MODULE 3
Unit 1 Pest management Unit 2 Economic test Unit 3 Economic damage
UNIT 1 PEST MANAGEMENT
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.
2.0 Objectives
At the end of this unit, you will get to know why IPM an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management.
3.0 Main content
3.1 Definition of term
The Pest Management approach can be applied to both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, such as the home, garden, and workplace. IPM takes advantage of all appropriate pest management options including, but not limited to, the judicious use of pesticides. In contrast, organic food production applies many of the same concepts as IPM but limits the use of pesticides to those that are produced from natural sources, as opposed to synthetic chemicals.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in
combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.
The IPM approach can be applied to both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, such as the home, garden, and workplace. IPM takes advantage of all appropriate pest management options including, but not limited to, the judicious use of pesticides. In contrast, organic food production applies many of the same concepts as IPM but limits the use of pesticides to those that are produced from natural sources, as opposed to synthetic chemicals.
3.2 PEST OUT BREAK
Pest outbreak is an explosive increase in population of a particular species, that occurs over a shout period of time (e.g) attack of locust, army worm etc. In
epidemiology, an outbreak is a sudden increase in occurrences of a disease in a particular time and place. It may affect a small and localized group or impact upon thousands of people across an entire continent. Four linked cases of a rare infectious disease may be sufficient to constitute an outbreak. Outbreaks include epidemics, which term is normally only used for infectious diseases, as well as diseases with an environmental origin, such as a water or foodborne disease. They may affect a region in a country or a group of countries. Pandemics are near-global disease outbreaks.
The terms "outbreak" and "epidemic" have often been used interchangeably.
Researchers Manfred S. Green and colleagues propose that the latter term be restricted to larger events, pointing out that Chambers Concise Dictionary and Stedman's Medical Dictionary acknowledge this distinction.
When investigating disease outbreaks, the epidemiology profession has developed a number of widely accepted steps. As described by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these include the following:[2]
Identify the existence of the outbreak (Is the group of ill persons normal for the time of year, geographic area, etc.?)
Verify the diagnosis related to the outbreak
Create a case definition to define who/what is included as a case
Map the spread of the outbreak using Information technology as diagnosis is reported to insurance
Develop a hypothesis (What appears to be causing the outbreak?)
Study hypotheses (collect data and perform analysis)
Refine hypothesis and carry out further study
Develop and implement control and prevention systems
Release findings to greater communities
The order of the above steps and relative amount of effort and resources used in each varies from outbreak to outbreak. For example, prevention and control measures are usually implemented very early in the investigation, often before the causative agent is known. In many situations, promoting good hygiene and hand-washing is one of the first things recommended. Other interventions may be added as the investigation moves forward and more information is obtained. Waiting until the end of an investigation to implement prevention and control measures is a sure way to lose ones job. In outbreaks identified through notifiable disease surveillance, reports are often linked to laboratory results and verifying the diagnosis is straight forward. In outbreaks of unknown etiology, determining and verifying the diagnosis can be a significant part of the investigation with respect to time and resources. Several steps are usually going on at any point in time during
the investigation. Steps may be repeated. For example, initial case definitions are often established to be intentionally broad but later refined as more is learned about the outbreak. The above list has 9 steps, others have more. Implementing active surveillance to identify additional cases is often added.
3.3 PEST RESURGENCE
Pest resurgence is the rapid reappearance of a pest population in injurious numbers, usually brought about after the application of a broad-spectrum pesticide has killed the natural enemies which normally keep a pest in check.
A well-known example in rice cultivation is the resurgence of brown plant hopper (BPH). If no pesticides are used, BPH is kept under control by its natural enemies (mirid bugs, ladybird beetles, spiders and various pathogens). Pesticides kill the beneficial and create a situation where populations of BPH can multiply rapidly and thus become a man-made pest.
Resurgence can be easily avoided by not spraying pesticides. But for many farmers it is difficult to recognize that resurgence has occurred in their field. They spray regularly because they see pests in their fields, without realizing that it is actually the spraying which is causing the pest problem.
Plate 1: Image of a farmer spraying pesticides Source: Smith(1949).
Avoid pest resurgence by not spraying toxic pesticides
Another example is about spider mites. Spider mites are normally kept under control by populations of predatory mites. If pesticides are used, the predatory mites get wiped out and the populations of spider mites can increase and become a problem. The farmer responds by spraying more (to control the spider mites) while the proper response would be to stop spraying so that predatory mites can come back to control the pest.
Plate 2: Spider mite (adult female)