Chapter Six: Pesticide Use and Safety and IPM Renee Hypes, IPM Technician Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Jan 11, 2016
Chapter Six: Pesticide Use and Safety and IPM
Renee Hypes, IPM Technician Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Pest
What is a pest? For the purposes of pesticide application, there is a legal
definition of pest. "Pest" means any deleterious organism that is: (i) any
vertebrate animal other than man; (ii) any invertebrate animal excluding any internal parasite of living man or other living animals; (iii) any plant growing where not wanted, and any plant part such as a root; or (iv) any bacterium, virus, or other microorganisms (except for those on or in living man or other living animals and those on or in processed food or processed animal feed, beverages, drugs as defined by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and cosmetics as defined by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Any organism protected under federal or state laws shall not be deemed a pest for the purposes of this chapter.
Pest
And because there is a legal definition of pest, there also is a legal definition of pesticide.
"Pesticide" means: (i) any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any insects, rodents, fungi, bacteria, weeds, other forms of plant or animal life, bacterium, or viruses, except viruses on or in living man or other animals, which the Commissioner shall declare to be a pest; (ii) any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant; and (iii) any substance intended to become an active ingredient in any substance defined in clause (i) and (ii).
Pest Management and Decision-MakingThis is where IPM comes in, which we will talk
about in more depth later.The book poses excellent questions to facilitate
decision-making in terms of pests. Is the problem actually caused by a pest? What kind of pest? Is the problem severe enough to require action? Can the pest be controlled at this stage of life/growth? Are pesticides registered for the pest and site? Is pesticide use the best management option? Is pesticide use cost-effective?
Pest Management and Decision-Making
If there is a problem that requires action, there are factors that will help with what action to takePest life cycle and habitsPest population size and distributionFactors that attracted pest to siteManagement optionsWays to prevent future problems
Safe Use Precautions
If you decide to use a pesticide, the label must be followed.
In place of specific instructions on the label, always use common sense.
Before your trip to Lowe’s, Ace or Cooke’s, be sure of your pest.
Consult a knowledgeable friend, extension agent or knowledgeable garden center employee.
Safe Use Precautions
Be as close to 100% positive as possible on what you’re trying to control.
Misidentification will waste time, money and effort.
Also, unnecessary exposure of pesticide to yourself and the environment will result.
Safe Use Precautions
Read labels carefully and make sure you understand it
If you have questions ask someone at the store or call an extension agent for advice
Before leaving make sure you have all of the necessary equipment including PPE
Make sure the product is labeled not only for the target pest but also the site
Safe Use Precautions
The book also recommends not buying pesticides intended for professional use.
Professional pesticides may be cheaper per unit, but usually you end up with way more than needed
Professional formulations also have a greater risk for mistakes and consequently exposure
Safe Use Precautions
Generally professional pesticides require very little concentrate per water which makes mixing smaller amounts harder, such as a gallon
The requirements for PPE are usually more strict as are other precautions particularly for the environment
All of these stipulations also mean a longer, more difficult to understand label; another good reason to stay away from professional products.
Pesticide Terminology
AcaricideA substance used to kill acarids (a subclass of
aracnids that includes mites and ticks)
AttractantA substance used to lure a pest
AvicideA substance used to kill birds
BactericideFungicide
Pesticide Terminology
Growth RegulatorHerbicideInsecticideMiticideNematicides
A substance used to control nematodesRepellantsRodenticide
Pesticide Terminology
BandSpraying in-between rows, a small strip
BroadcastDipDirectedDrenchIn-furrow
Application to or within the furrow
Pesticide Terminology
Spot treatmentSidedressOver-the-topContactStomachSystemicTranslocated/translaminarSelective/non-selective
Pesticide Label
Labeling-all of the printed information on or attached to a pesticide container
The EPA is the federal agency that gives broad approval for a product that claims to have pesticidal activity
In Virginia, manufacturers also have to be approved by VDACS
This approval process ensures the claims made by the company can be proven and also that the product conforms to safety standards
Pesticide Label
The most important thing to know about pesticides is that the label is the law!
The label is the law!The label is the law!The label is a contract between EPA,
manufacturer, seller and purchaser.Purchasing a pesticide is agreeing to
the terms on the label.
Pesticide Label
The label has partsBrand nameCommon nameChemical name and
composition/ingredient statementEPA registration numberEPA establishment numberName and address of the manufacturerNet contents
Pesticide Label
Restricted use designationRestricted use chemicals require a pesticide
license and will not be in most retail establishments and are not meant for homeowner use
Precautionary StatementsSignal Word
Danger/PoisonWarningCaution
Statement of Practical Treatment
Pesticide Label
PPEHazards to human and domestic
animalsEnvironmental hazardsDirections for useMisuse statementStorage and disposalEmergency assistance
Pesticide Formulations
Aerosol (A)Bait (B)Dust (D)Emulsifiable Concentrate (E,EC)Granule (G)Ready-to-use (RTU)Water Dispersible Granule (WDG), Dry
Flowable (DF)Wettable Powder (WP)
Adjuvants
Adjuvants are added to increase effectiveness or safety
Includes activators, compatibility agents, deflocculators, detergent, dispersants, emulsifiers, foam and drift suppressants, and spreading, sticking and wetting agents
Sometimes they are already part of the formulation, sometimes they need to be added or are unnecessary
Compatibility
Not all pesticides can be mixed together
The label will give instructions on what can and cannot be mixed
Sometimes the label will also tell you to perform a jar test, but this is usually only with professional pesticides
Personal Safety
One of the first things to know about personal safety is what PPE is and what PPE the pesticide you are using requires
The label will give instructions on the minimum PPE, this is a requirement, not a suggestion!
Most often PPE consists of long pants, long-sleeved shirt, shoes plus socks and sometimes chemical resistant gloves and eye protection
Personal Safety
Be aware of what you need to wear for each activity, mixing and loading may require more PPE that applying
Eating, drinking, smoking and chewing gum should not happen while spraying, nor should these items be present when you spray
Pesticide contaminated clothing should be washed separately from other laundry and an empty cycle should be run after washing PPE
Symptoms of Poisoning
Different pesticides affect people differently but knowing common symptoms can help you get help faster
Symptoms of mild poisoning or early acute poisoning includeFatigueHeadacheDizzinessBlurred visionExcessive sweating and salivation
Symptoms of Poisoning
NauseaVomitingStomach crampsDiarrhea
Moderate poisoning or intermediate acute symptoms includeIncreased severity of early symptomsInability to walkWeakness
Symptoms of Poisoning
Chest discomfortMuscle twitchesConstricted pupils
Severe or acute poisoningUnconsciousnessSever constriction of pupilsMuscle twitchesConvulsionsSecretions from the mouth and noseBreathing difficultyDeath
Symptoms of Poisoning
Acute symptoms appear within 24 hours and are usually reversible with treatment
An MSDS will tell you what to expect and give numbers to call in emergency
If symptoms appear after 12 hours check with a doctor to make sure you have pesticide poisoning and not something else
Emergency Procedures
The label will list specific procedures for specific pesticides
Depending on the specific pesticide it may be particularly harmful to the eye or skin and require certain remedies
In general, if a pesticide gets on the skin, wash with soap and water as soon as possible and remove contaminated clothing
Emergency Procedures
Clothing soaked with concentrate should be thrown away
If pesticide gets into the eye, flush with a gentle stream of water for 15 minutes
If someone has been acutely poisoned, seek medical attention immediately
Give the doctor the name of the pesticide and how much was ingested
Take the pesticide and the MSDS with youOr call poison control-1-800-222-1222
Protecting the Environment
Protecting insect pollinators (bees)Avoid spraying when plants are bloomingSpray in the early morning or eveningChoose spray formulations over dust and
do not apply when temperatures are cool because residues will stay active longer
If you have any concerns about bees, including identification, habits and swarm or nest collection contact the state apiarist at VDACS or the local master beekeepers
Protecting the Environment
Persistence and AccumulationPersistence refers to how long a pesticide
remains active in the environmentMost are broken down by sun,
temperature or microbial activityPesticides that build up in the tissues of
animals are said to accumulateMost pesticides that accumulate have
limited uses or are off the market
Pesticide Movement
DriftSpray dropletsPesticides attached to soil particles that erode
VolatilizationTendancy for a liquid to turn to gasSome volatize more readily than others like 2,4-
D ester
Do not mix, store or apply pesticide near any source of water or a storm grate
IPM
We’ll talk about that more in depth later!
Application Equipment
There are different ways to apply different pesticides
Most of the time the application method is determined by the formulation
Reading and understanding the label will tell you haw the pesticide should be applied
Application Equipment
Any application equipment should be maintained properlyCleaned after useStored properly
Applicators used for herbicide should not be used for any other pesticide or fertilizer
Caution should also be used when using non-selective herbicides
Application Equipment
SprayersUse compression to force
liquid/suspension outOne of the most common ways to apply
pesticideHand duster
Either separate device or built in to the container
Hard to get uniform coverage and tends to drift easily
Application Equipment
SpreadersFor granule formulationsMore uniform coverage and low driftBe careful when applying near hard
surfaces and clean excess when finished
Sprayer Calibration and Application Techniques
Calibration ensures the equipment performs to certain specifications
When using sprayers and spreaders it is important to make sure the equipment is applying the correct amount
This is especially important for labels that express rate as an amount per area, such as ounces per 1000 square feet
Sprayer Calibration and Application Techniques
Calibrating a sprayer does not take much time and is relatively easyClean out the sprayer including the hoseMark out an area, something easy like 10
x 10Fill the sprayer with a known volume of
water, such as 1 gallonSpray the area in a continuous fashion as
you would when spraying actual chemicals
Sprayer Calibration and Application Techniques
Spray the remaining volume out of the sprayer and measure it
Subtract the remaining amount from the starting amount of liquid
This amount over the area sprayed is your rate
When spraying or spreading it is important to have a good pattern to achieve uniformity
Sprayer Calibration and Application Techniques
Try not to spray so that you are walking through it
A good way to get a uniform broadcast application is to spray half the rate in one direction and then again in a perpendicular direction
Storage and Disposal
Always read the label for instructions on how to properly store and dispose of any chemical
There are general guidelines but the label will have specific concerns and requirements
Storage and Disposal
In general a pesticide storage area should haveSecurityGood ventilationGood lightingMoisture controlProtection from temperature extremesEnough space to store and separate pesticidesConstruction so that spills and leaks can be
contained
Storage and Disposal
Make sure you have clean-up materials at hand
The clean-up supplies should be for pesticide only
Pesticides should always be stored in their original container!
Changing containers can be confusing and the second container may not be able to hold the pesticide
Storage and Disposal
Pesticide should always be stored by itself and never with food (animal or human), cleaning products or drugs
Keep track of what has been purchased and use older pesticides first
Check for deteriorating containers and labels
Replace labels when necessary ensuring they are fixed to the container
Storage and Disposal
By keeping good inventory and only buying what is needed for the growing season, disposal problems are eliminated
If the product is still legal for use the best and most recommended way to dispose of it is to use it according to the label
If you cannot use it, see if you can give it to another gardener
Storage and Disposal
The label will give specific directions on disposing of unused concentrate
It may be returned to the manufacturer or the point of sale but generally that only happens when the product is illegal for use
Another way to dispose is to participate in a homeowner waste collection program or VDACS pesticide disposal program
Storage and Disposal
NEVER pour concentrate out anywherePlan carefully to avoid dealing with excess
dilutionStorage is not recommended, but to use
what is mixed according to the labelTry to reuse rinsate in another mixContainers should also be disposed of
according to label directions
Pesticides and the Law
The EPA and VDACS are the agencies that regulate pesticides in Virginia
FIFRA is the federal legislation on pesticides
The Pesticide Control Act is the Virginia legislation that governs pesticides
Choosing the Right Pesticide
If you are unfamiliar with pesticides or have a new problem contact the local extension agent for advice
A knowledgeable garden center employee is also helpful
There are internet resources for pest control as well, including the Virginia Pest Management Guide published yearly by Virginia Cooperative Extension
Choosing the Right Pesticide
Some things to consider when choosing a pesticide areSiteEquipment and PPEMinimize wasteLeast toxicEnvironmental hazardsDisposal
IPM!
What is IPM?Science-based decision-making process
that identifies and reduces risks from pests and pest management related strategies
IPM coordinatesPest biologyEnvironmental informationAvailable technology
IPM
The goals of IPM areTo prevent unacceptable levels of pest
damageUse the most economical means Pose the least risk to people, property,
resources and the environment
IPM
There are 5 basic steps in IPMPest identificationPest biologyMonitoring/scoutingEstablish thresholds and determine
treatmentsEvaluation of results
IPM
The first step is proper pest identification
To that I would also add plant identification too
Without proper identification of the host as well as the problem, effective treatment cannot happen
IPM
Basic plant identificationWoody or herbaceous?Perennial, biennial, annual?Simple or compound leaves?Color variation?Flowers or fruit visible?Habit?Leaf shape
IPM
IPM
Disease IdentificationSymptoms
DiebackChlorosisWiltingNecrosisGrowths/gallsCankersOdd coloration
IPM
SignsFruiting bodiesMyceliaBacterial ooze
IPM
Insect identificationEight legs or six?Complete or incomplete metamorphosis?
WingsHeld like a tentFixedFold flatOne set hard, or patchy-lookingOnly one set
IPM
AntennaeClubbedSegmentedFeatheredElbowed
Body segmentsThin abdomenFat abdomenDistinct/indistinct separation of segmentsHead visible from above or hidden
IPM
IPM
IPM
IPM
The next step in IPM is understanding pest biology
It is impossible to go over the specifics of all the pests you might encounter so learning how to find and utilize good resources is key
Good resources can be books, other knowledgeable persons, or the internet
IPM
Some of my most used booksWebsites
Various state extension websiteswww.bugguide.net
Knowledgeable personsExtension agentsAREC personell
IPM
The Pest Management Guide from VA cooperative extension
Can have it in print or bookmark the website
Updated every yearLooks like this
IPM
Important aspects of pest biologyLife cycleHabitat-does it change with stage of lifeFeeding habitsVulnerability
Specific stage of lifeSpecific type of pesticide
IPM
Monitoring and scoutingIn order to effectively manage pests, it is
necessary to assess populationsKnowing pest biology will determine when
is the best time to be looking for the pestHelps determine populations and in
conjunction with thresholds determines treatment
Also can determine populations of beneficial bugs
IPM
Monitoring or scouting can be once a month, week, biweekly or just a few times a year
Pest pressure and thresholds will determine a schedule
Tools for monitoring includeHand lensPen and notebook to keep trackMin-max thermometers
IPM
Determining thresholds and establishing treatmentsIn IPM, thresholds need to be establishedA threshold is the point where action is
takenThresholds can be number of pests, or
amount of damage to plantsThere can also be multiple thresholds for
multiple treatments
IPM
After thresholds are set, treatments can be determined
Treatments can escalate as thresholds increase
Treatments should include as many of the following types as possibleCultural
Focus on plant healthProper conditions for optimal growthCrop rotation
IPM
Physical/MechanicalPhysically altering the environment or the
pest to obtain a level of controlTillingHand-weedingRow covers
ResistanceUsing plants that are resistant to pests
BiologicalOther living organisms to control anotherSuch as ladybugs, Beauvaria bassiana
IPM
ChemicalPesticides
Evaluate resultsKeeping track of what was used and
when can give a good idea of how well it worked
Review records at end of season to find trends and make the program better for the coming year
IPM-Examples
Aphids Identification
Small, often smaller than a grain of riceTwo projections on the rear called corniclesCan be many different colors and are soft-bodiedTend to congregateMay see cast skins and sooty moldLeaves of plants can be distorted and curledMay see winged malesSegmented antennae almost as long as the bodyFat abdomenIncomplete metamorphosis
IPM-Examples
IPM-Examples
Pest biologyHave incomplete metamorphosisPopulations are primarily femalesAll females can produce other female
aphid nymphsAphids give live birthMales may or may not be producedEggs are the overwintering stageCan complete a life cycle in as little as
ten days
IPM-Examples
Set thresholdsDepends on the plant
How much damage can it sustainHow long are the insects active on the plantWhat is the chance for re-infestation
Depends on the situationHow much damage is acceptableWhat control options are available
Set threshold based on damage to plant or insect population?
IPM-Examples
Determine Treatment(s)Cultural
Keeping healthy, vigorous plants to out-grow damage
Mechanical/PhysicalRow coversSyringing-a forceful spray of water to
dislodge the aphidsResistance
May not have varietal resistance but different species
IPM-Examples
BiologicalPredators-ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic waspsBeauveria bassiana PyrethrumNeem oil
ChemicalSoaps and oils work wellOther contact insecticides
RotenonePyrethrins
IPM-Examples
Systemic insecticideImidacloprid
Monitoring/ScoutingHow oftenWeekly or monthly?
Evaluation of resultsKeep records of monitoring and controlsDid you achieve the amount of control desiredDo any adjustments need to be made
IPM-Examples
Pest identificationPest biologySet thresholds and determine
treatmentsMonitoring/scoutingEvaluate results
Pesticides and IPM