend “crop” rotation!?Plant Health CareCurrent ThinkingIn Plant Health Care (PHC), the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is only ONE t f th tthONE component of the system -the one dealing with "intervention" after a plant stress has been identified as being caused by a pest.Environmentally Based??Sustainable environment?Plant Health?Urban habitat health?Reduced toxic risk?Sustainable EnvironmentsNeed little or no inp tsNeed little or no inputsResistant to changeTolerate stresses4Plant Health CarePlant EvaluationStress (or Pest)ManagementPlant ClientIntervention?Integrated Pest ManagementMONITORChemical ControlsMONITORPESTSInsectsDiseasesWeedsCultural ControlsBiological ControlsPlant ClientStress (or Pest)ManagementPlant EvaluationIntervention?MONITORPESTSInsectsDiseasesWeedsChemical Controls Cultural ControlsBiological Controls In Plant Health Care,the PLANT and its OWNER(client, manager, etc.) arethe central focus of thesystemIn Integrated Pest Management,the PESTS are the centralfocus of the systemOur “concept” of urban landscapes try to mimic outside habitats. Notice the similarities? Trees on the outside perimeter, short-cut plants in the foreground and a “water feature.”Most urban landscapes put stresses on the ornamental plants, thereby making them more prone to insect damage. These oaks were planted three-in-a-spot (four foot squares in the parking lot). They were being killed by borers and the manager was “mystified”!!Typical school landscape with insect-prone plants.5Environmentally Based Lawns and LandscapesIdeal WorldRealitySelect plant for siteAdilbf ltPlants already installedAdftltAmend soil before plantUse new plantsPest controls do not affect non-targets"Healthy" plants defend themselvesAmend after plantDeal with old plantsPesticides affect non-targets"Healthy" plants are better able to defendSelecting EnvironmentallyBased Products - InsecticidesBacillus thuringiensis (BT) toxinsSpinosad (Conserve)Spinosad (Conserve)Avermectin (Avid)Soaps and OilsIGR'sNatural Botanicals - SyntheticsSelecting EnvironmentallyBased Products - PlantsNative - ImportedPerennialAnnualPerennial -AnnualWet - Dry TolerantSun - Shade TolerantPests Rare or CommonPest Tolerant or IntolerantXeriscaped (planting for drought) New Mexico front yard!Environmentally-BasedProgram (an example)Soil Sample and CharacteristicsSite CharacteristicsPlant Inventory - identify & mapPest Inventory - "key pests“Client Needs and DesiresShort & Long Term InterventionsWhat about biological control?In it’s most simple definition, biological control is using naturally occurring organisms to control pests, whether the pests be vertebrates (fish, birds, reptiles, or mammals), di ( ll l t thfi)diseases (usually plant pathogens –fungi), weeds, or arthropods (insects and mites).Biological controls are usually predators, parasites, or diseases (pathogens), but some