Please also visit my other website at:
Art For Sale - Saint Michael Miniature Pen and Ink Drawings
including:
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Our Lady of Guadalupe, stippled ink on genuine sheep skin, a (finished) Work In Progress |
As war escalates around the world, please remember each day to pray for Peace.
including:
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Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, Inc.
The Society of Tempera Painters
Marians Of The Immaculate Conception
Integrated Pest Management
"What the heck is it???"
These are some of my bugs. These particular insects are mainly beneficial types that died naturally, or by natural predators. The spider in the upper middle was caught and "wrapped" by a bigger spider. The tiny ant to the right of it bit me and I had a large swelling at the bite site. I had to keep him just in case I needed to know exactly what bit me.
For the most part, these are friendly bugs, and I have to say I am not at all upset that I didn't have some of the more destructive insects as samples from my home. In that category, speaking for the care of plants, some types are: scale, mealy bugs, spider mites, thrips, whitefly, slugs, and Japanese beetles. These are just a few of the more recognized names in the bug world. I do have slugs in the garden, but I refuse to keep one. I do not like slugs. :)
So what do we do when the balance between our world (and the plants we grow) and the bug world tips into their favor? We can use Integrated Pest Management.
Integrated Pest Management or IPM is a concept where ideal growing and sanitation conditions are considered and implemented where possible. This not only includes cultural practices such as providing the correct light, temperature, soil, etc., but also providing the balance that the plants would find in nature. When insects or disease invade plants or crops anyway, the next concept implemented is the use of beneficial insects or other predators, and organic controls. The last resource is direct chemical control by use of chemical pesticides or insecticides. All of these factors are used simultaneously to keep the problem under control.
The aim of an IPM program is not to have the perfect crop without a single bug or wilted leaf. The goal is to keep the levels of detrimental factors at an "acceptable" level. So, for an example : in a greenhouse (or home) where whiteflies might be a problem, measures are taken:
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through cultural practices such as improving ventilation |
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through organic measures such as spraying a distasteful garlic / pepper spray on the affected plants, and bringing in predatory insects, and removal by hand of all those tiny little eggs under the leaves - either by removing as many leaves as possible without killing the plant, or by using an organic spray to smother the eggs |
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as a last resort, using a chemical to eradicate the bugs, and in an IPM, perhaps using less chemical less often than we would without the cultural practices and organic controls in place |
This is just a brief example. There are many steps that can be implemented for each category, and chemical use can be virtually eliminated or at the least used very sparingly. IPM programs may take more time than direct chemical control, and they may not kill every little bug. However, where plants grow in their natural settings, every little bug is not eliminated either, but the balance between the two life forms is closer to equal.
I personally use very few if any chemical pesticides or insecticides. I do use Safer's Garden Fungicide, and I have Physan 20 which is a fungicide disinfectant. That's all I have. As soon as I need too ( hopefully not soon ) I plan on trying Neem oil and insecticidal soaps.
What I do also is make sure every beneficial bug has their space. Each spider I find goes on a plant, in the garden or on a plant stand. Every ladybug is treated like a queen. I repot plants at the first sign of trouble of any kind, and then isolate them. I check my plants daily. If there is a bug, I will see it, and can take steps before it multiplies into a problem. I do not re-use soil without pasteurizing it.
All pots and utensils are washed in a mild bleach solution prior to and after use. My watering can tip doesn't touch the soil as I move from plant to plant, and outside, the same goes for the tip of the hose or nozzle. I did use some beer to lure and drown the slugs, but it was worse (for me) emptying the traps than it was to use another measure. I put special anti-slug tape around the bottom of the containers holding the plants that they were attacking. It didn't keep them all off, but only the few and the proud made it to my tomatoes. I can live with that. I would toss a plant before I picked up a chemical. And I dearly love my plants.
Why do I feel so strongly about using an IPM program and not direct chemicals first? Why not? Many species of insects are now immune to the pesticides we have used for years. So the carcinogens and nerve toxins we use to make our grass green isn't killing the bugs, its leaching into the water table and killing us. It sounds political to take this stand, but it isn't. It's natural. How many peoples survived by poisoning their own environment? I would guess zero. Even with as many precautions taken as possible, the chemicals manage to get back into the ecosystem.
You don't have to agree with me, but what you can do is read up on Integrated Pest Management and make your own informed decision. An EXCELLENT BOOK written by experts in IPM is
Common Sense Pest Control, subtitled Least- toxic solutions for your home, garden, pets and community
The authors are: William Olkowski, Sheila Daar, and Helga Olkowski
The ISBN number is 0-942391-63-2
The book should be available at the local library. It is just one resource, but it is a very thorough one that covers many pests for the house, yard, and garden.