Organic Insect Pest
Management
Ayanava Majumdar
Extension Entomologist & State SARE Coordinator
Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn Univ.
Cell phone: 251-331-8416
Email: bugdoctor@auburn.edu
Rammohan Balusu & Henry Fadamiro
AU Entomology & Plant Pathology Department
Georgia Organics Conference, Atlanta 2013

Presentation Layout
• Background information
• Insect pest identification
• Organic integrated pest management (IPM) basics
• Trap crops
• Mechanical insect control
• Biological control
• Organic insecticides
• Extension resources
Please stop by the IPM exhibit for more publications,
IPM newsletter & trap crop seeds!

EBPM Training Events
Regional Extension Agent training in
improved scouting practices IPM training to farmers at farms in
Alabama

Why are INSECTS so successful?
• Small size
• Small food requirement
• Rapid and prolific reproduction
– Parthenogenesis
• Grow by molting (control over
growth rate)
• Life stages feed on different
substrate

Why are INSECTS so successful?

Insect Pests of
Tomatoes

What is it?
Potato aphid, Macrosiphum Monitoring/scouting techniques:
euphorbiae Sample ten plants in several locations
Yellow sticky traps at edge of field
Like cool, dry weather
Watch for ants and lady beetles
Green peach aphid, Myzus ET = 50% leaves with aphids
persicae

What is it?
Monitoring/scouting techniques:
Western flower thrips, Frankliniella
occidentalis Use sticky cards (yellow, blue)
Bag and shake technique
No action threshold
Use resistant varieties (BHN
444, 589, 640, Bella Rosa)
Tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca
Tomato spotted wilt destroys plants

What is it?
Monitoring/scouting techniques:
Flea beetles (many species)
Monitor level of defoliation
Sample small plants with sweep net
during morning hours
Observe activity of parasitoids, predators
(sweep net)
ET = 5-10% defoliation early season, 25-
30% defoliation mid-season

What is it?
Colorado potato Monitoring/scouting techniques:
beetle, Leptinotarsa
decemlineata Start looking on border rows
Scout intensely short crop (<6 inch)
ET = 5 beetles per 10 seedling or 10%
defoliation in short crop
Larva of lady beetle
(beneficial insect!)

What is it?
Tomato fruitworm, Helicoverpa zea Monitoring/scouting techniques:
Examine green fruit, stem
terminals
Scout for egg masses or larvae
Use pheromone traps to detect
first flight; ET = 5-10 moths per
night when temp. is <85F
ET is ½ if temp. is >85F
Tobacco budworm, Heliothis
virescens

What is it?
Southern green stink bug, Monitoring/scouting techniques:
Nezara viridula
Use a sweep net
Use pheromone trap (expensive? cumbersome?)
Intensify scouting at fruit setting
ET = 0.25 bugs per 10 plants (green fruit stage)
Brown stink Lygus bug, Lygus
bug, Euschistus servus lineolaris

Emerging Pest on Vegetables: Leaffooted Bugs
Leptoglossus gonagra
Leptoglossus phyllopus
Heavy fruit drop in eggplants
and tomatoes (LFBs)
Leptoglossus
zonatus

What is it?
Monitoring/scouting techniques:
Minor foliar pests (ET = 5 larvae
per 10 plants)
Cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni
Easy to collect & identify – shake
and collect
Watch for sun scald on fruits, esp.
20% defoliation
Look for fecal pellets on leaves
Soybean looper, Pseudoplusia
includens

Spider mites
• Major pest of open field & high tunnel crops
• Extensive webbing on leaves/stems
• Rapid buildup in hot dry weather
• Difficult to control with approved pesticides

Integrated Pest
Management
(IPM)

What is IPM?
• “Integrated pest management (IPM) is a threshold based
decision management system which leads to judicious use
of multiple pest control tactics.”
• Major losses occur due to:
• Lack of early detection of insects
• Insecticide resistance by misuse
• Loss of natural control with insecticides

Decision making in IPM…
• Insect detection & monitoring
• Insect identification
• Population pressure
• Economic threshold
• Natural enemy populations
• Make treatment decision

Organic Food Production Act - 1990
National Organic Program
(NOP)
USDA Crop Pest Management
Practice Standard
7CFR Section 205
Primary focus to prevent insect pests, weeds, & diseases.
Ref.: OIA North America, Gainesville, FL

Pest Management Practice Standard
(NOP, 7CFR Section 205.206)
• Level 1: Systems-based practices (cultural
practices, sanitation, crop rotation, trap crops)
• Level 2: Mechanical and physical practices
(row covers, lures/traps, repellents, insect
netting, reflective mulch, hand-picking)
• Level 3: Biorational & other material (OMRI
approved insecticides)

Alabama Insect Survey Locations
Peanut farms
Vegetable farms
2009 2010
(8,500 insects) (16,588 insects)

Prefer cucumber, squash, gourd.
Larvae overwinter in soil.
Females lay 150-200 eggs singly.
Moths are clear-winged with bright red abdomen.
Row covers & field sanitation are best management tactics.
Azadirachtin, diatomaceous earth…

LEVEL 1 IPM RESEARCH:
TRAP CROPPING SYSTEMS

What is Trap Cropping?
Insects have differential host preference
Insects may feed and reproduce on preferred host

What is Trap Cropping?
Trap cropping is the planting of an attractive
host plant to lure insect pests away from main
crop.
Trap crop may or may not be harvestable.
http://joyfusions.com/

Key Factors to Consider
Different insects attracted to different trap crops:
If trap crop is not sufficiently attractive to the pest then
it will not work
Timing:
Important to have well established trap crop at right
stage at the time of insect invasion
Scouting:
Control the pests immediately in the trap crop
Be ready to sacrifice your trap crop
Keep farm records
Keep learning and use what you learn in next season

Trap cropping layout
Perimeter TC: Strip interplant TC: Source – Sink
• Pest source • Pest source unknown approach:
unknown • Comparitively more • Pest source known
• Pest of limited mobile pests • Less insect movement
mobility
Trap crop
Source
Main crop
Main crop
Main crop
Main crop
Open field
Main crop
Open field
Main crop
Open field

Trap cropping layout
Perimeter Trap Cropping (PTC)
Trap crop (Hubbard squash) • Trap crop = early planted
squash, apply insecticide on
borders
• Squash lured 66% cucumber
Main crop
beetles and 90% squash bugs
(watermelon,
cantaloupe, • Crop losses reduced by 18%
cucumber)
Boucher & Durgy (2004)

Trap cropping layout
Strip interplant trap cropping
Lygus bug management
Strawberry Strawberry
(34 rows) (34 rows)
Lygus bug
Alfalfa

University of CA Research
Successes:
• >50% reduction of lygus bugs (vacuum + wasp
parasite)
• 75% saving on tractor time with trap crop
Sean Swezey et al., 2007 (CA Agriculture)

Managing Yellow margined leaf beetle
(YMLB) Population with Trap crop
 YMLB is a serious pest of cruciferous crops
• Cabbage
• Turnips
• Mustard
• Radish etc.
 Migrates into vegetable field in early October
 Damage: October – May

Damage
 Both adults and larvae feed on foliage by first making
small holes; later serious defoliation
Defoliation of larvae on turnip Mass attack of adults on napa cabbage

Organically-managed crucifer field in south
Alabama damaged by YMLB
Napa cabbage Turnip

Field Trials-Managing YMLB with Trap crop
Spring 2011
Trap crop: Turnip and Napa cabbage
Main crop: Cabbage
Location: E. V. Smith Research Center, Shorter, AL
Trap crop: planted 2
weeks in advance
5 ft

Field Trials-Managing YMLB with Trap crop
Spring 2011
Napa cabbage
Main crop
Trap crop
Turnip
35 ft

Field Trials-Managing YMLB with Trap crop
Spring 2011
6
Mean ( SE) beetles/ plant
Control
5
Cabbage (main crop)
4
Turnip (trap crop)
3
2
1
0
April 15, 2011 April 25, 2011

Field Trials-Managing YMLB with Trap crop
Spring 2011
Napa cabbage
Trap crop
Main crop

Trap Crops in
Tomato Production System

Perimeter trap crop study
(Brewton, AL, 2011 & 2012)
Tomato main crop
NK300 Sorghum trap crop

Perimeter trap crop study (Clanton, AL, 2012)
Sorghum Main crop: Tomato
(NK300)
Sunflower
(Peredovik)

Perimeter trap crop study (Cullman, AL, 2012)
Main crop: Tomato

Trap crop study for leaffooted bugs
(Clanton, AL, 2012)
19 Manual removal in organic situation
18
Insecticide treatment and/or
manual removal in organic situation
11 DKB5400 (sorghum trap crop)
NK300 (sorghum trap crop)
Sunflower (trap crop)
Tomato (main crop)
4 4
2 3
2 2
0 2 1
0 0 0 0 0 0
Obs. 1 Obs. 2 Obs. 3 Obs. 4 Obs. 5 Obs. 6 Obs. 7
(21 July) (4 Aug.) (13 Aug.) (5 Sep.) (7 Sep.) (20 Sep.) (4 Oct.)
Numbers indicate leaffooted bugs (LFBs) on 20 heads of trap crops and 20 tomato plants for comparison
purposes. Trap crops planted on May 16. Main crop planted on June 1. Trap crop treated with Mustang
Max (zeta-cyper. @ 4 oz/A) on Sept. 5, 2012. Result = 78% LFB control in 5DAT. Tomato main crop is
attacked by LFBs after the trap crop is ineffective (in October).

Parasitoids like trap crop environment
Peristenus relictus Trichopoda pennipes
(Hymenoptra: Braconidae) (Diptera: Tachinidae)
Host: Tarnished plant bugs Host: Southern green stink
bug, leaffooted bugs
Ref.: Swezey et al. (2007)
Ref.: Tillman (2006)

LEVEL 2 RESEARCH
Net house vegetable
production

Nethouse Vegetable Production
(A Preliminary Report on Successes and Challenges)
Photos: Mike
Powell, Polyprodu
ctos de Guatemala
EXCELLENT PEST PREVENTION TACTIC!

First Net House in Alabama (2010)
Location: Baldwin County, AL
Dimensions: 150 ft X 48 ft X 17 ft
Entrance: Double door
Fabric mesh 30-50 as insect barrier
Mesh size depends on target insect & cost

Bell peppers were grown with success
(Year 1 Research)
40% black shade cloth for cooling down the interior

Net House vs. Conventional Cropping System
Armyworms Hornworm
Net house Untreated Net house Untreated
Net house, 2010 Control Control
(outside) (outside)
Insect numbers (40 plants) 7 32 0 17
% reduction 78% 100%
ANOVA F = 16.845, F = 15.852,
P = 0.0001** P = 0.0001**
Advantages of net house:
Less dependence on insecticides even in high pest pressures
Better use of hand-removal of low insect numbers
Long life of the fabric/structure

Insect Netting Applications
Insect netting on the
sides of a high tunnel
Use insect netting over the
entire high tunnel frame

What Are Natural Enemies?
Rely on naturally – occurring biological control is the
most important means of controlling insect pests in
organic farming.
Natural Enemies are beneficial insects that are enemies of
insects pests exist in nature
 Kill pests
 Decrease pest reproductive potential
51

Who kills Pests?
Predators: – Ladybugs, Spiders
Natural Enemies
• General feeders
• Eat several prey
• Larger and stronger than the prey
Flicker.com
Parasitoids (=parasites): – Wasps, Flies
• Specialist feeders
• Kill only one host (pest)
http://www.harvesttotable.com/2012/06/parasitic-wasps-beneficial-insects/
• Smaller than the host
Pathogens: – Bacteria, Fungus & Viruses
• Micro-organisms that cause diseases in
insects
extension.entm.purdue.edu
52

Predators
Lady beetles Green lacewing Hover flies Robber flies Assassin bugs
ucanr.edu
Abulrfan
© Rao Balusu Larvae Bigeyed bugs Minute pirate bugs
Larvae Eggs
© Rao Balusu
www.ipm.ncsu.edu farmerfredrant.blogspot.com
Spinded soldier bug Spiders
Orb weavers Wolf spider Crab spider
53

Parasitoids
Trichogramma wasp Aphidius wasp Tachinid flies
http://bugguide.net/node/view/6647
Trichopoda pennipes
shareourgarden.blogspot.com
www.ipm.ucdavis.edu
Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc Mummified aphids
www.biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu
Wasp in action
54

Conserving Natural Enemies
 Don’t reach for the pesticide spray
 Limit use of broad spectrum insecticides
 Use pesticides that are compatible with biological control
 Microbials : Bt
 Botanicals: Neem
 Provide foods that adults need
 Flowering plants:
 To attract natural enemies
 To provide shelter/shade www.scri.ac.ukt
 To produce pollen and nectar
Grow mixture (diversity) of plants
for continuous source of flowers
55
wildlifetrusts.org

Conserving Natural Enemies
 Provide foods that the immature stages need
 Allow low level of pest (prey)
 Cover crops:
 provide alternative prey
 Making a home for natural enemies
 Overwintering sites: insulate from the winter chill
- undisturbed grassy area
 Mulches: Provide humidity, shelter for nocturnal
predators - Spiders, ground beetles.
56

Information Resources
Native Plants to Enhance Beneficial Insects website
www.nativeplants.msu.edu
http://migarden.msu.edu/uploads/files/e2719.pdf
Guidelines for Purchasing and Using Commercial
Natural Enemies and Biopesticides in Florida and Other
States, University of Florida, EDIS,
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN849
Natural Enemies of Vegetable Insect Pests, Cornell
Extension Pub., 48 pp. (1993)
ACORM workshop by Cliff sadof, Bob O’ Neil
Scouting for vineyard insect pests and natural enemies
by Rufus Isaacs
Recognizing and working with natural enemies of insect pest
by Whitney Cranshaw
An IPM scouting guide for natural enemies of vegetable pest in kentucky 57

LEVEL 3 RESEARCH
Organic Insecticides/Tank Mixes

Organic Approved Insecticides

Insecticide Mode of Action (MoA)
Physical dessicant – kaolin clay, ash
Contact action – vegetable oils, horticultural
oils, neem, pyrethrin, insecticidal
soap, spinosyn, Beauveria, Metarhizium
Stomach action – Bt (Dipel), Chromobacterium
Volatile action – Garlic Barrier, Cinnamite

Evaluation of OMRI insecticides as stand-alone treatments and
in rotation for managing YMLB
Trade name Active ingredient
PyGanic® Pyrethrum
Aza-Direct® Azadiractin
Entrust® Spinosad
Novodor® Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies
tenebrionis (Btt)
MBI-203 (Grandevo) Chromobacteria subtsugae
Mycotrol O® Beauveria bassiana strain GHA
Tick-Ex Metarhizium anisopliae strain F52
NOFLY™ Paecilomyces fumosoroseus strain FE
9901

Results
PyGanic®
Entrust®
6 NOFLY™
MBI -203 a
Mean (± SE) damage rating per plant
5 Entrust® alternated with NOFLY™
Entrust® alternated with PyGanic® a
Control b
4
a
b
3 b
a
2 c
a b
ab bc d
1 c
b c
c
0
10/31 11/1 11/5 11/9 11/13 11/17 11/22

An Evaluation of Reduced Risk Pesticides
for Control of Lepidopterous Pests of Cole
Crops

An Evaluation of Reduced Risk Pesticides
for Control of Lepidopterous Pests of Cole
Crops

An Evaluation of Reduced Risk Pesticides
for Control of Lepidopterous Pests of Cole
Crops
c
Marketable
b
ab a a

Evaluation of “Soft” Insecticides for Control
of Caterpillar Pests of Crucifer
Non-Target Arthropods Sampled pest
homopteran
30 non-homoptera
25
Total Number
20
15
10
5
0
Dipel Xentari Xentari + Entrust Untreated
Dipel
Treatment

Limitations of Organic Insecticides
Relatively short persistence
Requires frequent applications
Mostly contact activity
Requires complete coverage and correct
timing
Not available in small quantities
Short shelf life
Expensive!!

Tomato fruit protection
(Cullman, AL, 2012)
Crop: Tomato, planting date: July 9, insecticides applied using C02 sprayer at 40 GPA. Replications = 4.
Insecticide treatment dates: Sept. 6, 14, 21. Data indicates percent damaged fruits (10 fruits/plot).
Treatments AI Sept. 24 Oct. 4
Range of Average Range of Average
damage (%) damage (%) damage (%) damage (%)
Xentari Bt 20-60 37.5 10-40 20.0
Pyganic Pyrethrum 20-50 35.0 20-40 32.5
Xentari + Pyganic Tank-mix 20-50 30.0 10-60 27.5
Untreated check 90-100 95.0 40-80 55.0
Tank mix of approved insecticides may improve control effectiveness.
Research will continue on evaluating further tank mixes and trap crops.
*OMRI-approved for organic vegetable production

Efficacy of SUFFOIL-X & JMS STYLEY-OIL for
Two-spotted Spider Mite Control 2012
56 Reduction in mites with JMS Stylet-Oil & Suffoil-
X is good but action could be slow!
45
35 34
32
27 Untreated check
23 26
Suffoil-X (0.01%)
18 JMS Stylet-Oil (3 qt)
14 17
11 12 Bifenthrin 5 oz/A
27 Sept. 3 Oct. 12 Oct. 19 Oct.
Crop was tomatoes. Location: Chilton REC, Clanton, AL.
Numbers indicate spider mites on 40 tomato leaves.

Organic IPM Recommendations
• Aphids:
– Okra trap crop
– Reflective mulch
– Release predators
– Neem oil, soap, Grandevo?
• Thrips:
– Grow resistant varieties
– Reflective mulch
– Remove infected plants
– Spinosad, pyrethrin, Grandevo?

Organic IPM Recommendations
• Caterpillar complex:
– Control weeds
– Parasitoids & predators
– Insect netting to prevent infestation
– Bt (Xentari) + pyrethrin, Spod-X (beet armyworm)
– Rotate with spinosad (if needed)
• Leaffooted bugs/stink bugs
– Control weeds
– Trap cropping (staggered, mixed crops, design)
– Pyrethrin

EXTENSION RESOURCES

Alabama Vegetable Extension IPM Website
www.aces.edu/go/87

Alabama SARE Website

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Organic Insect Pest
Management
Presenters:
Dr. Ayanava Majumdar
Dr. Rammohan Balusu
QUESTIONS?
Georgia Organics Conference, Atlanta 2013