Integrated Pest Management

Of all the bugs in the world, what percent are considered “pests”? It may surprise you to know that less than 5% of insects have significant impacts on plants or crops, or carry diseases. The rest are beneficial to your garden or are a harmless nuisance (they don’t bite, sting, or carry diseases).

The problem with insecticides is that they are nonselective. That is they kill all insects – the beneficial ones and the pests. The average homeowner uses 9 times more pesticides on their property than a farmer does on the same size piece of land. Excessive use of pesticides affects water quality and pollutes ground water.

Insect populations are cyclic. First you may see aphids, but if you wait…soon the lady bugs, lacewings, assassin bugs, praying mantids, damsel bugs, big eyed bugs, and tiny predatory wasps will come to feast on the aphids.

If you grow perennial or annual flowers and herbs in your yard, you will soon have butterflies and hummingbirds using these nectar and food sources. Pesticides are as lethal to these tiny winged visitors as they are to their targets.

The best control for pests is to keep your plants healthy and vigorous. Healthy plants are better able to resist pests and disease. With proper care such as watering, fertilizing, and pruning appropriately, you will have little or no pest problems. Occasionally, some control may be necessary. This may be as simple as a strong blast of water from your hose.

Discourage outdoor pests by planting pest resistant or well-adapted plant varieties such as native plants.

Problem	Damage	Natural Predators	Control
Aphids Whiteflies Mealy Bug Cochineal (on prickly pear cactus)	“Stippling” or mottling on leaves caused by piercing mouthparts that suck plant juices. “Honeydew” is sticky excrement White cottony spots on pads. The insect is underneath this covering	Lady Bugs, Lacewings, Tricogramma wasp (non-stinging), Assassin Bug Assassin Bug	Occasional strong blast of water from the hose. Soapy water spray. 1-2 teaspoons of liquid dish soap (no lemon scent) per gallon of water. Apply in early morning. Be sure to spray underside of leaves.
Spider Mites	Stippling on leaves	Spider Mite Predator	Water spray on leaves. Spider mites hate moisture
Whiteflies Slugs, snails	Stippling on leaves Missing leaf or plant parts	Big eyed bugs, lady bugs	Yellow sticky traps Beer traps
Thrips (on citrus)	Crinkled leaves, especially on tangelo. Superficial dry rings on rind of fruit.	Six spotted thrip	None needed. Any damage caused is strictly cosmetic.
Caterpillars	Missing leaf or soft plant parts.	Birds, Syrphid flies	Hand picking Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
Ants	Nuisance to humans, feed on honeydew produced by aphids and whiteflies	Lizards & geckos	Boric acid powder in sugar bait (like jelly), orange peel slurry.