Integrated Pest Management :: essays research papers

Integrated Pest ManagementIntegrated pesterer management (IPM) is a recently developed technology for pestcontrol that is aimed at achieving the desired control while reducing the use ofpesticides. To accomplish this, various combinations of chemical, biological,and physical controls are employed. In the past, pesticides were all too ofttimesapplied routinely whether needed or not. With IPM, pest populations as well asbeneficial parasite and predator populations are monitored to delimit whetherthe pests actually attest a serious problem that needs to be treated. Ifproperly and extensively employed, IPM might reduce pesticide use by as much as50 percent, while at the same time improving pest control. If this goal wereachieved, the environmental problems would be minimized, and significantbenefits would result for farmers and society as a whole.IPM coordinates economically and environmentally acceptable methods of pestcontrol with judicious and minimal use of toxic pesticides. IPM p rograms assesslocal conditions, including climate, crop characteristics, the biology of thepest species, and soil quality, to determine the best method of pest control.Tactics employed include better tillage to prevent soil erosion and introductionof beneficial insects that eat unwholesome species. Many pests that are attached tocrop residues can be eliminated by plowing them underground. Simple paper orplastic barriers placed around proceeds trees deter insects, which can overly beattracted to light traps and destroyed. Weeds can be controlled by spreadinggrass, leaf, or black plastic mulch. Weeds also may be pulled or hoed from thesoil.Many biological controls are also effective. Such insect pests as the Europeancorn borer, and the Japanese beetle, have been controlled by introducing theirpredators and parasites. Wasps that prey on fruit-boring insect larvae are now existence commercially bred and released in California orchards. The many hundredsof species of viruses, bacteria , protozoa, fungi, and nematodes that parasitizepest insects and weeds are now being investigated as selective control agents.Another area of biological control is breeding host plants to be pest resistant,making them less prone to flak catcher by fungi and insects. The use of sex pheromonesis an effective measure for luring and trapping insects. Pheromones have beensynthesized for the Mediterranean fruit fly, the melon fly, and the Oriental