Pest Basics
Define "Pest"
A pest is an undesirable organism that injures humans, desirable plants and animals, manufactured products, or natural substances.
What is RUP’s short for?
Restricted use pesticides
Define "Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A pest management strategy that utilizes a wide range of pest control methods or tactics. The goal of this strategy is to prevent pests from reaching economically or aesthetically damaging levels with the least risk to the environment.
Describe Biological control
Use of natural enemies (predators, parasites, pathogens, and competitors) to control pests and their damage
What does EPA stand for?
U.S. Environmental protection Agency
What are secondary pests?
They become a problem when the first pest is controlled or absent.
Ex: fleas, ticks, and blood-feeding pests only attach people when their natural hosts are no longer present
Why are certain pesticides classified as restricted use?
Due to very high toxicity to humans and birds. For retail sale and use only by certified applicators or persons under the direct supervision of and only for those uses covered by the certified applicator’s certification.
List 5 benefits of using IPM
IPM helps to keep a balanced ecosystem
Pesticides can be ineffective
IPM can save money
IPM promotes a healthy environment
Pesticides can be ineffective
IPM maintains a good public image
Describe chemical control
Involves using naturally derived and/or synthetic chemicals to manage pests. often called pesticides. Any material applied to plants, soil, water to kill, attract, repel, or regulate or interrupt the growth and mating of pests
Do all pesticides need to be registered with the EPA?
All except for minimum-risk pesticides. All pesticides distributed and sole in the USA must be registered
List six general pest management methods
Biological Control
Chemical Control
Cultural control
genetic control
mechanical/physical control
regulatory control
Difference between restricted use and general use pesticides?
Restricted use pesticides may be sold only to certified applicators
What are reasons why Pesticide applications fail?
Dosage
Correct use of pesticides
Application timing
Application equipment
Environmental conditions
Pesticide degradation
Describe Cultural Control
Cultural practices
mowing, irrigation, aeration, and fertilization
Sanitation
draining standing water, closed garbage containers, remove trash and wood debri
What does it mean when the EPA sets a tolerance level?
The maximum pesticide residue limit that may legally remain on or in treated crops and animals or animal products sold for food or feed.
What are occasional pests?
Become troublesome only once in a while because of their life cycles
Describe Regulatory Control
Quarantine or eradication programs directed by governmental agencies according to federal and state laws. example; inspection stations between states.
What are the components of IPM
Identify the pest and understand it’s biology
Monitor the pest to be managed
Develop the pest management goal
Implement the IPM program
Record and evaluate results
Describe Genetic Control
Sometimes plants and animals can be bred or selected to resist specific pest problems. Many plants can repel various pests
State the four main groups of pests and give an example of each
Weeds
ex: undesirable plants
invertebrate animals
ex: insects, mites, ticks, spiders, snails, and slugs
Pathogens
ex: bacteria, viruses, fungi, nematodes
Vertebrate Animals
birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, rodents, and other mammals
How do pest population levels trigger control procedures?
An action threshold is the pest level at which some type of pest management action must be taken. This is a predetermined pest level that is deemed to be unacceptable.
List 2 tactics that will minimize the development of pesticide resistance
The use of new or altered pesticides
limited use
Alternating pesticides for difference pest generations
Know treatment history
Appropriate application technique
Describe Mechanical/physical control
Mechanical involves traps and physical controls include fences, screens, and sealing cracks and crevices