Washington Pesticide Laws and Safety (questions and answers).

pest a plant or animal detrimental to man; one that pesters or annoys Bordeaux mixture lime and copper sulfate; one of the most widely used fungicides worldwide DDT the original insecticide, brought about in WWII - lead to the creation of 2,4-D, aldrin, and heptachlor insecticide resistance a growing problem we are beginning to face; 500+ insects have become resistant to one or more insecticides worldwide pesticide resistance 180+ weed species and hundreds of plant pathogens have become resistant to pesticides drawbacks of pesticides some pesticides like DDT, aldrin, heptachlor, and dieldrin will accumulate in the fatty tissue of some animals; most have been taken off the market because of this side effect EPA created in 1970, they seek to regulate use of chemicals to protect the environment and the health of humans and other animals; they banned DDT in 1972 OP insecticides acutely toxic to mammals; more expensive; less persistent in the environment Integrated Pest Management (IPM) the use of all available tactics or strategies to manage pests The Five Steps of an IPM Program 1) identify the pest to be managed 2) define the management system 3) develop the management strategy 4) develop reliable monitoring techniques 5) use economic thresholds identify the pest to be managed categorize the pest into severe, occasional, potential or migratory; know the pest's life cycle (usually, only the adult or larva are susceptible to pesticides - we do not have chemicals to affect the eggs) define the management system the goal is to maintain pest numbers and the resultant damage at acceptable levels develop reliable monitoring techniques scouting and insect traps (useful for monitoring insects and their activity); weather (predicts outbreak of insects or disease); temperature (follows an insect's life cycle or developmental stages) use economic thresholds pesticide applications should be avoided when their cost is greater than the damage caused by the pest; affected by: the current value of agricultural product being produced, its stage of development, the degree of damage caused under various environmental conditions economic threshold level or density of a pest population where control measures need to be applied to prevent the pest from reaching the economic injury level economic injury level the pest population density that causes losses equal to the cost of the control measures implementing IPM strategies necessary when harmful pests have not been held in check by natural controls (weather, predators, or parasites); types of IPM control mechanical, physical, cultural, genetic, and biological mechanical controls devices that prevent the spread or reduce the infestation of pests, primarily insects and vertebrate animals; ex: hand destruction, traps screens, nets, and fences physical controls used to kill the pests, disrupt their life cycles, and make the environment unfavorable for pests; include the manipulation of water, humidity, temperature, electric shock, light, or other radiant energy; primarily used to control insects and diseases cultural control manipulation of the environment to avoid serious damage; requires knowledge of plant needs and potentials; ex: selecting plants, managing irrigation, rotating crops, and pruning; genetic controls involves the use of plants and animals that are resistant to attack by pests; uses breeding techniques and gene manipulation biological controls involve the introduction, encouragement, and artificial increases of plants and animals that are parasites or predators of a pest species; used to control insects and weeds chemical controls involves the use of naturally derived or synthetic chemicals (PESTICIDES) that kill, attract, repel, or otherwise control the growth of pest plants, animals, and microorganisms systemic pesticide inside the plant; kills from the roots; can be injected or ingested contact pesticide on surface of plant; must contact a treated area to be affected avicides to control pest birds bactericides to control bacteria fungicides to control fungi herbicides control weeds, shrubs, and trees insecticides to control insects and insect relatives miticides (acaricides) to control mites molluscicides to control snails and slugs nematicides to control nematodes piscicides to control pest fish rodenticides to control rodents defoliants chemicals that cause leaves or foliage to drop from a plant desiccants chemicals that promote drying or loss of moisture in plant tissues growth regulators substances (other than fertilizers or food) that alter the growth or development of a plant or animal