Manejo integrado de plagas

R. W. Baldwin, S. K. Hill, Philip Koehler, J. C. Medley, and P. A. Mitola

Pest management involves more than just spraying pesticides. It includes diagnosing the pest situation and developing a comprehensive plan. This educational poster is designed to acquaint new pest control technicians with the steps in IPM. Published August 2012.

Hugh A. Smith and Oscar E. Liburd

Tim Momol, Amanda Strayer-Scherer, Ying-Yu Liao, Peter Abrahamian, Sujan Timilsina, Mathews Paret, Timur M. Momol, Jeffrey B. Jones, yGary Vallad

Bacterial spot is one of the most detrimental diseases of tomato and is especially severe in the southeast United States when weather conditions (high temperature, high humidity, and rain) become conducive for disease development. This publication presents updated information about the causal pathogen and management of bacterial spot on tomato in Florida.

Bielinski Santos, Hugh A. Smith, Gary Vallad, yBielinski M. Santos

Eileen A. Buss yAdam G. Dale

Every landscape manager has a pest management toolbox, which contains tools that represent different management strategies. People can be quick to use pesticides, but an integrated approach using multiple tools can be much safer, have longer lasting beneficial effects, and in some cases cut costs. This fact sheet will help Extension agents and specialists, lawn and landscape managers, Florida Master Gardeners, and homeowners develop long-term sustainable pest management programs using an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) framework.

Purity K. Muthomi, Dakshina Seal, and Oscar E. Liburd

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), is a significant pest of cole crops such as cabbage, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, radish, carinata, turnips, and watercress. Globally, the annual cost of managing the DBM is estimated to be USD 4 to 5 billion. The pest originated in Europe but is now widely distributed wherever cole crops are extensively grown. DBM has become widespread due to its high dispersal ability, multiple generations per year, and potential to develop resistance to most commonly used insecticides. DBM management is heavily reliant on chemical control, but DBM is notorious for developing resistance to many classes of insecticides, so frequent pesticide applications can lead to insecticide resistance, ineffective pest suppression, and yield losses. Therefore, to manage DBM, a good integrated pest management (IPM) strategy is critical.

Ethan Carter, Tyler Shaw, Libbie Johnson, and Silvana V. Paula-Moraes

Pheromone trapping is a common scouting method used in collaboration with integrated pest management. A major crop pest of many plant species, including Panhandle crops like peanut and cotton, is the soybean looper.  A soybean looper pheromone-trapping study performed in Panhandle commercial peanut and cotton fields also attracted other species with similar appearances, sometimes in high numbers. Misidentification would result in overestimation of soybean looper populations and likely unnecessary insecticide applications. The sharp stigma looper, due to its high seasonal abundance and flight pattern similar to that of the soybean looper, was most concerning. This insect is not a pest and can be discerned from the soybean looper easily through its wing markings, if someone knows what to look for, but if these harmless moths were unwittingly thought of as soybean loopers, it could greatly skew population numbers and prompt improper applications of pesticides.

Peter J. Dittmar, Nicholas S. Dufault, Johan Desaeger, Jawwad Qureshi, Nathan S. Boyd, yMathews Paret

Chapter 4 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Marice Lopez, Patricio Munoz, and Oscar Liburd

The blueberry gall midge (BGM) is one of the most important pests of southern highbush blueberries in Florida. Monitoring for BGM using clear sticky traps or bucket traps should begin as early as November. Chemical control should be applied right before bud break and then ten days after bud break, or when at least two BGM are found on traps. Other management practices include the use of younger mulch, using potentially resistant cultivars, and chemical control such as Movento with Induce and Apta in rotation to avoid resistance development. Applications should also be timed with larval and adult emergence for optimal insecticide efficacy. 

Emily C. Kraus and Brett Bultemeier

This publication defines the concept of a pesticide mode of action and provides several examples. It emphasizes the importance of identifying and differentiating modes of action for pesticide resistance management. To this end, it defines the development and goals of the three Resistance Action Committees for insecticides (IRAC), herbicides (HRAC), and fungicides (FRAC) and describes each group’s pesticide mode of action classification scheme. Finally, it provides an example of a pesticide label and instructs applicators on how to rotate pesticides to manage resistance. This publication presents the subject matter in a concise manner and directs pesticide applicators to the very useful RAC Mode of Action group numbers for rotation purposes. 

Allan Busuulwa, Lovely Adhikary, ySriyanka Lahiri

The invasive Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood;(Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is currently the most significant pest of strawberries in Florida. Managing this pest is challenging due to its low susceptibility to many commonly used insecticides. As an additional management strategy, we propose using flowering plants (banker plants) to attract naturally occurring predators of thrips, which can help suppress S. dorsalis populations in field strawberries.

Miranda J. Tressler yEva A. Buckner

Mosquito control programs in Florida manage mosquito populations and reduce the public risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases. They use many methods to target multiple life stages of mosquitoes in a process called integrated mosquito management, or IMM. The American Mosquito Control Association considers IMM the best way to manage mosquitoes and reduce mosquito-borne disease transmission. An IMM program includes community engagement, mosquito surveillance, source reduction, biological control and the application of targeted insecticides, and monitoring for insecticide resistance. Public perception of mosquito control programs is sometimes negative, especially when people do not have a good understanding of the behind-the-scenes steps of IMM. This publication is intended to educate Florida residents about mosquito control programs by providing an overview of the regulation of these programs and a full understanding of the IMM strategies they practice.

Bernadette Mach, Jaret Daniels, and Adam Dale

Increasing public awareness of the dangers of declines in biodiversity has generated unprecedented interest in promoting beneficial insects and other wildlife in yards and gardens. Research shows that well-managed urban landscapes can support diverse wildlife and that many people want their yards to support insect conservation. The green industry has made efforts to align plant production practices, marketing, and landscape maintenance with consumer conservation goals. However, backyard conservation efforts can be hindered by insect pest outbreaks. These are often more frequent and severe in urban landscapes than in rural or natural areas because of environmental constraints. Invasive pest species may thrive unchecked and require intervention. People may face difficult decisions when trying to balance conservation goals with pest management and plant health needs. This publication explains the ornamental plant pest management process with an emphasis on protecting beneficial wildlife.

Jesusa C. Legaspi, Alejandro Bolques, Fanny E. Ospina, Shufang Tian, Juan Carlos Díaz-Pérez, Amanda C. Hodges, Adam J. Pitcher, and Xin Zhao

This publication is aimed to introduce “push-pull” technology and companion planting for pest management to high tunnel vegetable growers. It is also of interest to other crop producers wishing to improve their IPM practices.

C. R. Kerr, N. C. Leppla, E. A. Buss, and J. H. Frank

This guide will help you identify mole cricket infestations and manage them effectively and economically while minimizing environmental impacts.