This presentation was delivered at the Professional Agriculture Workers Conference at Tuskegee University on December 10, 2015. This presentation gives a quick overview of pest exclusion tactic using low cost shade cloths to exclude large insect pests. For more details and online IPM training videos, please visit www.aces.edu/vegetableipm. Contact your Extension agency or other state institution before adopting practices. For consultation call Dr. A at +1-251-331-8416. Sign up for IPM newsletter by visiting www.aces.edu/ipmcommunicator and put in your email address. Thank you.

1. High Tunnel Pest
Exclusion (HTPE):
A Novel Strategy to Pest
Prevention and Control
Ayanava Majumdar (Dr. A)
Ext. Entomologist & State SARE Coordinator
251-331-8416, bugdoctor@auburn.edu
William East, Regional Extension Agent, AU
Will Mastin, Local Appetite Growers
Russell and Jewel Bean, S&B Farms

2. Pest Management Practice Standard
(NOP, 7CFR Section 205.206)
SustainableIPMPractices
Level 1: Systems-based practices
(cultural practices, sanitation, crop rotation, trap crops)
Level 2: Mechanical and physical practices
(Insect Pest Exclusion, Manual Removal)
Level 3: Biorational & other materials
(approved insecticides as last resort)

3. Developing a pest exclusion system:
What do you want to exclude? How long?
Design
Sturdy
Manageable
Material
Low-cost
Longevity
Side-effects?
MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS/LOW COST

4. Knitted fabric shade cloth:
Grainger (IL), Poly-Tex (MN) and Green-Tek
(WI)
30% SC Grainger 40% SC Poly-Tex 50% SC Green-Tek
Good for stopping moths
without excluding all
natural enemies!

5. Knitted shade cloth panel:
Farmtek Sunblocker (IA)
Good for stopping moths
but reduces natural
enemies.

6. HTPE lab test with OKRA (2015)
Leaffooted bugs (Leptoglossus sp.)
43.3
70.0
56.7
33.3
50.0
33.3
13.33
10.00 13.33
0.0 0.0 0.0
Penetration after 8 h Penetrations after 24 h Penetrations after 48 h
10 LFBs per treatment, 3 replications, percent penetration by LFBs is shown here
Check
Check
Check
30%SC
30%SC
30%SC
40%SC
40%SC
40%SC
50%SC
50%SC
50%SC

7. LFB feeding damage (48 h)
30% woven shade cloth
(Grainger)
33-50% penetration by LFBS
40% woven shade cloth
(Poly-Tex)
10-13% penetration by LFBs
50% woven shade cloth
(Green-Tek)
0% penetration by LFBs

8. Farmtek Sunblocker stops
Leaffooted Bugs!

9. HTPE lab studies with Sugarcane Aphids (2015)
Convergent Lady Beetles (Hippodamia convergens, Arbico)
0 0
32
50
43
52
5
42
35 35
0
8
18
32
Penetration after 8 h Penetration after 24 h
Numbers indicate percent lady beetles crossing into the structure (20 per treatment).
Greatest exploratory movement within 24 h release.
UnmodifiedtunnelwithSuperLightInsect
Barrier
30%SCFarmtek
(fineopenings)
30%SCGrainger(wideopenings)
40%SCFarmtek(fineopenings)
40%SCPoly-Tex(wide
openings)
50%SCGreen-Tek
(wideopenings)
50%SCFarmtek(fineopenings)

10. HTPE lab studies (2015)
Green lacewings (Chrysoperla rufilabris, Arbico)
with sugarcane aphids (host)
18
15
23
5
10
0
10
Penetration after 24 h
Numbers indicate percent lacewings crossing into the structure (20 per treatment).
Greatest exploratory movement within 24 h release.
UnmodifiedtunnelwithSuper
LightInsectBarrier
30%SCFarmtek
(fineopenings)
30%SCGrainger(wideopenings)
40%SCFarmtek(fineopenings)
40%SCPoly-Tex
(wideopenings)
50%SCGreen-Tek
(wideopenings)
50%SCFarmtek(fineopenings)

11. MAJOR REDUCTION in
Flea Beetle Feeding Injury
(Thomaston, AL, 2013)
Open field (60 to 80% damage to
transplants)
Tomato transplants under
Super Light Insect Barrier
(60% av. Reduction in feeding)

12. Insect Netting Applications
Will Mastin, Baldwin County, AL
Seedling net house
High tunnel + shade cloth
High tunnel + shade cloth
BCA and biorationals also incorporated!

13. Success of Net House
Will Mastin, Baldwin County, AL
>70%
pest redn.
90%
improveme
nt in quality
Increased
profit for
small
producers
Crop with netting
Crops with netting
Crop without netting
Crop without netting

14. S&B Farm, Eufaula
• 40% shade cloth
• 30 x 72 ft, metal frame
• Netting installed on side walls: Sept. 2015
• Crops: Herbs (cilantro, basil, fennel, mint,
rosemary etc.), pineapple, marenga
• Major pest problems: Cabbageworms,
armyworms, stink bugs, leaffooted bugs

15. Overall HTPE System Recommendations
• On-farm evaluations will continue at various locations
• Think about the crops and target insect pests before designing!
• Consider exclusion materials carefully – choose the fabric with
widest opening and least shade
• Consider all possible side-effects and develop an action plan:
• Small pests that won’t be excluded
• Pollinators
• Beneficial insects
• Trapped heat/humidity…disease?

16. Alternative Insecticides (High Rates)
Clanton, AL, 2015
Tomato plants with aphids
30
25
80
18
13
65
18
25
65
15
25
73
23
20
68
13
30
83
15
33
88
20
40
80
10DAT1 (July 28) 4DAT2 (August 11) 4DAT4 (August 25)
Untr.check
Grandevo3.0lb
M-Pede2%
Azera32oz
Pyola87oz
Pyganic18oz
Variety: Bella Rosa
SaferBioneem
Mycotrol32oz
Untr.check
Grandevo3.0lb
M-Pede2%
Azera32oz
Pyola87oz
Pyganic18oz
SaferBioneem
Mycotrol32oz
Untr.check
Grandevo3.0lb
M-Pede2%
Azera32oz
Pyola87oz
Pyganic18oz
SaferBioneem
Mycotrol32oz

17. High Tunnel Pest Management Tips
• Organic approved i-cides:
– Bt products (Xentari®, Thuricide®)…BCA FRIENDLY!
– Spinosad (Entrust®, Monterey Spinosad®)
– Pyrethrin (Pyganic®, Natural Pyrethrin®)
– Neem with azadirachtin (Molt-X®, Neemix®)…BCA FRIENDLY!
– New products: Azera®, Requeim®, Grandevo®
• Use insecticidal oils carefully (do not use >85F)
• Always rotate insecticides, stop applications when not
needed!
• Protect beneficial insects, do augmentative releases.

18. Extension Resources

19. www.aces.edu/vegetableipm

20. www.aces.edu/beginningfarms

21. Join vegetable IPM on Facebook!
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