A step-wise programme for practising IPM
Marilyn Steiner, Entomologist *

There is nothing new about integrated pest management (IPM). It is really only common- sense. In fact, you could already be practicing it without knowing it. Give yourself a test and see how well you are doing. If you can answer all nine of the following questions with a 'YES!', then pat yourself on the back. You probably know it all already. If not, sit down with your staff and see where you can make changes.

1. Are you (and your staff) familiar with all the pests and diseases that can attack your particular crops ? You should be able to recognise symptoms of attack, the pest or disease itself, and know its lifecycle.
2. 
    

    
    
    

   No? Capture an expert to go through your property with you, train staff, attend workshops, bring in some literature, get into the Internet, and get yourself some magnifiers.

3. Do you have an all-year-round weed management program in place, both in and around the growing area?
4. 
    

    
    
    

   No? You should have. Weeds harbour pests and diseases and act as a constant source of reinfestation; similarly with diseased or infested stock or unsaleable plants or flowers. Get rid of them ASAP in a landfill or bury them.

5. Is crop monitoring by a trained individual a scheduled activity in your operation? Do you have sticky cards or traps up to catch flying insects?
6. 
    

    
    
    

   No? Then you are behind the eight ball. Both activities let you keep ahead of the pest/disease and let you know whether your control measures are working. Hang yellow sticky cards just above the crop canopy over susceptible crops, and near vents and doorways. Start with one trap/100m²and reduce numbers as you become familiar with where you need them. Check them weekly and change them at least fortnightly. Great for detecting whiteflies, thrips and migrating aphids. Also good for tracking fungus gnats and shoreflies. Check about one percent of plants on a random basis also, particularly flowers and undersides of leaves. Make up a form for each activity and keep records so you can map when and where pests and diseases occur and what effect control measures are having.

   

   Crop monitoring must be scheduled

   
   
7. Do you have a screened quarantine area or separate house for receiving new stock or your own plants returned from the market?
8. 
    

    
    
    

   No? These plants are the most likely means of new pests and diseases being introduced onto your property. Is it worth the risk? Set up a couple of such areas.

9. Do you keep a record of pesticide applications, amount used, cost of material and time spent spraying? Whether the treatments are effective or not? Any signs of phytotoxicity?
10. 
     

     
     
     

    No? You might be surprised how much it is costing you in labour and materials. Knowing will give you a basis for comparison when you consider using other pest management practices.

11. Do you have your production areas organised to enable you to minimise the spread of pests?
12. 
     

     
     
     

    No? You might find that simple practices, such as keeping spider-mite susceptible plants together and away from hot dry areas, fans and walkways, make a big difference. You might even find that you can use predatory mites in this situation instead of pesticides.

13. Have you looked at pest and disease-resistant cultivars or compared the ones you already have?
14. 
     

     
     
     

    No? There are big differences in susceptibility sometimes within the same species of plant. Contact your supplier and extension office for information on resistant cultivars. You might be able to delete highly susceptible cultivars from your production schedule.

15. Have you tried environmentally-friendly pesticides such as oils, soaps, and Bacillus formulations? Pheromone traps and bug zappers for moths? Or spot applications instead of blanket sprays?
16. 
     

     
     
     

    No? You may find that's all you need if you are on top of your pest situation. If you grow in the open, expect native beneficials to move in and help you control pests once you stop using toxic chemicals.There is information available on the residual activity of most pesticides and fungicides that can help you make choices. Better for you and your staff too.

17. Do you have screened vent areas adequate to keep out thrips, whitefly and aphids?
18. 
     

     
     
     

    No? You risk sudden influxes of thrips, whiteflies, moths and aphids, some carrying viruses. Screening can be expensive to retrofit but can result in big reductions of flying pests coming into the crop.
     
     

Biological control agents (BCAs).

These things need to be in place before you start:

• All nine of the above. Aim to spend 12 months setting the stage.
• Remember that biological control is about prevention, not cure. You have no hope of control if the pests are already established. This is why you need an early detection system, and there is no substitute for regular monitoring.
• Check out what BCAs are available from suppliers in Australia. Presently they include Phytoseiulus persimilis (a predatory mite) for spider mite, Encarsia formosa (a tiny wasp) for whitefly, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (beetle) for mealybugs and scales, Chilocorus (beetles) and Aphytis spp. (tiny wasp) for armoured scale, nematodes for fungus gnats, Trichogramma for caterpillars, and lacewings for aphids. A wider range is available overseas but as yet they are not available in Australia. Demand creates supply.
• Cosy up to a BCA. You need to make its acquaintance if you want it to feel at home. Get a few in and become familiar with what each looks like and what it does.
• Most biologicals do best within a temperature range of 20 to 30^O C and relative humidity of 65-85%. You may need to make some adjustments. Increasing humidity won't necessarily increase disease problems intermittent fog applications can do the job.
• Check that you have an answer for each pest and disease that would normally occur in your crop. If there is no biological, can you control it with a soft pesticide, preferably as a spot treatment? Is there a stage in the crop when biologicals could be used? It may be possible to use a clean-up spray only at the start and/or end of a crop. This reduces pressure on the insecticide and slows down the build-up of resistance.
• Pesticide residues are more harmful to BCAs than pests. No harmful residues is the rule. Some chemicals hang around for weeks. Check your arsenal and arrange them in order of toxicity. Make informed choices.
• Think in terms of putting in a few BCA's often, rather than an expensive slug in one hit. You are aiming at keeping pests down, not running them over. A bit of pollen and nectar/honey will keep many going in the absense of pests.
• Have patience. You are on a learning curve. It gets cheaper and easier when you know how.
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  Further reading
  Handbook of the Major Pests and Diseases of Nursery Plants. 1995. Dr. Philippa Mathias. NSW Agriculture. (book).
  The Good Bug Book. 1995. Australian Biological Control Inc. PO Box 436, Bourke Street, Richmond, NSW 2753. (book).

  Web sites
  
  

  Acknowledgements
  The HRDC and HSNA are jointly funding a project on biological control of western flower thrips with Australian native natural enemies as part of a national strategy for WFT control. The HRDC is also funding a national IPM in Greenhouses project. Both projects are centred in Gosford at the Horticultural Research and Advisory Station, NSW Agriculture.

  *Marilyn Steiner, NSW Agriculture, PO Box 581 Gosford NSW 2250. Ph:(043) 481 900 Fax:(043) 481 910