Challenges of Pest Controls
Accurately timing a control tactic against the most vulnerable stage of an insect’s development allows for the use of biorational pesticides as well as less use of traditional pesticides. Unfortunately, accurately timing controls is difficult because of the complex array of landscape plants and pests that can be present on any one site. IPM methods require knowledge of the pest’s life cycle stages and when the vulnerable stage occurs for each pest. It requires knowledge of what pesticides will suppress the pest as well as their relative toxicities. This extensive amount of information can become overwhelming, especially to the less experienced landscaper or arborist.
Some landscape managers often resign to the easy, yet environmentally unsound practice of using four or more preventative cover sprays of pesticides each year. Studies have shown that typically only 2% of a blanket spray actually hits a targeted pest, with the remaining 98% contaminating the surrounding environment. Is there another way that pesticides can be applied more intelligently?
Farmers know that when White Oak leaves are the size of a squirrel’s ear, THEN…. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
….THEN, =It is time to Sow Corn into the planting fields. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
