Pest
Undesirable organism that injures humans, desirable plants and animals, manufactured products and natural substances
Four main groups of pest
- Weeds (Ex. Canada Thistle Flower)
- Invertebrate animals (Ex. Paper wasp)
- Pathogens (Ex. Hawthorne rust)
- Vertebrate (Ex. Rock dove)
Importance of pest identification
Misidentification leading to pest control failure
Understand signs of what type of pest is present
Pests change throughout life cycles
Habitat, environmental conditions and time of yea
Six general pest management methods
- Biological
- Chemical
- Cultural
- Genetic
- Mechanical/physical
- Regulatory
Biological management method
Introducing pests with natural enemy to maintain balance in the ecosystem
Chemical management method
Involves using naturally derived and/or synthetic chemicals to manage pests
Cultural management method
Practice that reduces pest establishment, reproduction, dispersal and survival
EX mowing, irrigation
Genetic management method
Plants and animals breed or resist specific pest problems through passing of genetic material down to form a hybrid seed or characteristics
Mechanical/physical management method
To kill pest directly or destroy their environment
Regulatory management method
Pest who are seriously endangered public health or can cause a wide spread disease
eradication and quarantine
Integrated pest management (IPM)
A balanced, tactical approach to pest control
Anticipates in pest outbreaks and prevention of pest damage
Five benefits of using IPM
- Helps to keep a balanced ecosystem
- pesticides can be ineffective
- IPM can save money
- IPM promotes a healthy environment
- IPM maintains a good public imagination
How can one or more control options improve pest control?
Prevent resistance build up, certain pest are not affected by some forms of control
Why do pesticides fail?
- Dosage
- Correct use
- Application timing
- Application equipment
- Environmental conditions
- Pesticide degradation
Importance of a pesticides mode of action in managing pesticides resistance
Specific modes of action can rapidly lead to the development of resistant pest populations even after limited use in the field
Two tactics that will minimize the development of pesticide resistance
- New or altered pesticides
2.Applying pesticides over limited areas reduces the proportion of the total pest population exposed to the chemical
Explain how pest population levels trigger control procedures
The population must be large enough to cause significant damage to justify cost control.
Economic threshold: pest population density at which control measures are needed to prevent the pest from reaching the economic injury level
Prevention and suppression when developing management goals
Suppression: Aim to reduce the pest population
Prevention: Prevent loss or damage from pests
How and why pesticides are regulated in the United States
Pesticides are regulated to utilize their benefits while protecting public health and welfare and preventing harm to the environment
Regulated by laws and regulations
Importance of knowing and following the federal laws and regulations related to pesticide use
May cause harm to humans and environment, and to properly use the pesticides
Why are certain pesticides are classified as restricted use?
Based on their potential hazards under the circumstances in which they are to be used
Restricted use classification
If pesticide exceeds one or more human health toxicity criteria or based on other regulatory standards
General use classification
Unclassified-use pesticides
Usually lower in toxicity
Less likely to harm humans or the environment
Importance of maintaining accurate records of pesticide applications and employee training
Applications: future lawsuit, determine what treatment works, helps plan future purchases, provide information needed by medical staff, documents steps taken to protect the framework and environment, and are used for federal and state surveys
Training: May be required in the future and shows mandatory training was complete
Federal insecticide, fungicide, and rodenticide act (FIFRA)
Federal law or statute that regulates the production, transportation, sale, use, and disposal or pesticide
Frame work for the federal pesticide regulatory program
Environmental protection agency (EPA)
Responsible for registering or authorizing pesticide products for sale, distribution, and use in the United States