M A R I O N M U R R A Y , U S U I P M P R O G R A M

Home Pesticide

Options and Safety

• Using pesticides in an IPM setting

• Understanding the pesticide label

• Types of pesticides and how they work

• Applying pesticides safely

Integrated Pest Management

Not quite

sure what

this is

????

Choose

pesticide

labeled for

many different

pests

Spray

Repeat

• sole reliance on chemical control strategy

• treatment at first sign of pest, without efforts to set injury levels

• regular sprays on a calendar date

• no system-wide perspective

Conventional Pest Management

What is the Problem?

Resurgence

• pesticides may kill natural enemies, leading to increase in population

Secondary pest outbreak

• some pesticides promote pest activity:

• carbaryl is known to increase spider mite reproduction

I have

correctly

ID’ed this pest

Learn pest

biology

Design new

garden/landscape to

prevent pest

Monitor pest

Determine

threshold

Mechanical, cultural

controls

Reduced-risk

chemical controls

(last resort)

Record

results

Using Pesticides in IPM

Integrated Pest Management

…a sustainable approach to managing pests by

combining biological, cultural, physical and

chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic,

health, and environmental risks…

Can be used in Conventional or Organic systems

Components of an IPM Program

1. Knowledge of pest biology and behavior as well as knowledge of host

plant

2. Monitoring for insect or disease occurrence

3. Determine IF and WHEN to treat

Powdery Mildew: Treat when 10-20% of the foliage has symptoms of powdery mildew.

If and When to Treat?

Don’t apply when you can’t hit a susceptible target

Components of an IPM Program

1. Knowledge of pest biology and behavior as well as knowledge of host plant

2. Monitoring for insect or disease occurrence

3. Determine IF and WHEN to treat

4. Using an integrated approach to pest management and prevention

Use resistant cultivars

Cultural Control

Cultural Control

Promote Biological Control

Chemicals

• Use least toxic option first

• Reduced risk pesticides

• Biopesticides

The key to proper use: Read the Label!

Understanding the Pesticide Label

On the Front

Label Details/Front and Back and Inside

Company

Brand

Name

Chemical

Name

Signal

Word

Target

Pests

Where and

How it can be

Applied

Storage

Disposal

Precautions

First Aid

Hazards

Contact Info

EPA Number

Site of application

Types of Pesticides and How They Work

Pesticide Groups

• Insect Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) and Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) developed MODE OF

ACTION classification schemes for insecticides and fungicides

• Purpose is to provide a guide to selection of pesticides for an effective and sustainable resistance management

program

Prevent Pesticide Resistance

Cell Wall

Alternate Classes to Prevent Resistance

INSECTICIDES

• Use one chemical class within the same insect generation

• Switch to another class in each insect generation

• Otherwise, alternate class with each application

FUNGICIDES

Follow the “3-2 Rule” • do not apply one group more than 3 times in one season, AND

• do not apply more than 2 consecutive sprays from one group

Insecticide Activity

Contact: causes injury or death by touching outside of insect

• if the material has a residual, the insect is affected by walking through it

• pyrethroids

• If there is no residual, the spray must land on the insect

• insecticidal soap; oils

Ingestion: insect must ingest toxin to be killed

• spinosad

Insecticide Groups – Pyrethroids, Group 3

• Works by contact

• Broad spectrum (kill natural enemies)

• Not systemic

• Moderate residual

• Mode of action: continual nerve impulse transmission,

tremors, death

• Highly toxic to natural enemies and bees

• skin, eye, and respiratory irritant to humans

pyrethrin = organic version derived from chrysanthemum

pyrethroids (permethrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, beta-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin) = synthetic

Insecticide Groups – Pyrethroids, Group 3

• Borers

• True bugs: squash bugs,

stink bugs, boxelder bugs

• Grubs

Insecticide Groups – Neonicotinoids, Group 4

• Works by contact or ingestion

• Somewhat selective

• Systemic

• Long residual

• Mode of action: over-stimulation and blockage of

the nicotine acetylcholine receptors.

• Toxic to bees

acetamiprid – dinotefuran – imidacloprid

Insecticide Groups – Acetamiprid, Group 4

• Codling moth

• Western cherry fruit fly

• Walnut husk fly

• Peach twig borer

• Leafhoppers

• Beet leafminer

• Aphids

• Scale

spinosad

Insecticide Group – Spinosyns, Group 5

• Works by ingestion

• Moderately selective

• Not systemic

• Moderate residual

• Mode of action: cessation of feeding and paralysis of exposed

insects within minutes

• Soft on natural enemies, but toxic to bees on contact

Insecticide Group – Spinosyns, Group 5

• thrips

• earwigs

• caterpillars (codling moth, peach twig borer,

tomato hornworm, corn earworm, greater

peachtree borer, cabbage caterpillars, sod

webworm)

• Colorado potato beetle

• fruit flies (western cherry fruit fly, walnut husk

fly)

Insecticide Groups – Bioinsectides, Group 11 and UN

Group 11 – Microbial disruptors of insect mid gut

membranes – Bacillus thuringiensis • toxins produced by the bacterium cause feeding to stop

• used on caterpillars

• works best when larvae are at early stages (instars)

Group UN – unknown mode of action

• azadirachtin: Azatin, Ecozin

• derivative of neem oil

• acts as a feeding deterrent and a growth regulator

Insecticide Groups – Bioinsectides, Group 11

Bacillus thuringiensis

• caterpillars (cabbage caterpillars, corn

earworm)

• fungus gnats

• mosquito larvae

• only works while caterpillars are small (less

than ½ inch)

• store in cool, dry area

• dry formulations last 5 years

• liquid last 2 years

Insecticides with No Codes

Ungrouped insecticides do not

have risk for resistance

• Nosema locustae – a type of

protozoa, for grasshopper

control

• insecticidal soap

• aromatic oils (thyme, eucalyptus,

eugenol, rosemary, clove,

peppermint, etc.)

• petroleum oils

• neem oil

Product Percent of Total

Lubricants 0.9%

Other Refined Products 1.5%

Asphalt & Road Oil 1.7%

Residual Fuel Oil 3.3%

Still Gas 5.0%

Jet Fuel 12.6%

Distillate Fuel Oil 15.3%

Gasoline 51.4%

Horticultural Oil

Mineral Oil

Paraffinic Petroleum Oil

Paraffinic Oil

Horticultural Oil

Using Horticultural Oil

Dormant

• Aphids

• Blister mites

• Soft scales

• Peach twig borer

Summer

• Aphids

• Spider mites

• Soft scales

• Thrips

Using Horticultural Oil

Dormant application (bud swell to ½” green): 2-3%

rate

Caution: Do not apply below 40°F

Summer application: 1% rate

Cautions:

• Do not apply when temperature will reach 85°F

within 4 hours of application

• Do not spray water-stressed plants

Neem Oil

Applying Pesticides Safely

All pesticides have risks

• Organic Safe

• Synthetic Highly toxic

• Natural Safe

One way to quickly assess the risk?

Signal Words

Danger

Warning

Caution

One way to quickly assess the risk?

Signal Words

Danger

Warning

Caution

Neem Oil

Pyrethrin Spectracide

Triazicide

Bonide Fungonil Insecticidal Soap

Bonide Captan

Essential Oils Have no Signal Word

Exempt from toxicity tests by EPA

Peppermint and Wintergreen oils

• irritant to nostril linings/dermatitis

• not recommended for children, infants or during pregnancy or breast feeding

Clove oil

• allergic reactions

• not good for people with liver or kidney disorders

Cinnamon oil –

• powerful irritant and

• even worse sensitizer

Reducing Human Risk

Wear protective clothing

• Wash clothing separately

Clean yourself and your equipment

Be aware of “days to harvest”

Reducing Risk to Pollinators

• Many studies show that bees collect the majority of their pollen from non-crop plants, and that pollen is consistently contaminated with primarily urban pesticides.

• Neonicotinoids (imidacloprid) can be found in ornamental plant pollen at levels higher than in agricultural uses

Toxicity of Common Organic-Approved Pesticides to Pollinators

Soaps and Oils,

only when directly

sprayed upon the

pollinator

Spinosad, only when wet

Reducing Risk to Pollinators

• Read the Environmental Hazards section of the label.

• Use the lowest effective pesticide application rate on the label.

• Do not spray during bloom; be cognizant of weeds in flower at

application site.

• Spray at dawn or dusk.

• Reduce spray drift: spray under calm conditions.

• Use liquid sprays or granules instead of dusts.

• Dispose rinse water according to label instructions.

Other Risks: Drift

• Check for sensitive areas first!

• Remove bird feeders

• Watch the wind speed

• Keep the spray low

• Spray with the breeze

• Don’t apply when temperatures are over 85°F

Other Risks: Runoff

USGS National Water Quality Assessment sampled urban streams

• Insecticides occurred more frequently in urban streams than they did in

agricultural area streams

• Herbicides detected in 99% of Urban stream samples

Locate & stay away from wells

Stay away from wetlands & water

Do not apply before heavy rains

Other Risks: Storage

Buy only what you need

Keep them out of reach of children & lock them up

Never store indoors

Keep in original containers

Other Risks: Disposal

Follow label

Rinse containers

Apply extra mix to labeled site

Call UDAF about obsolete pesticides

Apply Properly & Be Cautious

Spot treatments conserve beneficial organisms

Avoid broadcast treatments

Keep the plant’s condition in mind

Check coverage & monitor control

Only repeat application if the label allows

MARION.MURRAY@USU.EDU

435-797-0776