Polyphemus Moth
Family Saturniidae
Integrated Pest Management
for
Greenhouse and Nursery
Insect Pests
Jen Bergh
Technical Support Specialist
Turf & Ornamentals
Outline
 Horticultural Production Environment
 Pest Damage
 Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
 Decision Making
 Programs & Rotations
Recipe for an Insect Pest
Fecundity – many offspring
Fast generations (enhanced by temp, H2O & sometimes N)
High rate of mutation: evolving resistance
No or few natural predators
Concentration of favored resource
Dispersal: ability to escape controls
Recruitment: ability to migrate into previously controlled areas
The Horticultural Production Environment
 Concentrated resources
 Life history escape hatches
 Pest adaptations
 Population dynamics
 Thresholds
Pest Damage
 Types of damage
 Feeding – herbivory (direct)
 Egg laying – oviposition (direct)
 Nuisance - presence
 Disease transmission – vectoring
(indirect)
 Consequences
 Scouting & ecological watch-outs
Scouting Watchouts
Which is mite damage? Which is thrips damage?
Cryptic Pests
Scouting Watchouts
Cryptic Life Stages
Cryptic Life Stages
Ecological Watchouts
 Weather patterns – T, H, W
 Microclimate
 Crop transitions & refugia
 Plant nutrition
 Micro and macro-organisms
 Population and genetic shifts
Integrated Pest Management
 Scouting
 Thresholds
 Cultural &
mechanical tools
 Biological tools
 Chemical tools
 Resistance Mgmt
Decision Making
 Setting:
 Nurseries
 Greenhouses
 Landscapes
 Turf
 Thresholds & tolerance
 Budget
Recipe for Effective Insect IPM
Identify the insect & know its life cycle
Treat susceptible life stage(s)
Prevent resistance with multiple MOAs, rotation programs
Use cultural controls to enhance insecticide efficacy: sanitation
Monitor biological controls carefully – temp, light, N, vectoring
Scout regularly to stay ahead of populations
Treat before crop reaches the damage threshold
Case Study: Spider Mites
SE US foliage greenhouse with population resurgence
after knockdown miticide treatments
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

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Perennial mite population
Usually just under threshold
Mid-July scouting revealed rising population
Preventative apps -> rescue application
Case Study: Spider Mites
Egg to Adult:
@ 50-68°F = 28 days
@ 77-95°F = 8 days
One female ≈ 50 offspring
Exponential growth curve @ 80°F =
13 X 106 mites/month =
13,000,000 spider mites
Case Study: Spider Mites
SE US foliage greenhouse with population resurgence
after knockdown miticide treatments





Rescue applications of miticide
No ovicidal activity
Imperfect spray coverage
Infrequent scouting
Autumn: population peaks with reproductive
females getting ready to overwinter
Case Study: Tetranychid Mites
Recommendation:

Improve spray coverage

Increase scouting
 Scout sex ratios +
presence of eggs
 Scout <7 day intervals

Rotation Partners
 Pylon Miticide
 Another MOA Miticide
 Extoxazole (MGR)*
 Ultra-Pure Oil*
MGRs and Oils
 Etoxazole:
 Beethoven TR
 TetraSan
 Other MGRs and IGRs – target your pest
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
Oils
 Ultra-Pure Oil from BASF
 Highly refined, clean oil
Applying oils:
 Seasonally
 UV more risky than humidity
 Consider nighttime applications
 Test plants + weather patterns
Programs & Rotations
 Axioms - SOPs
 Rotations
 Careful preventative applications
 Preventing vs. managing resistance
Resistance Management
 Rotate MOAs in program
 Avoid >2 applications with AI or in MOA
 Avoid sublethal doses
 Improve spray coverage
 Use multifaceted approach – eg., biologicals +
cultural + chemical controls; contacts vs.
systemics
Modes of Action – IRAC Groups
Modes of Action – IRAC Groups
Resistance
 Prevention:
 <3 applications of the same MOA
 Avoid sublethal doses
 Be aware of non-target insects and dose
responses
 Management:
 Identify new MOAs
 Create new rotations
 Use mechanical controls
 Isolate crops
Resistance
 Use Insect Growth Regulators – IGRs
 Avoid increasing reproductives
 Stop maturation
 Prevent ovipositioning
 IGRs or MGRs should be part of every
insect rotation program
Conclusion
 Open, dynamic systems
 Tools
 Information resources: CPS, BASF,
universities, IR-4, consultants, other hort
professionals
Contact
Jen Bergh
Technical Support Specialist
Turf & Ornamentals
jennifer.bergh@parnters.basf.com
(541) 908-5164