Component Of Integrated Pest Management Research Articles

Influence of a cereal rye cover crop on the critical period for weed control in soybean

AbstractSoybean is the world’s most widely grown leguminous crop and is an important source of oil and protein for food and feed in addition to other industrial uses. However, herbicide-resistant and troublesome weed control challenges limit yield potential and threaten conservation tillage (CT) systems. Cover crops have been widely adopted as an integrated pest management component in CT systems to suppress weeds and maintain soybean yield potential. A 3-yr field experiment was conducted to estimate the influence of a cereal rye cover crop following CT on the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in soybean. The experiment was implemented in a split-plot design in which main plots as CT following cover crop (CT + CC), CT following winter fallow (CT + WF), and conventional tillage (CVT), and subplots were multiple durations of weed-free and weed interference. Results showed that the estimated CPWC of CT + CC and CT + WF treatments was 0 wk and >7 wk, respectively, in 2018. In 2019, the estimated CPWC was 0 wk, 5.0 wk, and 1.3 wk under CT + CC, CT + WF, and CVT treatments, respectively. In 2020, the estimated CPWC was 3.5 wk, >6.2 wk, and 0 wk under CT + CC, CT + WF, and CVT treatments, respectively. The presence of a cover crop delayed the CTWR and caused an early beginning of the CWFP compared with CT + WF treatment, and hence shortened the CPWC in 2018 and 2019. In conclusion, the CT + WF system did not reduce the weed competition and subsequent yield loss in soybean compared to the CT + CC system.

The usage of beneficial insects as a biological control measure in large-scale farming - a case study review on Trichogramma spp.

Large scale crops like maize, soybean, wheat and rice have changed the ecosystems worldwide, causing a major impact on global agricultural diversity. Intensive farming includes wide range of synthetic substances which are very often applied irrationally and excessively. Given the prevalence of large-scale farming in world agriculture, it is necessary to begin the transition from conventional crop protection to integrated pest management (IPM) in these agroecosystems. One of the most important components of IPM are biological control measures with augmentative release of commercially available species of the genus Trichogramma Westwood, 1833 (Hymentoptera: Trichogrammatidae) as potentially successful and environmentally friendly methods. Besides Trichogramma, many other beneficial organisms are constantly being tested as potential biocontrol agents such as Chrysopa spp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and Orius spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). Minimizing the use of chemicals and replacing them with biological plant protection is fully in line with the agriculture development strategy and confirmed to be achievable in practice. It is especially important to apply such tactical decisions in the production of large-scale crops, which, at the same time, represent the biggest polluters of the environment as well.

Integrated Major Pest Management Systems of Enset (<i>Ensete ventricosum </i>(Welw.) Cheesman) in Ethiopia

Enset is an important root crop widely used as a staple food for millions of people in Ethiopia. Despite to enset is dominantly produced in southern and south western parts of the county, diverse diseases and insect pests are challenging its growth and productivity at these production areas. Hence, this review was aimed to discuss the integrated pest management (IPM) system that used to control the major enset pests (disease and inset) in different production areas of Ethiopia. Enset is a root crop that is highly susceptible to different kinds of diseases and insect pest problems. Enset Bacterial wilt (EBW) is a major devastating disease causing important economic losses and can lead up to killing the whole plant parts that are commonly observed around enset growing areas of the country. Enset root mealybug is also a major insect found on the upper half of the corm and root parts of enset which can retard the plant growth and causes to dry the outer parts of the leaf that might finally leading to the plant death. However, most of enset growers are practicing different controlling mechanisms against these major enset diseases and insect pests around the production areas. Due to the chemical controlling method needs the cost of purchase and usage on root mealybug has usually not effective, the producers are widely uses an IPM systems incorporating with their indigenous knowledges to prevent the major disease and insect introduction to the enset field and to control an already infected plant. Hence, the enset producers mainly uses the IPM components like the host plant resistance, the cultural controlling system, the biological controlling system, and the chemical controlling system as the last option to manage their enset farms in Ethiopia. These IPM components are not only an optional pest controlling methods but necessitate its practice against the major pest problems due to environmentally friend, cost-effective, and alternative options to various behaviors of pests. However, breeding for pest-resistant enset genotype and adoption of successful IPM controlling mechanisms to all enset growing areas need further work to alleviate the encountered challenges on the enset production areas in Ethiopia.

Integrated Pest Management Control of Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae), the Most Damaging Pest of (Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)) Colonies.

Varroa destructor is among the greatest biological threats to western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) health worldwide. Beekeepers routinely use chemical treatments to control this parasite, though overuse and mismanagement of these treatments have led to widespread resistance in Varroa populations. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecologically based, sustainable approach to pest management that relies on a combination of control tactics that minimize environmental impacts. Herein, we provide an in-depth review of the components of IPM in a Varroa control context. These include determining economic thresholds for the mite, identification of and monitoring for Varroa, prevention strategies, and risk conscious treatments. Furthermore, we provide a detailed review of cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical control strategies, both longstanding and emerging, used against Varroa globally. For each control type, we describe all available treatments, their efficacies against Varroa as described in the primary scientific literature, and the obstacles to their adoption. Unfortunately, reliable IPM protocols do not exist for Varroa due to the complex biology of the mite and strong reliance on chemical control by beekeepers. To encourage beekeeper adoption, a successful IPM approach to Varroa control in managed colonies must be an improvement over conventional control methods and include cost-effective treatments that can be employed readily by beekeepers. It is our intention to provide the most thorough review of Varroa control options available, ultimately framing our discussion within the context of IPM. We hope this article is a call-to-arms against the most damaging pest managed honey bee colonies face worldwide.

​Demonstration of Ecological Engineering based Pest Management in Rice Oryza sativa L. through Farmers Participatory Approach

Background: Rice is one of the predominant cereal crop grown in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu state, India in approximately 4000 hectares with a average productivity of 4500 kg/ha. Hoppers, stem borer, leaf folder, gall midge and ear head bugs are the major insect pests for which farmers resort management practices. Instead of curative management, farmers mostly use the insecticide as prophylactic management which leads to unwarranted problems. Though integrated pest management has been advocated as an alternate strategy, farmers are reluctant to use all the components of IPM and rely on mostly on insecticides. In this context, the ecological engineering pest management can form a better alternative, which also coincides with the age old practice of growing border crops in this region Methods: The potential of Ecological Engineering Pest Management (EEPM) was assessed in comparison with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Farmers Practice (FP) in five farmer’s fields. Based on the results, ten and twenty front line demonstrations were conducted during consecutive years to study the performance of EEPM in Dharmapuri district. Result: The number of hopper/hill, per cent dead heart, per cent white ears in the EEPM was 10.65, 7.07 and 9.65 and in the IPM module 10.18, 8.40 and 11.55 and in the farmers practice 6.73, 10.73 and 12.75 respectively. The natural enemies viz., coccinellids/hill and spiders/hill were more in EEPM (2.00 and 3.15) and least in the farmers practice (0.40 and 0.86). The number of hoppers/hill, per cent dead heart, number of coccinellids/hill and number of spiders per hill was 8.40, 6.00, 3.00 and 1.40 in EEPM and 6.20, 5.40, 1.20 and 0.60 in farmers practice respectively in the 2016-17 front line demonstrations. The EEPM module recorded 8.1, 8.65, 3.5 and 1.75 hopper/hill, per cent dead heart, coccinellids/hill and spiders/hill in 2017-18 front line demonstrations. The farmers were able to save Rs. 5000/- from the plant protection cost apart from getting additional revenue in EEPM. The combination of border crops, influence of border crop on rodent damage in rice ecosystem and benefits of providing separate niche area than border crop are the researchable areas. In spite of above constraints the EEPM can be followed in rice ecosystem with the locally available crop combination to reduce the insecticide usage and increase the beneficials.

MINAT ANGGOTA KWT DALAM PENGGUNAAN Trichoderma sp. PADA BUDIDAYA CABAI (Capsicum Annum L.)DI DESA TUNGKAL I KECAMATAN TUNGKAL ILIR

Abstract
 The high use of chemical pesticides not only causes pest and disease resistance, but can also result in low production and can damage ecosystem. The technology recommended by the ministry of agriculture to overcome the negative effects of chemical pesticides is the application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). One component of IPM that can overcome pathogenic attacks and is also useful as a decomposing organism is biological agents Trichoderma. This study aims to describe the interests of KWT members in their use Trichoderma, analyze related factors and determine strategies that can be done to increase the interest of KWT members in use Trichoderma. The assessment sample was a census of 32 farmers. The assessment variables are internal factors, external factors and KWT members interest in use Trichoderma. Data collection techniques in the form of interviews, questionnaires and observations. Data analysis is descriptive analysis, correlation analysis Spearman's rank and analysis Kendall's W. The results of the assessment regarding the interests of KWT members are in the medium category. Related factors are external factors. One strategy to increase farmers' interest is to actively carry out extension activities with methods, media and material about technology Trichoderma.

Technical efficacy and practicability of mass trapping for insect control in Bangladesh

Eggplant shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis, is a major pest in eggplant production in South and South-East Asia. Farmers frequently spray insecticides to control it. Integrated pest management (IPM) based on mass trapping or pheromone trapping and sanitation (removal of infested shoots and fruits) has been suggested but poorly adopted. This study tested, together with farmers, combinations of IPM components that fit their farming practices, increase income, and preserve natural enemy populations. A 2-year participatory study was negotiated with these farmers, comparing (i) an untreated control, (ii) farmers’ conventional weekly spraying, with pheromone trapping either (iii) alone, or combined with (iv) trap-based biorational spraying, or (v) bi-weekly conventional insecticide spraying. Farmers rejected testing sanitation as too labor-intensive. In both years, pheromone trapping alone or combined with biorational spraying reduced fruit infestation, increased yield and income, and preserved natural enemies, showing technical efficacy at costs comparable with farmers’ practice. Replacing biorational spraying by conventional insecticides did not provide any control beyond pheromone trapping alone but reduced natural enemies. In contrast, farmers’ practice neither reduced infestation nor increased yield but reduced populations of natural enemies. Aphid and jassid populations were reduced only by biorational and conventional spraying. As farmers were reluctant to use only pheromone trapping, the addition of biorational spraying might be suitable. Discussion with farmers allowed us to understand how practical applicability of the tested IPM depends on farmers’ knowledge levels on insect biology, farmers’ desire to still use some spraying, and labor constraints to sanitation. Although technically and economically viable, the tested IPM may prove difficult to scale out, as farmers had difficulty understanding the lifecycle of Leucinodes orbonalis and the pheromone trapping mechanisms. This study is the first to disentangle the technical efficacy of pheromone-trapping-based IPM from its practical applicability for the targeted smallholder eggplant growers.

HUBUNGAN KARAKTERISTIK INOVASI DENGAN TINGKAT ADOPSI PETANI TERHADAP KOMPONEN PENGENDALIAN HAMA TERPADU (PHT) PADI SAWAH DI KELURAHAN LIABUKU KECAMATAN BUNGI KOTA BAUBAU

This research was conducted from November to December 2018 in Liabuku Village, Bungi Subdistrict, Baubau Town, with the aim of knowing the characteristics of innovation consisting of relative advantages, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability and types of innovation decisions in SLPHT rice plants; know the level of adoption of SLPHT farmers for integrated pest control components; know the relationship between the characteristics of innovation consisting of relative advantages, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability, as well as the type of innovation decisions with the level of SLPHT farmers' adoption of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) component. The number of respondents was 30 who had attended SLPHT. The data analysis technique used is the analysis of the average and standard deviations and Spearman rank correlation test. To find out the difference in the level of adoption of the IPM components of rice between SLPHT and Non-SLPHT farmers using the t-test. Based on the results of research and discussion, it is found that the characteristics of innovation of farmers provide a relative advantage for farmers, 60% of farmers say there is compatibility of trialability with pest control needs, and 40% of respondents state that innovation is sometimes not according to needs. The adoption rate of SLPHT farmers to the IPM component was 40% of farmers using varieties of lowland rice according to recommendations, 60% using superior rice not in accordance with recommendations. For fertilization, 20% of farmers fertilize according to recommendations, and 80% of farmers fertilize not according to recommendations. For integrated pest control, 50% of farmers conduct IPM, the remaining 50% carry out pest control with certain techniques. For the use of natural enemies, 83.33% of farmers did not utilize natural enemies, the rest, 16.67% did not use natural enemies. For routine observations, 90% of farmers do routine observations but not every week, only 10% of farmers do every week. And observations made are only part of the observation stages. For the wise use of pesticides, all farmers combine pesticides with other techniques. There is a significant relationship between the characteristics of compatibility innovation with the use of natural enemies as indicated by the sig correlation value is 0.05 smaller. There is a significant relationship between complexity with routine observations which is shown by the correlation sig value is 0.013 smaller 0.05. 
 
 Keywords: Relationship, characteristics, innovation, adoption, IPM, farmers, lowland rice

Examining the economic impacts of integrated pest management among vegetable farmers in Southern Ghana

This study analyzes the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies and the impact of adoption on yields and farm net returns of vegetable farmers in Southern Ghana. We employ a two-step multinomial logit model to account for selection bias that occurs when unobservable factors influence adoption of IPM and impacts on outcomes. The empirical results show that the number of years of schooling and extension contacts of farmers adopting pesticides application only have positive effects on yields, whereas credit constraints and farm size exert negative effects. Farmers adopting pest monitoring only and employing more hired labor are associated with lower yields, whereas farmer-based organizations and lettuce cultivation are associated with higher yields. Increasing the number of years of schooling of farmers adopting pesticides application only tends to increase farm net returns. Farmers with unobserved characteristics linked to lowering yields or farm net returns tend to shift to an alternative IPM component.

HUBUNGAN KARAKTERISTIK INOVASI DENGAN TINGKAT ADOPSI PETANI TERHADAP KOMPONEN PENGENDALIAN HAMA TERPADU (PHT) PADI SAWAH DI DESA WAKANGKA KECAMATAN KAPONTORI KABUPATEN BUTON

This research was conducted in Wakangka Village, Kapontori Sub-district, Buton Regency. The purpose of this research is to determine the characteristics of innovation which consist of relative advantages, compatibility, complexity, triability, and observability and types of innovation decisions in SLPHT of rice plants; to determine the level of adoption of SLPHT farmers for integrated pest control components; to determine the relationship between the characteristics of innovation consisting of relative advantages, compatibility, complexity, triability, and observability, as well as the type of innovation decisions with the level of SLPHT farmers adoption of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) component; determine the difference in the level of adoption of the IPM component of rice between SLPHT and Non-SLPHT farmers using t-test. Total respondents 30 who attended FFS. The data analysis technique used is the analysis of the average and standard deviations and the Spearman rank correlation test. Based on the results of research and discussion, it is found that the characteristics of innovation of farmers provide a relative advantage for farmers, 60% of farmers say there is compatibility of innovation with pest control needs, and 40% of respondents state that innovation is sometimes not according to needs. The adoption rate of SLPHT farmers to the IPM component was 40% of farmers using varieties of lowland rice according to recommendations, 60% using superior rice not in accordance with recommendations. For fertilization, 20% of farmers fertilize according to recommendations, and 80% of farmers fertilize not according to recommendations. For integrated pest control, 50% of farmers conduct IPM, the remaining 50% carry out pest control with certain techniques. For the use of natural enemies, 83.33% of farmers did not utilize natural enemies, the rest, 16.67% did not use natural enemies. For routine observations, 90% of farmers do routine observations but not every week, only 10% of farmers do every week. Furthermore, observations made are only part of the observation stages. For the wise use of pesticides, all farmers combine pesticides with other techniques. There was a significant relationship between the characteristics of compatibility innovation with the use of natural enemies as indicated by the sig correlation value is 0.05 smaller. In addition, there was a significant relationship between complexity with routine observations which is shown by the correlation sig value is 0.013 smaller 0.05.
 
 Keywords: innovation, adoption, integrated pest control

HUBUNGAN KARAKTERISTIK INOVASI DENGAN TINGKAT ADOPSI PETANI TERHADAP KOMPONEN PENGENDALIAN HAMA TERPADU (PHT) PADI SAWAH DI DESA WAKANGKA KECAMATAN KAPONTORI KABUPATEN BUTON

This research was conducted from July to August 2018 in Wakangka Village, Kapontori Subdistrict, Buton Regency, with the aim of knowing the characteristics of innovation consisting of relative advantages, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability and types of innovation decisions in SLPHT rice plants; know the level of adoption of SLPHT farmers for integrated pest control components; know the relationship between the characteristics of innovation consisting of relative advantages, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability, as well as the type of innovation decisions with the level of SLPHT farmers' adoption of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) component. The number of respondents was 30 who had attended SLPHT. The data analysis technique used is the analysis of the average and standard deviations and Spearman rank correlation test. To find out the difference in the level of adoption of the IPM components of rice between SLPHT and Non-SLPHT farmers using the t-test. Based on the results of research and discussion, it is found that the characteristics of innovation of farmers provide a relative advantage for farmers, 60% of farmers say there is compatibility of innovation with pest control needs, and 40% of respondents state that innovation is sometimes not according to needs. The adoption rate of SLPHT farmers to the IPM component was 40% of farmers using varieties of lowland rice according to recommendations, 60% using superior rice not in accordance with recommendations. For fertilization, 20% of farmers fertilize according to recommendations, and 80% of farmers fertilize not according to recommendations. For integrated pest control, 50% of farmers conduct IPM, the remaining 50% carry out pest control with certain techniques. For the use of natural enemies, 83.33% of farmers did not utilize natural enemies, the rest, 16.67% did not use natural enemies. For routine observations, 90% of farmers do routine observations but not every week, only 10% of farmers do every week. And observations made are only part of the observation stages. For the wise use of pesticides, all farmers combine pesticides with other techniques. There is a significant relationship between the characteristics of compatibility innovation with the use of natural enemies as indicated by the sig correlation value is 0.05 smaller. There is a significant relationship between complexity with routine observations which is shown by the correlation sig value is 0.013 smaller 0.05.
 Keywords: Relationship, characteristics, innovation, adoption, IPM, farmers, lowland rice

Farmer participatory evaluation of an IPM technology in the management of major pests and diseases of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) in Uttarakhand

Farmer participatory field trials were conducted for assessing the effects of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technology for the management of major pests of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The experiment was conducted during March to October, 2016 and 2017 at three locations, viz. Kota Kwanu, Majhgaon Kwanu and Malot Kwanu in Chakrata block of district Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India on two popular, bacterial wilt resistant tomato hybrids, viz. Abhinav and Heamsohna. The various treatments were as follows: T1, seed treatment with Trichoderma + Pseudomonas @ 20 g/kg of seeds: T2, use of FYM @ 100 Q/ha fortified with Trichoderma + Pseudomonas; T3, planting of Abhinav and Heamsohna; T4, weekly hand picking and destruction of leaves, shoots and fruits infected by late blight; T5, staking of plants; T6, four applications of cymoxanil + mancozeb @ 2 g/l at 30, 45, 60- and 75 days after planting; and T7, application of chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 0.3 ml/l at 65-days. Incidence of diseases such as late blight and bacterial wilt, and pests such as fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera was significantly high in the control plots. The severity of pest and diseases was comparatively more in 2017 than 2016 due to conducive climatic conditions. Maximum yield (410 q and 400 q/ha) was recorded during 2016 and 2017, respectively due to IPM practices combining all possible components as compared to other treatments or control. As a result of enhanced fruit yield, the gross (Rupees 615 000/ha and Rupees 800 000/ha) and net income (Rupees 428 180/ha and Rupees 610 375/ha) were realized during 2016 and 2017, respectively. The cost benefit ratio was also maximum due to combination of all IPM components (1:2.3 and 1:3.22) both during 2016 and 2017, respectively. The IPM strategies combining all possible components proved significantly superior not only in effective management of major diseases and pests but also helped in realizing higher productivity and thereby enhanced income of tomato growers in remote tribal regions of Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Field efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo.) for the management of mungbean insect pests

In order to reduce the use of insecticide, the application of Beauveria bassiana may be an alternative control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of B. bassiana for controlling mungbean pest. The experiment was conducted in Ngale Research Station from February to May 2017, using randomized block design, seven treatments, four replicates. The treatments were frequency of application; P1= six times, P2= five times, P3= four times, P4= three times, P5= once, P6= full protection using chemical insecticide, and P7= no protection. Application of B. bassiana four to six times can suppress the population of Empoasca sp., Riptortus linearis, and Maruca testulalis, but did not significantly different with the application of chemical insecticide. Based on the seed weight, application of B. bassiana six times (659.7 g/plot) led to significantly high as compare with the application of chemical insecticide (374 g/plot). Application of B. bassiana tended to be secure to natural enemies, especially Coccinella sp., Oxyopes javanus, and Paederus fuscipes. Both of those predators were not found on the application of chemical insecticide. Hence, B. bassiana can be recommended as a biological agent in integrated pest management component on mungbean because of effective and environmentally friendly.

A plant volatile‐based attractant formulation is not attractive to Diadegma semiclausum (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

AbstractA synthetic plant volatile‐based attractant has been commercialised for integrated pest management (IPM) of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and H. punctigera (Wallengren) in Australian cotton, corn and beans. This attract‐and‐kill formulation is being tested in Australia in canola as an IPM tool to minimise the amount of insecticide used for the control of diamondback moth (DBM) Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus). DBM is a destructive insect pest of cruciferous crops with a cosmopolitan distribution and has developed resistance to almost every synthetic insecticide applied in the field. However, in brassica crops, naturally occurring parasitoids are often important components of IPM. Therefore, it is essential to investigate how parasitoids deal with plant volatiles released from this formulation and whether this formulation is safe for non‐target insects especially parasitoids. Wind tunnel experiments were conducted to assess the effect of the formulation on larval parasitoid Diadegma semiclausum (Hellén), which is an effective biological control agent of DBM. Our results showed that the formulation was significantly less attractive than either water or untreated leaves. Unfed female D. semiclausum were highly attracted to the honey food source, while after feeding, there was no significant preference among treatments with the exception of significantly less visits to leaves treated with the formulation. Furthermore, the presence of the formulation appears to have reduced the attractiveness of leaves, which were infested with DBM larvae. Our result shows that 2 days after application, female wasps visited leaves treated with the formulation significantly less than untreated healthy leaves, even if DBM larvae were present on the leaves treated with the formulation. We conclude that the formulation is not attractive to D. semiclausum female wasps. The wasps' avoidance of leaves treated with the attractant, even if those leaves were infested with DBM larvae, suggests that the formulation can act as a repellent to the female wasps.

Diversity of methodologies to experiment Integrated Pest Management in arable cropping systems: Analysis and reflections based on a European network

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) aims to promote physical and biological regulation strategies that help farmers contain populations of pests (pathogens, animal pests and weeds) and to finally reduce the reliance on pesticides. It is based on the holistic combination of multiple management measures rather than on the sum of single methods, each of them having only small effects on pests reduction. Thus, to analyse the interactions between IPM measures and to evaluate the sustainability of their implementation, we require an approach considering the whole cropping system (CS), i.e. a functional entity whose complexity is more than the sum of its parts. A network of European experiments at the CS level was set up recently, and aimed at sharing data and expertise to enhance knowledge of IPM. Comparison of existing methodologies highlighted a diversity of CS designs and experimental layouts. We deduced that the concept of CS itself was viewed differently among scientists, and this affected experimental protocols. Other differences were related to the research context and objectives. Some experiments aimed to explore very innovative strategies and generated knowledge on both their effects on the agroecosystem and their ability to satisfy a set of performance targets, while others aimed to provide quickly adoptable solutions for local farmers in line with the current socio-economic constraints. In some research programmes, the experiment was part of the CS design process — and tested CS were regularly revised based on an continuous improvement loop — while in other cases CS were kept stable across years so as to enable the evaluation of their long-term cumulative effects. A critical aspect contributing to the diversity among CS experiments was the distinction between a factorial design of experimental CS and systemic approaches: factorial experiments allowed quantification of the effects of each IPM component regardless of the consistency between components defining the CS. In contrast, systemic approaches focused on the overall evaluation of CS designed with consideration of their consistency, hence maximising their ability to meet the objectives. Because CS experiments represent a huge investment in terms of economics and time, preliminary reflections of the relevance of the experimental strategy is of critical importance.

Can resistance management strategies recover insecticide susceptibility in pests?: a case study with cotton aphidAphis gossypii(Aphididae: Hemiptera) in Australian cotton

Cotton pest management in the Australian cotton industry was highly pesticide reliant from its inception in the early 1960s until the late 1990s. Aphids were controlled effectively over this period either co-incidentally by compounds applied against Helicoverpa spp. or by targeted applications of dimethoate/omethoate or pirimicarb in the late 1990s. By cotton season 1999–2000, after this prolonged period of selection, the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover showed resistance to pirimicarb and cross resistance to dimethoate/omethoate as well as resistance to older organophosphates (profenofos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, chlorpyrifos-ethyl) targeted against Helicoverpa spp.. No new chemical controls were available so effective control required development of an insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategy incorporated with integrated pest management (IPM) strategies designed to maximalise any known selective disadvantage for resistant individuals. The IRM component emphasised rotation between insecticide mode of action (MOA) groups and limited the number of applications of any MOA. The IPM component incorporated farm hygiene to reduce overwinter hosts for resistant aphids, conserved natural enemies and incorporated effective use of pest sampling and thresholds. The aphid management strategy was fluid, evolving and adapting as new knowledge, new resistance and further IPM or IRM tactics became available. For instance, in 2007–2008 resistance was detected in aphids to the neonicotinoids resulting in field failures. Detection of neonicotinoid resistance required modifications to the aphid management strategy to address prolonged selection by both neonicotinoid seed treatments and foliar applications. The strategy also considered the need to manage concurrent pest species to mitigate the risk that insecticides sprayed against those pests would coincidently cause aphid outbreaks or select for resistance in aphids. The integrated strategy has now almost completely recovered susceptibility to IPM friendly pirimicarb and resistance to neonicotinoid insecticides has declined dramatically.

Identifying obstacles and ranking common biological control research priorities for Europe to manage most economically important pests in arable, vegetable and perennial crops.

EU agriculture is currently in transition from conventional crop protection to integrated pest management (IPM). Because biocontrol is a key component of IPM, many European countries recently have intensified their national efforts on biocontrol research and innovation (R&I), although such initiatives are often fragmented. The operational outputs of national efforts would benefit from closer collaboration among stakeholders via transnationally coordinated approaches, as most economically important pests are similar across Europe. This paper proposes a common European framework on biocontrol R&I. It identifies generic R&I bottlenecks and needs as well as priorities for three crop types (arable, vegetable and perennial crops). The existing gap between the market offers of biocontrol solutions and the demand of growers, the lengthy and expensive registration process for biocontrol solutions and their varying effectiveness due to variable climatic conditions and site-specific factors across Europe are key obstacles hindering the development and adoption of biocontrol solutions in Europe. Considering arable, vegetable and perennial crops, a dozen common target pests are identified for each type of crop and ranked by order of importance at European level. Such a ranked list indicates numerous topics on which future joint transnational efforts would be justified. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Plant-to-Plant Movement of Striacosta albicosta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Maize ( Zea mays ).

Integrated pest management (IPM) and insect resistance management (IRM) in various cropping systems demand a comprehensive understanding of insect behavior. Among the needed information is basic charaterizations of larval movement and dispersion of some insect-pests, such as the noctuids Striacosta albicosta (Smith) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). We investigated the plant-to-plant movement of western bean cutworm and fall armyworm larvae in field of maize. Experiments on S. albicosta were conducted between 2008 and 2010. A main study with this pest was performed in 2012 in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with nine replications. An S. frugiperda study was performed in 2013 in an RCBD with eight replications. The plant-to-plant movement and larval survival were measured in plots with maize nontoxic to the insects. The larval survival of S. albicosta presented high variety throughout the years. Although S. frugiperda survival was relatively low during 2013, it did not compromise the larval assessment. Larvae of both species dispersed governed by nondirectional sensory information, and presented aggregated and symmetrical distribution; however, fall armyworm remained nearer the release point. These results may help the IPM components, such as scouting and economic threshold, as well as the implementation of refuge and seed mixture strategies for IRM.

Impact assessment of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy for suppression of mango-infesting fruit flies in Kenya

We utilized two waves of data collected from a sample of mango farmers in Meru County in Kenya to evaluate the impact of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy for controlling fruit flies in mango-production. We specifically explored the effect of five IPM practices including parasitoids (p) and Metarhizium anisopliae-based biopesticides (biop), orchard sanitation (os), spot spray of food bait (fb) and male annihilation technique (mat) on three outcome indicators: farmer pesticide expenditure, farm-level mango fruit yield losses and profit. We fitted difference-in-difference and household fixed effects regression models that account for unobserved heterogeneity across households. Our estimates differentiated the impact of the different IPM components, in comparison to farmers' practices as a control group. The descriptive statistics of the study show that application of the IPM strategy resulted in a 48% average increase in mango net income compared to the previous season irrespective of the IPM combination component used. The extent of improvement in net income, however, varied across treatments; treatments posfb and posmatfb registering the greatest improvements whereas the pos treatment generated the smallest increase in net income. The study findings further show mango yield losses due to fruit fly infestation reduced by an average of 19% among the IPM users. We also found a reduction in expenditure on pesticides, albeit across all the households. Regression model estimates show that, except for IPM combinations posbiop and pos, farmers using the rest of the IPM practices recorded significantly higher incomes from mango compared to their counterparts in the control group. We also noted that although average expenditure on pesticides decreased across all mango farmer households, the reduction was comparable between the treated and control farmer households. Our findings however, show significant decreases in mango damage due to fruit fly infestations among all farmers using the different IPM treatments. Our study recommends combinations of affordable and easy to apply and maintain IPM strategies that could yield significant impact on mango fruit fly control.

Integrated pest management in temperate horticulture: seeing the wood for the trees.

Abstract Owing to the decreasing availability of synthetic pesticides, there is an urgent need for developing and improving alternative pest control methods in horticulture. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) aims to reduce and control the damage caused by pest organisms by making use of ecological interactions between the pest, its antagonists and the environment. IPM usually involves combined use of pesticides, pest antagonists, mass trapping and environmental manipulation. This gives rise to potentially negative interference amongst these components as well as with other environmental and crop-related factors. Such interference has the potential to reduce IPM efficacy, especially as the use of IPM is broadened and intensified. Evidence for such interference among components of IPM is briefly reviewed and the need for a research agenda that investigates such interference experimentally is discussed along with the potential for using 'big data' generated in IPM to conduct meta-analyses and construct powerful models for IPM. These approaches to research and data management should support the expansion and improvement of Decision Support Systems (DSS) for IPM practitioners that combine databases, expert networks and models. The success of DSS based on increasingly complex and extensive knowledge and data greatly depends on their accessibility, ease of use and whether they produce clear outputs that support decision-making by growers and consultants. The aim must be to improve IPM efficacy, predictability, cost-effectiveness and sustainability, while still finding ways of helping IPM practitioners identify IPM strategies that are optimal for their needs amongst an increasing number of options.