Integrated Pest Management
Josey Henderson & Sierra Motley
Brief Explanation
Integrated Pest Management is a plan to control the damage of pests, while limiting harm to the environment. It is used in 75% of the U.S. agricultural acreage. First, thresholds are set. These are like boundaries, or checkpoints that indicate when control should begin. Next comes monitoring, which is the inspection and identification of the specific problem. Prevention is done when there are no pests present yet. This is the process of preparing your crops or lawns for pests, trying to keep pests from ever being able to inhabit the area. Finally, if prevention plans are no longer effective or available, then control plans are evaluated and implemented. First, lower scale, less risky plans are tried. If it becomes obvious that further more extensive actions are needed, then additional pest control methods are employed.
Mouse Trap
Low risk mechanical control method.
Spraying of Pheromones
Low risk spray of highly targeted chemicals.
Broadcast Spraying of Pesticides
Last resort action, consisting of non-specific chemicals. Higher risk.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages Include:
- reduced health risk to humans
- reduced health risk to pets and other organisms that aren't being targeted
- less harm for the environment
- reduced chance of pests developing resistance towards specific pesticides
- reduced amount of broad-spectrum pesticide use in the environment
- more involved planning
- more demanding lawn and garden care
- more resources needed as substitutions for pesticides
- greater amount of outside knowledge required
How Popular is it?
IPM is used in over 75% of the agricultural acreage in the U.S. It is so popular because it is an environmentally safe way to limit had to humans, crops, and other organisms. It is broad and efficient, varying in levels of severity.
Beetle Eating Purple Loosestrife
Beetles get rid of this nonnative plant, to protect native plants and other organisms. Low risk strategy.
Burlap Wrapped Around Tree Trunk
Low risk strategy that prevents moth larvae from feeding on developing caterpillars.
Protective Window Screen
This is a low risk form of control, used as a barrier to prevent bugs and other pests from entering.