Urban Integrated Pest Management

Gerrit Cuperus
Oklahoma Extension IPM Coordinator

Jim T. Criswell
Pesticide Coordinator

Cathy Koelsch
Extension Urban IPM

Ken Pinkston
Extension Entomologist

Mike Schnelle
Extension Ornamental Specialist

According to the 1990 census, over 75% of the U.S. population resided in urban areas. The urban metropolitan area has expanded greatly over the past ten years with suburbs experiencing population growth rates up to 40%. With this great expansion, serious threats to surface and groundwater quality have been documented and future concerns identified. In the environmental assessments, surface water in metropolitan areas were either threatened or non-supporting because of nitrates, pesticides, or petroleum products. Most of the environmental threats were due to products that citizens used or inappropriate disposal methods. In addition, many cities throughout the southeastern United States, failed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water quality tests due to the presence of toxins, such as; diazinon insecticide in municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent.

Public attitudes and behavior with respect to pesticides, fertilizers, household hazardous wastes, and other potential pollutants were a major concern in addressing urban water quality issues (Cuperus et al. 1992). An Oklahoma County urban survey conducted by Oklahoma State University (OSU) and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES) indicated over 75% of urban dwellers used pesticides, over 35% dumped pesticides directly into sinks or toilets, and many used storm sewers for pesticide disposal (Cuperus et al. 1992). A careful examination of practices and attitudes is needed in order to target educational, research and regulatory programs to a growing population.

Surveys indicated the primary source of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) information for urbanites came from retail nursery/greenhouse operations and secondarily from the pest control industry (Cuperus et al. 1993, Shelton et al. 1997). Many Extension programs targeted these industries for IPM education. However, homeowners have a low tolerance for pests and demand total eradication with immediate results. Pesticides are used and recommended by these audiences for homeowner pest problems, but often only provide short term solutions. The concept of IPM is an ongoing process and not always easily grasped or appreciated by the end-user.

There are numerous concerns associated with pesticides. They include the proper use, storage, and disposal of chemicals. When chemicals are improperly used, stored or disposed, negative impacts occur to the customer and environment.

The proper use of pesticide products is a continuing training process. Pesticide labels protect the user, however, they are not always followed. Specifically, homeowners often do not read and follow recommended rates. Every year children are harmed or killed by the improper use of pesticides or chemicals improperly substituted for pesticides (CITE POISON CONTROL). In addition, many homeowners use petroleum products incorrectly.

Storage of pesticides can be an environmental and health issue. State agencies handle cleanup efforts of pesticide spills. There are numerous cases of human contamination by pesticides and chemicals each year (CITE HERE). Often pesticides (rodent poisons, insect spray, etc.) are stored in areas easily accessible to children (EPA Homeowner Survey).

Water contamination is a growing concern among municipal leaders due to improper disposal of pesticides, oil, pet waste, yard waste, paint, solvents and other unwanted debris in storm drains. These drains are designed to remove excess storm water from municipal streets during rain-storms. However, most urbanites are unaware of the intended use of storm drains and use them as an inexpensive and convenient disposal site. Lawn service personnel remove grass clippings, leaves and other yard waste from sidewalks and driveways with lawn blowers. These wastes enter into streets and eventually into storm drains (Gary Shockley citation). It is a violation of the Clean Water Act for anything to enter into storm drains other than storm water. Municipal crews periodically clean storm drains to avoid street flooding, not to mention the environmental contamination to rivers, creeks or lakes since this is untreated water that empties into these outlets. Studies show excessive amounts of these natural materials imbalance creek habitats. Unused pesticide solutions or concentrates and other chemicals are released directly into the storm drain channel output when disposed of in storm drains.

The improper disposal of all petroleum products is consistently a problem throughout the United States. Although legal for homeowners, large amounts of waste oil are improperly dumped in landfills each year. More than 34% of used oil in the United States is improperly disposed, thus, causing concern for potential surface and/or groundwater contamination. Used motor oil is used to control dust on non-paved roads.

The majority of inquiries to OCES offices originate from urban dwellers with urban pest management questions (Flora, 1966). The great biotic diversity in the urban environment, often with hundreds of plant species and associated pest problems, creates a tremendous challenge for residents in lawns, gardens, parks, right-of-ways and households. To combat these pests, pesticides are used extensively in urban areas and comprise about 30% of national pesticide use. This use of pesticides in a concentrated area can cause environmental issues. An example is diazinon, a broad spectrum organophosphate insecticide used extensively in and around homes and in agricultural production for controlling a wide variety of insects. Diazinon is highly toxic to numerous members of the Phylum Arthropoda, including many species of insects, spiders, mites and ticks. This chemical is primarily used to control sucking and chewing insects and mites on a wide range of crops and deciduous fruit trees. In addition, diazinon is used to control flies, lice mites, fleas, cockroaches, bedbugs, ants and other insect pests in and around the home. Diazinon is highly toxic to honey bees (Hartley and Kidd, 1987), many benthic macroinvertebrates and zoo plankton species, particularly midges, amphipods and daphnids. In fact, the acute LC₅₀ value for Ceriodaphnia dubia is 0.36 g/l. Low levels are also toxic to fish species following long-term exposure. A recent national survey found diazinon in 7,230 of 23,227 water samples, although EPA did not consider this critical (EPA 1987). The occurrence of diazinon in treated sewage effluent is becoming a common occurrence (Crocker et al. 1992, Norber-king et al. 1989).

Integrated Pest Management - A Solution

Integrated pest management (IPM) is based on the philosophy of using various strategies to optimize the environmental, economic and social consequences of a management system. IPM is defined as a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks. IPM emphasizes increased information for improved decision making. By understanding the ecological aspects of the system, pest populations can be minimized with less effort using various control measures. This is a site-specific concept.

IPM, Ecology and Management

IPM incorporates ecological principles into a management program.

Management strategies are integrated into an ecologically-based system that incorporate:

• Proper plant selection and location of plant materials: Use plants that have reduced pest problems (loads) and require a minimum amount of pesticide applications.
• Host Plant Resistance: Selecting the plant to grow that has inherent resistance to pests is the basis for any management program.
• Cultural Practices: Cultural practices can determine whether pests or abiotic problems develop and how well plants will survive. Cultural management includes nutrient management, proper plant selection and location, watering, soil structure, reduced competition form adjacent plants and adaptability to the area. These influences can reduce environmental stress that predisposes plants to pest problems.
• Scouting & Monitoring: Landscape monitoring for pests enables the IPM manager (pesticide applicator) to check for the stage and population of insects, disease outbreak, etc. Biological controls or pesticides are not as effective when pest problems are out of control.
• Biological Control: Biological control includes predators, parasites and pathogens (nematodes, fungi, bacteria, viruses and other microbial organisms). This is one of the fundamental practices that must be integrated into a management program. Natural enemies should be noted in the landscape when determining an IPM approach. In addition, there are numerous biological agents available commercially for release into pest problem areas.
• Regulatory: One of the most effective management methods is to keep key pests out of a commercial nursery. Make sure new plant material in pest free by careful inspection and minimize pest problems by keeping them out of nursery systems. Landscape contractors must select plant material that is pest and stress free.
• Pesticides and nutrients: These are critical components of many present management systems and should be used only when economically and culturally justified.
• Water management: Careful use of water is critical to minimizing risk of surface or ground water contamination. Minimizing water runoff by intermittent irrigation and other methods and recapturing runoff is critical in implementing sound Best Management Practices (BMP's).

Program Development and Implementation

Developing and implementing an effective program requires careful planning and a basic understanding of the ecology of the systems managed. Keys to an effective program follow:

• A long term plan for the landscape including careful consideration of plants grown, nutrient and pest management regimes.
• The development of reference materials and contacts with key suppliers of information and materials.
• The development of a continuous professional educational training program for staff and clients.
• Frequent landscape monitoring is critical to ensure plants are cared for properly and to minimize risk of a pest epidemic. Monitoring includes:
  1. History of the landscape.
  2. Examination of indicator or representative plant(s).
  3. Correct diagnosis of plant problem(s).
  4. Examination of management options.
     1. Priority of long-term management options.
     2. Maintenance and improvement of cultural practices.
  5. Consistent schedule for landscape maintenance including soil and water testing, tillage, pruning and weed management.
  6. The development of management options that integrate worker safety, economics and environmental issues.
  7. Calibration of pesticide and fertilizer application equipment.
  8. A thorough evaluation of management approaches.

IPM, Ecology, and Management

IPM incorporates ecological principles into a management program. Management strategies are integrated into an ecologically based system that includes:

Cultural Practices. Cultural practices, or care of plants and the surrounding environment, can determine whether pests or abiotic problems arise. Cultural management includes proper fertility, proper cultivar selection, delayed planting, irrigation, soil structure and reduced competition from adjacent plants.

Regulatory. The easiest way to prevent development of a pest within a landscape system is to not allow the pest to become established. For example, it is much more difficult to eliminate perennial weed populations after they become well established.

Physical/Mechanical Practices. Many times, physically reducing pests by cultivation or hoeing, can provide an economical alternative to using pesticides. By reducing direct competition through careful tillage or mulching around the base of plants, the life and appearance of the plants can be enhanced. Mulch applied around young trees eliminates plant competition for nutrients and moisture and reduces disease incidence.

Biological Control. The importance of using biological agents to control insect and disease pests is often underestimated. Biological agents include various organisms that are predators, parasites and pathogens (nematodes, bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.). As an example, aphid populations are often held below damaging levels by predators. If the level of biological agents are low or eliminated through use of insecticides, pest populations often exceed economic and/or aesthetic thresholds.

Pesticides. Pesticides should be viewed as a salvage treatment to prevent significant damage to the landscape. While pesticides are an important tool, they should be used judiciously as necessary and must be used in conjunction with other management tools.

In conclusion, IPM is a solution to reduce pesticide misuse. Pesticides are an excellent tool in IPM when used judiously. Too frequently, residues are detected in water sources which negatively impacts the environment. IPM offers a management system that can reduce pest problems wit non-chemical and chemical solutions. IPM techniques used in combination provide effective management. In addition, urban homeowners and pesticide applicators, need continued education on IPM including prevention of pest problems through selection of adaptable plant materials, tolerance of small pest populations or pest damage, the influence of cultural practices on pests, knowledge of biological agents and the proper use and disposal of pesticides.

Table 1. Respondents' indications on identification of insect, weed and disease problems. Oklahoma City, OK 1994.

Source	Insects	Disease	Weeds
Nurserymen/Garden Center	105	101	105
Family	71	68	68
Company Brochures or Reps	58	53	54
OSU Extension Service	41	42	40
Farm Supply	18	18	18
Friends	16	16	16
Magazines/Catalogues	11	11	11
Newspapers	1	1	1
TV/Radio	1	1	1
Label on Container	2	--	--
Department Stores	--	--	--
No Answer	74	87	84

Table 2. Survey respondents' indication of important of various plant characteristics when selecting ornamental plants. Oklahoma City, OK 1994.

Respondents' ranking

Characteristic	1st	2nd
Looks	67	15
Color	42	21
Healthy	26	--
Size	--	21
Hardy	--	10
Easy to Keep	--	10

Table 3. Survey respondents' indication of knowledge source before purchasing an ornamental plant. Oklahoma City, OK 1994.

Information	Respondent Source	source of information
Nursery/Garden Center	170
Magazines/Catalogs	61
Friends	25
Newspaper	15
OSU Extension Service	14
TV/Radio	6

REFERENCES

Crocker, P.A., J. R. Davis, T.A. Hollister & E. Hornig. 1992. Diazinon in municipal effluents and ambient waters for the upper Trinity River, Texas. Tech. Sect. Water Qual. Management Branch, US EPA, Dallas, TX.

Cuperus, G.W., K. Pinkston, K. Shelton, S. von Broenmbsen, M. Schnelle, M. Smolen & J. Key. 1983. Urban attitudes regarding integrated pest management, environmental issues, and the urban environment. Oklahoma State University.

Cuperus, G.W., J. Pruitt & K. Pinkston. 1992. Extension Entomology at a crossroad. Amer. Entomol. 38:78.

Hartley, D. & Kidd (Eds). 1987. The Agrochemical Handbook (2nd Ed.) United Kingdom, Urwin Bros., Limited, Old Working, Surrey.

Norberg-King T., M. Lukaaswcyz & J. Jenson. 1989. Results of diazinon levels in POTW effluents in the United States. National Effluent Toxicity Assessment Center. Tech Rep. 14-89. EPA, Environmental Research Lab, Duluth, MN.

Shelton, K. G., G.Cuperus, M. Smolen, J. Criswell, C. Koelsch & K. Pinkston. 1997. The urban environment: Oklahoma attitudes and practices. Okla. Coop. Exten. Serv. Pub. IPM-6. 32 p.