PLANT PROTECTION 1 – Pests, Diseases and Weeds

PLANT PROTECTION 1 – Pests, Diseases and Weeds
STERILE INSECT
RELEASE METHOD
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL (contd)
SIRM (Sterile Insect Release Method)
Male insects are sterilized and released, so that although mating takes place there are
no offspring. SIRM has been used against some fly pests, eg
Old world screw-worm fly (Chrysomya bezziana) is a pest of livestock in
Papua New Guinea. Male screw-worm flies are reared in large numbers and
sterilized by exposure to gamma radiation. Large numbers are released. When
they mate with wild females there are no offspring.
Fruit flies. Large scale breeding and release of sterile males is carried out to
control fruit flies in Australia.
Sometimes called SIT (Sterile Insect Technique).
BIOLOGICAL
CHEMICALS,
BAITS, TRAP
CROPS ETC
Moth lure
Like all
technologies
mating disruption
must be
managed well
PHEROMONES, BAIT AND FOOD SPRAYS, TRAP CROPS
Pheromones are chemical substances produced and released by insects which affect,
in some way, other individuals of the same species. Sex attractants are the most
common types of pheromones used in pest control, eg
Pheromones are widely used in survey work to monitor presence of a pest
so that pesticides are only applied when necessary, eg
– Codling moth lures used for monitoring attract male codling moths only.
Regular weekly counts provide a reliable means of monitoring population levels
ensuring the accurate timing of chemical or non-chemical controls. Lures are also
available for monitoring other moths, eg LBAM, OFM, pantry moths.
– Fruit fly lures, eg Dak.pot contains a pheromone to attract male Queensland
fruit flies (QFF) and an insecticide, usually maldison, to kill them. Another lure
contains capilure + dichlorvos which attracts male Mediterranean fruit fly
(MedFly).
Mating disruption. Pheromone dispensers are tied around new wood in spring
and release so much female pheromone that males become confused and can’t
mate. Widely used instead of insecticide sprays to manage some moths, eg
– Codling moth (Isomate ® C-S Pheromone, Disrupt-CM)
– Lightbrown apple moth (Isomate ® LBAM Plus Pheromone)
– Oriental fruit moth (Disrupt-OFM, Isomate ® OFM Rosso-S Pheromone)
Plastic dispensers
containing pheromone
Envirofeast
Predalure
Pest baits plus insecticides
– Fruit fly protein baits + insecticide, eg
Eco-Naturalure ® , Naturalure ® fruit fly bait concentrates contain protein/sugarbased
bait + spinosad (derived from soil bacteria) to attract and control both QFF
and Medfly. They have the BFA registered product logo on their labels.
– Magnet ® (attractants and feeding stimulants, plus an insecticide, sold separately)
for Helicoverpa moths which are killed when they contact or ingest it, preventing
egg laying. Other attractants, eg BioATTRACT Heli (kairomone bait) are being
researched for use in the management of Helicoverpa and certain other moths.
Predator lures and food sprays can be applied to insect-infested crops or to
draw predators away from crops if they are to be sprayed. Many predators and
parasites of plant pests also feed on nectar, honeydew or pollen. Commercial
products can be applied to crops to provide food to attract, conserve and buildup
natural enemies, eg
– Envirofeast ® (yeast-based) attracts more than 20 species of beneficial insects into
cotton crops to feed on Helicoverpa spp. and mites.
– Predalure ® (oil of wintergreen) attracts predatory insects into gardens, eg green
lacewing (Chrysoperia carnea), ladybirds (Coleomegilla maculata) and various
syrphids (hover flies) target pests such as aphids, mealybugs, scales, small
caterpillars, greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) and twospotted mite
(Tetranychus urticae).
Trap crops are an option for area-wide management of Helicoverpa on some
crops, eg cotton. Moths are attracted to particular trap crops, eg chickpeas, where
they can be destroyed. Precise strategies depend on whether the trapping is
carried out in spring or summer.
44 Insects and allied pests - Integrated pest management