2005 Year in Review

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Controlling Pests

Source: James Schuster (708) 352-0109 Contact: Bob Sampson Extension Communications Specialist Phone (217) 244-0225; rsampson@uiuc.edu A garden or household pest can be anything that causes injury to plants, homes, animals, and pets as well as humans and can include insects, diseases, or weeds, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. "Always make sure to get proper identification of a 'problem' before treating for it," said James Schuster. "Just assuming the plant is a weed or the insect is harmful could result in the loss of a rare plant or beneficial insect." Schuster recommends IPM. "That stands for Integrated Pest Management," he said. "IPM does not mean the eradication of all pests. Instead it is the wise use of cultural and biological strategies, and repellants or even the wise use of diseases, physical barriers, and chemicals to control the problem." Cultural strategies include such things as pruning correctly, proper planting, fertilizing, watering, using resistant varieties, and mulching. Biological strategies make use of beneficial insects like spiders, lady beetles, hornets, and ground beetles. Repellants include blow-up snakes, owls, and animal repellants. "Fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes are examples of diseases used by IPM," said Schuster. "Physical barriers include fences and traps. Chemical approaches utilize both organic and inorganic strategies--insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, and herbicides." Always read the label before buying, mixing, using, and storing a chemical or pesticide, he added. "Always try to use the least toxic but most effective control if treatment is necessary," he said. "Not all pests should be controlled. Some may be infected with a disease while others are being eaten by insects. Some are too few in number to be economical to control or are present in such high numbers that trying to control them is useless." It is important to protect beneficial insects such as honeybees and spiders. "Some beneficial insects produce food for us, as is the case with honeybees," he said. "Honeybees also pollinate fruit trees and some of our vegetables. Other beneficial insects such as spiders and hornets may eat other insects." Home gardeners can get help in identifying plant, insect, or disease pests from reference books at local libraries or at local garden centers. "People should also consider contacting their local Extension office or go to this website: Urban Programs Resource Network

by Editor, theCity1.com
June 20, 2005