Vegetable IPM Updates for 2009

Trap Cropping &

Insect Monitoring Techniques

Dr. Ayanava MajumdarExtension Entomologist

Alabama Cooperative Extension SystemGulf Coast Research & Extension Center

8300 State Hwy 104, Fairhope, Alabama 36532Cell phone: 251-331-8416

NEW RESOURCE: VEGETABLE ENTOMOLOGY DYNAMIC WEBSITE

Dr. Ayanava Majumdar, Extension Entomologist, ACES, 251-331-8416, [email protected] http://www.aces.edu/dept/com_veg/ or https://sites.aces.edu/group/commhort/vegetable/default.aspx

Conventional chemicals (SE recommen.)Conventional

productsMOA New chemistries MOA

Aphids, flea beetles, whitefly

Stink bugs

Dimethoate, acetamiprid (Assail), imidacloprid (Admire Pro)

Bifenthrin & many pyrethroids

Pyrethroid -neonicotinoid (Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists, sodium channel modulators)

Flonicamid (Beleaf)Pymetrozine (Fulfill)

Spirotetramat (Movento)Spiromesifen (Oberon)

Feeding inhibitors

Acetyl CoA caboxylase inhibitor

Caterpillars (looper, tomato fruitworm, pinworm)

Thrips

Bt (Dipel, Crymax),

bifenthrin, beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid), lambda-cyhalo. (Warrior), zeta-cyper. (Mustang Maxx), esfenvalerate (Asana), fenpropathrin (Danitol)

Insect midgut membrane disruptors

Sodium channel modulators

Emamectin benzoate (Proclaim)

Flubendiamide (Synapse),Rynaxypyr (Coragen)

Indoxacarb (Avaunt)

Methoxyfenozide (Intrepid)

Spinetoram (Radiant)

Chloride channel activators

Ryanodine receptor modulators

Sodium channel blockers

Ecdysone receptor agonist

Spinosyn (nicotinic receptors)

By Dr. Henry Fadamiro et al.

Yellowmargined leaf beetle, Microtheca ochroloma:

• Tick Ex organic formulation (Metarhizium anisopliae), Novozymes (VA) – in 7 d causes 67 to 94% mortality, use high rate

• Mycotrol O (Beauveria bassiana) – less effective on beetles (LC50: 428-700 conidia/ml)

• Female beetles are harder to kill!

• Entrust (spinosyn, organic form.): effective at 2 oz/A rate, consistent results over season

• PyGanic + Aza-Direct (at 1 pt/A each) more effective than individual products

Organic pest management research, Auburn

Objectives (trap crops)

• To discuss basics of IPM• To make a strong case for trap

cropping• Discuss some basics of insect

behavior• Provide general trap cropping

guidelines (based on published literature)

Trap cropping & pheromone trapping are encouraged by USEPA!

• Set action thresholds: Think in economic terms!

• Monitor and Identify Pests: “…monitoring and identification removes the possibility that pesticides will be used when they are not really needed...”

• Prevention: “…using cultural methods…that can be very effective and cost-efficient and present little to no risk to people or the environment.”

• Control: “Effective, less risky pest controls are chosen first, including highly targeted chemicals, such as pheromones to disrupt pest mating, or mechanical control, such as trapping or weeding.”

Source: USEPA http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/ipm.htm

Federal Four-tiered IPM Model

What is a trap cropping?

• Agronomic definition:– Trap cropping is the planting of an attractive trap crop

to protect the main crop (PAN Germany, 2009). Trap crop may or may not be harvestable.

• Entomological definition:– Trap cropping is a production system that exploits

insect behavior by continuously providing food plants in the preferred stage (Grossman 2008)

“Presence of second crop in the vicinity of principal crop diverts a pest, which would otherwise attack

the principal crop” (Van der meer 1981)

“Trap cropping is a special case of multiple cropping.”

Why should you use trap crops?

Corn earworm devastated sunflower (trap crop) but stayed away from peanuts

Image source: ICRISAT, India

Combined use of cultural control

+

Insecticides =

IPM approach

Trapcrop

New insecticide

How trap cropping works?Behavioral theories that could explain success of trap crops!

1. Visual camouflage (Smith 1969)

2. Masking of host plant odor (Tahvanainen & Root 1972)

3. Resource concentration hypothesis (Root 1973)

4. Natural enemies hypothesis (Root 1973)

5. Physical obstruction (Perrin 1977)

6. Deterrent chemicals (Uvah & Caoker 1984)

7. Interplant interaction alters host quality (Theunissen 1994)

8. Impaired apparency of host plants to insects (Finch & Kienegger 1997)

9. Appropriate/inappropriate landings (Finch & Collier 2000)

Crash course in insect behavior

Insect moving over tomato patch >> plant odor, shape, size arrest flying insect >> insect lands on plant surface >> exploratory behavior >> gathering stimulus (feeding,

oviposition) >> triggers specific behaviors

Trap cropping arrangements

• Trap crop surrounds the main crop from all sides

• Feasible on small to medium scale

• Too resource-intensive on large scale (seed, time, management)

• Boucher et al. (2003): bell pepper/cherry peppers/pepper maggots

Perimeter Trap Cropping

Trap cropMAIN CROP

TRAP CROP

Trap cropping arrangements

• Dr. Sam Pair, USDA-ARS• Trap crop = early planted

squash, apply insecticide on borders

• Squash lured 66% cucumber beetles and 90% squash bugs

Perimeter Trap Cropping (contd.)

Main crop (watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber)

Trap crop (squash)

Trap cropping arrangements

Planting trap crop (alfalfa) in rows within the main crop (cotton)

Row Trap Cropping

Alfalfa

Cotton Cotton

Sustainable American Cotton Project, NCAT

Southern green stink bug

Trap cropping arrangements

Planting trap crop (alfalfa) in rows within the main crop (strawberry) & a using vacuum!

Row Trap Cropping (contd.)

Alfalfa

Strawberry(34 rows)

Strawberry(34 rows)

Strawberry production in California

Western tarnished plant bug damage

Trap cropping arrangementsStrip Trap Cropping

• Planting trap crops in a strip along one common border between two or more crops

• Tillman (2006): cotton/sorghum/southern green stink bug…integrated pheromone trap + trap crop

Also reported high parasitism rates from tachinid fly in sorghum

Trap cropping arrangementsStrip Trap Cropping (mechanism)

Sorghum(trap crop)

Cotton

Peanut (reservoir for pest)

Green stink bugs migration

Trap cropping systems

• Trap crop is highly attractive to the insect pest, but the trap crop does not support its growth & development.

• Diamondback moths are attracted to yellow rocket over cabbage, trick is:– Trap crop planted in higher densities (more eggs)– Trap crop planted earlier than main crop (increase attractiveness)

Dead-end Trap Cropping(Shelton & Nault 2004, Badenez-Perez et al. 2004)

TRAP CROP MAIN CROP

Advantages of trap cropping• Sustainable technology – literature review with numerous successful applications

• Suitable for commercial and noncommercial crop production

• Allows small startup without investing in large equipment

• May pay for itself if crop is harvestable (alfalfa, squash)

• Can be integrated with existing farming/gardening practices

• Reduces dependence on chemical pesticides

• Conserves indigenous natural enemies by providing shelter & continuity

• Knowledge intensive practice (like IPM)

• Need for additional planning (e.g., early planting), materials (e.g. seeds, land), and labor

• Trap crop recommendations are unique to the insect (behavior affects efficiency of trap crops)

• Results may be inconsistent (moderated by weather events)

• Proportion of cash crop: trap crop = 10%, 20%,?

• Timely management of insects in trap crop: problem if you miss!

Disadvantages of trap cropping

Recommendations

• Choose trap crops that have bushy growth habit (alfalfa, grasses, etc.) and/or large leaf area (squash, ornamental plants?)

• Proportion of land in traps (10-25%)…or choose per your observations & skills

• Plant a dense row of trap crop, plant early

• Choose a simple design – easy to manage

• Keep records and maintain a pest calendar

INTEGRATE, INTEGRATE, INTEGRATE!

Monitoring insects with PHEROMONE TRAPS

Dr. Ayanava MajumdarExtension Entomologist

Alabama Cooperative Extension SystemGulf Coast Research & Extension Center

8300 State Hwy 104, Fairhope, Alabama 36532Cell phone: 251-331-8416

Objectives

• Discuss types of insect traps

• Discuss application of pheromone traps

• Discuss integration with other tactics

Insect trapping is easy, fun, & practical!

Types of Insect Traps• Passive traps: do not use a lure of any kind,

e.g., pit-fall traps, ground sticky traps, water traps, flight interception trap (beat sheet)

Pit-fall trap with a metal sheet as hood

Interception trap (can be used with or without light)

Types of Insect Traps• Active traps:

– use a lure of some kind, e.g., food, color, shape, light…PHEROMONES

Dome Fly Trap with liquid bait

Light trap (can be constructed from cheap materials)

Yellow sticky trap: use many traps

for accuracy

What are insect pheromones?• Pheromones are chemicals

released into environment in small amounts by special abdominal glands in insects.

• Pheromones are species specific, may stimulate one gender or all genders.

• Male moths detect pheromones with antennae.

• Synthetic sex pheromones are manufactured & used as lures.

Parts of a Pheromone Trap

Top section (fixed)

Bottom section (replaceable sticky card with grid)

Metal support

Lure with lure holder

Wing Pheromone Trap

Types of Pheromone TrapsWing Traps

Lure supply: Trece, Scentry, APTIV; trap supply: Great Lakes IPM, Arbico Organics, Gemplers, APTIV

Wing trap with grid on sticky bottom Wing trap with baffles

These are very popular in IPM due to their easy assemblage, large trap bottom, & low cost of kits!

Suitable for large moths: armyworm, cutworm, fruitworms

Problem: servicing trap is cumbersome, animals could ruin trap

Types of Pheromone Traps

Lure supply: Trece, Scentry; trap supply: Great Lakes IPM, Gemplers

Delta Traps

>>

These are very popular in IPM due to their easy assemblage, maintenance, less weather damage, & low cost of kits!

Suitable for small moths: diamondback moth, loopers

Problem: small trapping surface, wind damage

Advantages & DisadvantagesAdvantages of Pheromone Traps:

• Are affordable

• If used wisely, can detect low insect populations

• Insect ID not needed

• Easy to install & manage

• Nontoxic, no residue on food

• Can be used season long

Advantages & DisadvantagesDisadvantages of Pheromone Traps:

• May be cumbersome to handle

• Take precautions when handlings (gloves)

• Several traps could difficult to manage

• Knowledge intensive – may need tech support

• Weather sensitive

• Does not tell about plant injury

How to choose the right pheromone traps?

• Goal:

– monitoring? Yes, traditional use of pheromone traps

– mass trapping? May be for small production units

• Insect species:

– Pheromone trap for all species are not available

– Consult & work in a group (neighbors)

• Size of the Insect:

– Traps come in all sizes, choose large trap for large moths

• Your convenience:

– Traps must be checked weekly (weather is a major issue)

– Don’t commit if you can’t monitor long-term

Trap & Lure SuppliersTRAPS:• Great Lakes IPM (MI)• Arbico Organics (AZ)• Gemplers

LURES:• Great Lakes IPM – Scentry Biologicals

(MT) & Trece, Inc. (OK)• APTIV, Inc. (OR)

Monitoring insects with PHEROMONE TRAPS

QUESTIONS?

Trap Cropping

EXTENSION SURVEYWhy participate in surveys?• Formula funding era for IPM is ending!• All funding is competitive• Written feedback is more imp. than anecdotes• Sustainable crop prod. res. needs thrust >> your feedback

PLEASE HELP BY PROVIDING WRITTEN FEEDBACK!