PLANT PROTECTION 4

TO ACCESS INFORMATION
Once you have identified the pest, disease or weed you can access pest information sheets, which contain all
kinds of information about the problem, eg likely impact on your crop, legal requirements and control.
PEST
INFORMATION
SHEETS
Pest information sheets contain details of the scientific name, host range, diagnostic
descriptions and tests, pest cycle, spread, conditions favouring and recommended control
methods. Pest information sheets are sometimes called pest prescription sheets, fact sheets,
and various other names.
• The information in a pest information sheet is often referred to as the ‘pest signature’
and is used to confirm the identity of a suspect pest, disease or weed. It may also
eliminate certain possibilities.
• The degree to which a suspect pest, disease or weed matches its ‘pest signature’
varies. In some cases a single component is sufficient for an accurate diagnosis, eg a
diagnostic test, but in most cases several components are needed.
Pest information sheet
• Common name of pest, disease or weed
• Scientific name
• Causes(s)
• Significance of problem, legal requirements
• Host range, plants affected
• Description of signs & symptoms,
diagnostic features & tests
• Pest cycle
• Overwintering
• Spread
• Conditions favouring
• Control/prevention, organic standards,
Integrated Pest Management, Best
Management Practice
– Legal requirements
– Cultural methods
– Sanitation
– Biological control
– Resistant varieties
– Plant quarantine
– Disease-tested planting material
– Physical & mechanical methods
– Pesticides
Pest information sheets are
described in detail on page 39
16 Background briefing - Why identify the causes of plant problems?