Principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Date: August 15, 1925
Event: Discussion of integrated pest management (IPM) in golf course maintenance.

Author: DeWitt Gallaher, Kanawha Country Club, Charleston, W. Virginia.
Date of Observation: July 1, 1925
- Noticed June bugs boring into greens to deposit eggs.
- Observed beetles forming around greens exclusively.
Bounty Program: Offered caddies 50 cents per hundred captured bugs.
- From July 1 to July 8, $25 paid for 5,000 captured June bugs.
Female June beetle lays approximately 40 eggs each.
- Estimated that half of these would hatch, resulting in a significant number of new pests.

Author: John Monteith, Jr.
Area of Study: Arlington Experimental Turf Garden.
Timing: First two weeks of July, encounter of severe large brown-patch.
- Noted its prevalence across various regions in the U.S.
- By mid-July, little to no active large brown-patch noted on plots.
- Continued development of small brown-patch on susceptible grasses.
Objective: Test effectiveness of various disinfectants against these types of disease.
Conclusion: Prior treatments assessed for their ability to prevent new attacks.

Era: Late 1940s to 1950s
Introduction of synthetic insecticides (e.g., organophosphates) for broad-spectrum control.
Program initiated: "Supervised Insect Control" in California and Arkansas.
- Emphasis on monitoring insect populations before deciding on pesticide application.
- Shift away from calendar-based spraying to data-driven methods.

Date: October 24, 2014
Introduction: Pesticide Use regulations including:
- Notice requirements for lawn pesticide applications.
- Prohibitions on certain pesticides on lawns and selected County-owned properties.
- Adoption of IPM program on County-owned properties.
Sociological and political implications discussed in this legislation.

Study: Effect of neonicotinoid pesticides on bumble bees.
Findings: Dinotefuran application caused the largest documented bee kill in North America.
- Estimated deaths: Between 45,830 and 107,470 bumble bees, affecting 289 to 596 colonies.
Conclusion: Highlights the lethal impact of neonicotinoids on pollinators, raising concerns for non-target species and long-term ecological health.

Definition of IPM: Integrated Pest Management is the selection, integration, and implementation of pest control strategies that consider economic, ecological, and sociological consequences.
- A multifaceted approach that incorporates pest identification, action thresholds, evaluation of control options with the least adverse effect on the environment.

Importance of IPM in BMPs, Plant Health Care, and Sustainable Programs.
Key Practices Include:
- Proper fertilization to avoid groundwater pollution.
- Efficient water usage.
- Appropriate techniques for mowing to enhance lawn health.
- Control of stormwater runoff.

Identify Pests: Understanding their biology and behavior.
Monitor Pests: Tracking populations through visual inspections and environmental data.
Set Goals: Establish pest population thresholds.
Implement: Deploy IPM strategies accordingly.
Record & Evaluate: Document outcomes and efficacy of pest management.

Develop a monitoring program that involves trained individuals skilled in pest identification.
Decision-making should be based on environmental impact and threshold levels.
Use a combination of control actions—cultural, mechanical, biological—to address pest issues effectively.
Regular evaluation of the control programs is necessary for ongoing improvement.

Key aspects include:
- Regular visual inspections for pest damage and presence of beneficial insects.
- Utilize traps and environmental data for monitoring.
- Mapping of the site and plant inventory to identify potential pest issues.
- Annual revisits for commercial landscape and turf accounts.

Identification of common/invasive pests as a major cause of plant damage is crucial.
- Monitor specific plants (e.g., Oak, Pine, and Crabapple) susceptible to pests.
- Pay attention to locations with historical pest problems.
Threshold levels for aesthetic damage must be set to prevent loss of plant health and aesthetic quality.

Importance of record-keeping to measure success.
Assess the level of control achieved and derive conclusions from the overall performance at the end of the management cycle.

Pages 7-29 in "Managing Insects and Mites on Woody Plants: an IPM Approach" to understand further concepts and applications of IPM in different scenarios.