IPM Project

By: Ramya Saravanan

What is IPM?

IPM is an environment-friendly approach to pest management. It combines the information on the stages of life a pest does most damage to the environment with current pest control methods.

Why IPM?

Using pesticides can be harmful to people, wildlife, and the environment. Pesticides can even contaminate our food, water, and air.

Steps of IPMInspect – An inspection reveals where pests are coming from and

what conditions present may help the pest thrive. This is the detective stage. You have to gather clues about the pest problem by talking to people and inspecting the area. Inspections should occur on a regular basis.

Identify – Identifying a pest correctly is important in IPM. After identification, you should research the pest (life cycle, food, habitat, etc.) to figure out the best ways to get rid of it.

Monitor – Monitoring is the regular inspection of areas where pest problems may occur. It helps you determine if, where, and when treatment is needed. You can use sticky traps and other monitoring traps to help you.

Steps of IPMControl Methods - By using the information collected in the

previous steps, you have to determine the best control methods for a particular situation. The control methods should be appropriate to the site, the least hazardous, and the most cost-effective.

Evaluate – When you evaluate, you make sure that your control methods are actually taking care of the pest problem. You can improve and adjust your strategies if needed.

Educate - When you find new, useful information, you should educate others. This is an important step in an IPM program.

IPM TacticsHabitat Modification• Improving an area so that it no longer provides pests with a nice

environment to live in (reducing clutter takes away pest hiding places)

Physical• Manual way of killing pests (trapping, fly swatters, etc.)

Biological Control• Natural predators (cats eat mice)

Pesticides• Least toxic (no fogs or bombs)• Only in places where people won’t come into contact with them

• Scientific Name: Malacosoma americanum

•Native to North America

Pest CharacteristicsCaterpillar:• Hairy• White stripe down the back• Black• Brown and yellow lines along sides• Row of blue oval spots on sides

Moth:• Reddish-brown• Two pale stripes running diagonally across each forewing

Life CycleEgg:

• Egg mass of 150 to 400 eggs

• Eggs hatch when buds begin to open (early March)

Life CycleLarva:• Caterpillars from an egg mass

stay together• Spin a silky tent in the crotch

of a tree• Eat the leaves of a tree• Come out to eat:

Before dawn Evening After sunset

• Mostly stay in tent• Increase the size of the tent

as they grow

• Become full-grown in 4 to 6 weeks 2 to 2-1/2

Life CyclePupa:

• Spin cocoon in a protected area away from the tent

• Cocoon is about 1 inch long

• Cocoon is made of white or yellowish silk

Life CycleAdult:

• Emerge from cocoon about 3 weeks later

• Sexual reproduction

• Lay eggs in late spring

• Live just long enough to reproduce

Impact on Forests

• Defoliate Trees Rarely do enough damage to kill a tree

• Favorite Trees: Wild Cherry Apple Crab Apple

IPM Strategies• Live With the Problem

Defoliated trees are rarely killed. Eastern Tent Caterpillars have natural predators like birds,

parasites, and other insects (especially wasps).

• Pick Out the Egg Masses Remove egg masses during winter (are most obvious at this time).

• Remove Tents/Caterpillars Wind tents around the end of a broomstick (best to do at night or

on rainy days). Drop caterpillars in soapy water.

• Apply Insecticides Cover entire foliage. Bacillus thuringiensis, Carbaryl, Pyrethrins, Acephate, Spinosad