Question: I have heard the term “Integrated Pest Management” and think it probably involves environmentally safer methods than treating with chemicals. Does it mean that I have to eliminate all pesticides and other chemical treatments?
What is IPM?
Let’s start by defining Integrated Pest Management, commonly referred to as “IPM”. It is a comprehensive management approach to control pests with strategies that help protect people, animals and the environment. Pests include microorganisms causing plant disease, insects or other animals damaging your home or yard, as well as invasive plants and weeds. IPM offers a range of different nonchemical and chemical options for pest control and often combines several tactics to prevent problems with pests or reduce pests to a tolerable level. As the Environmental Protection Agency states: “traditional pest control involves the routine application of pesticides. IPM, in contrast, focuses on pest prevention and uses pesticides only as needed.”
Selecting Appropriate IPM Measures
To determine which IPM methods to use, take the following steps:
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- Identify the pest in order to select the right IPM methods to address the problem effectively while having the least harmful impact on your surroundings.
- Monitor and assess pest numbers and damage. Evaluate how important the pest damage is and whether it is worth the time, effort and expense to control.
- Set a threshold for implementing IPM actions.
- Choose the strategy based on knowledge of the plant disease or other pest.
- Evaluate the results of IPM to be better prepared if the problem occurs again.
Nonchemical Control Methods
There are a number of controls that can be used to prevent pest populations from reaching damaging levels.
These methods include using:
- Host plant resistance: Plant varieties with disease resistance or tolerance to pest damage.
- Cultural controls:
- Take care of your plants. Choose plants adapted to the area, plant them in the right place, maintain healthy soil, manage moisture, control weeds and clean up plant debris in the fall. Consider including native plants in your yard and garden.
- Make the pest’s habitat a less favorable environment. For example, deprive insect pests of what they need to survive: food, water and shelter.
- Mechanical and physical controls: Prevent pests from access to the area or remove them. Methods include screens, row covers, insect traps, or netting for pest exclusion.
- Biological controls: Employ natural enemies, like lady beetles, lacewings or parasitic wasps, to reduce pest populations.
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The Penn State Pyramid of IPM Tactics is a helpful guide for choosing methods from the four main types of IPM. Cultural controls are at the bottom of the pyramid and focus on prevention measures. As you move up the pyramid to physical/mechanical, then biological and finally chemical methods, the degree of intervention and toxicity increases.
As the pyramid illustrates, nonchemical controls should be the primary focus of IPM and chemical controls should be avoided unless damage is significant and cannot be controlled adequately by other means.
Chemical Control Methods
IPM, used correctly, employs pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals to target a specific pest (plant disease, insect, weed or other pest). Be sure to consider the effect of the chemical application on the treatment site (whether outdoors, inside a building, near people or animals) and the surrounding area’s air and water quality. Choose the chemical IPM method appropriate for the specific pest and situation. Consider biorational chemicals, which target the pest but are less toxic to the surrounding area. Before deciding on a treatment, consult Virginia Cooperative Extension’s IPM Guide: 2021 Integrated Pest Management Guide – Home Grounds and Animals. It provides practical information on all aspects of IPM, including common pest problems, recommendations on a variety of treatments for Virginia’s plant diseases, insects, and other pests, and guidance on choosing a pest control professional for more complicated situations and chemical treatments. If applying chemicals yourself, be sure to read the product label carefully beforehand, follow label instructions, wear protective clothing and store and dispose of pesticides safely. For questions on how to use the IPM Guide, click HERE.
Getting Good IPM Results
Using IPM successfully involves some knowledge and research, specific to the problem pest. If the pest is a plant disease, diagnosing the disease correctly is necessary. If the pest is an insect, identification of the insect and knowledge of its habitat and life cycle are important. If the pest is an invasive plant or weed, you will need to identify the plant to learn how to eradicate it.
With this information, you can review the control options, find the right control for the specific pest and treat the problem in an environmentally responsible way. IPM provides a balanced approach that includes both nonchemical and chemical control methods, but encourages use of pesticides and other chemicals only as a last resort if other methods fail.
References
“An Introduction to Integrated Pest Management”, Wycoff, Stephanie Blevins, Extension Associate, and Frank, Daniel, Director, Virginal Tech Pesticide Programs, Virginia Cooperative Extension, ENTO-365NP, 10 Apr 2020.
“Diagnosing Plant Problems”, Niemiera, Alex X, Professor, School of Plant and Animal Sciences, Virginia Cooperative Extension, 426-714, 6 Nov 2018.
“IPM in Communities”, New York State Integrated Pest Management, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University.
“Integrated Pest Management” ,Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs, Virginia Tech.
“Integrated Pest Management”, Caldwell, Cathy, The Garden Shed, Vol 6, No. 5, Piedmont Master Gardeners, May 2020.
“Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Principles” United States Environmental Protection Agency.
“Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Tactics”, College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State Extension, 30 March 2011.
“Myth-busting Integrated Pest Management For Extension Master Gardeners”, Wycoff, Stephanie Blevins, Extension Associate, and Frank, Daniel, Director, Virginal Tech Pesticide Programs, Virginia Cooperative Extension, ENTO-388NP, June 2021.
“Organic vs Conventional (Synthetic) Pesticides: Advantages and Disadvantages”, McCoy, Tim, Extension Associate, Virginia Tech Pesticides Programs, and Frank, Daniel, Director, Virginia Tech Pesticides Programs, Virginia Tech, ENTO-384NP, 25, Jun 2020.
“Reducing Pesticide Use in the Home Lawn and Garden”, Bush, Elizabeth, Extension Plant Pathologist, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, 450-725, 2 Sep 2018.
“2021 Integrated Pest Management Guide – Home Grounds and Animals”, Latimer, Joyce G., David Close, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Cooperative Extension, ENTO-397P, 2021.
Image source: Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences
