Controlling insects with integrated pest management methods
A few insects don’t usually cause a problem, but large populations can be devastating. So be prepared, because two tiny bugs can go forth and multiply into a population of biblical proportions in no time at all. See a basic IPM approach to controlling garden pests below.
IPM approach to pest control in the garden
1. Set thresholds
Is the whole plant defoliated, or are there just a few tattered leaves? Do you have to throw the whole pear away, or can you cut out the bad spots? Some insects you can ignore, but when your roses (Rosa spp. and hybrids) are stripped bare by Japanese beetles, it’s time to act.
2. Monitor insect populations
Since insect populations can multiply quickly, it’s important to examine your garden every day or two, and note any insects or chewed-up leaves. Traps are another way to see if populations are increasing. Fruit tree growers use traps that lure moths into a box where they can be counted. Sticky traps, like the yellow ones above, are another good way to count (and get rid of) small flying insects.
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3. Prevent insects
Start with healthy, robust plants — they’re better able to fight off an insect invasion. Cleaning up and disposing of dead foliage in the fall or early spring removes overwintering adults and eggs, preventing a new generation from emerging when the weather warms in the spring.
Deterrents are a great way to prevent insects from getting at what they want:
- Try row covers to create a barrier between plants and pests.
- Kaolin clay, a mineral applied as a spray, leaves a white film over the plants to repel pests. Used on fruit trees to deter codling moth, insects find the coated fruit unappetizing, but it is nontoxic — just wash produce thoroughly before eating.
4. Control
From handpicking egg masses, caterpillars or adults, like the Japanese beetles in the photo, to pruning out infested branches, to blasting critters off with a stream of water, physically destroying insects has low environmental impact. Predatory beneficial insects feed on many pests, such as aphids, spider mites and cabbage loopers. They need a high enough pest population to be attracted to a plant to feed there, so monitor for natural predators, and give nature a bit of time to act. Animals like frogs, snakes and birds are effective biological controls. Backyard chickens can even help.
Precautions when using chemicals to control garden insects
Sometimes a chemical treatment is the best or quickest option before a crop is ruined. Insecticidal soap and horticultural oils are sprays that work by coating an insect’s body, in effect suffocating them. Organic insecticides, such as pyrethrins, derived from chrysanthemums, and neem oil, from seeds of the neem tree, kill insects after they ingest the chemical while feeding. While relatively safe for humans, even organic pesticides have drawbacks, including killing nontarget beneficial insects, like honeybees and lady beetles.
Many synthetic insecticides are available at garden centers. Some are specific to certain kinds of insects; others will kill any that come in contact. Use these chemicals safely by following the label, and be sure your pest is listed for that chemical.
