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New Biological Control Publication Available - August 2002
August 6, 2002
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA -- Greenhouse growers across the state now have a new tool to help reduce their use of pesticides through Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tactics.
"Bug vs. Bug - A Collection of Articles on Biocontrol of Plant Pests" is a new publication currently available as a downloadable PDF file from the Pennsylvania IPM Program's Web site at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/114.htm.
Biological control, along with physical and chemical tactics, are components of an IPM system that are combined to manage pests in a way that is safe, profitable and environmentally compatible.
"Bug vs. Bug" is a collection of articles written by biocontrol specialist Cathy Thomas, who is head of a greenhouse biological control project under the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Thomas was hired to head the project when the PDA acquired an 18-month, $40,000 grant from the EPA.
The publication includes an overview of key greenhouse pests, how to get started with biocontrol, and how to manage pests such as aphids, fungus gnats, two-spotted spider mites, whiteflies and others. The articles describe the life cycles of the pests, monitoring techniques and biological control recommendations. There are also color images of the pests throughout the publication.
Thomas has been a part of numerous IPM/biocontrol related projects working with Penn State and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture personnel. She has worked with Mike Orzolek, professor of horticulture a Penn State, in developing an IPM/biocontrol for commercial greenhouse vegetable and ornamental growers.
For the last two years, Thomas has been working on a project funded by the Environmental Protection agency under the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program. The goals of the project are to reduce worker exposure to pesticides and provide alternative IPM/biocontrol management techniques to meet grower Food Quality Act (FQPA) concerns.
In addition, Thomas has worked with greenhouse tomato growers in Snyder County as well as several bedding plant growers. She has established biocontrol programs at Bucknell University Arboretum; Country Cupboard, a retail store and restaurant; and the Pennsylvania School of Technology's horticulture technical program. For more information on biocontrol of plant pests in greenhouses, contact Thomas at (717) 705-5857 or e-mail c-cthomas@state.pa.us.
The Pennsylvania IPM program is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture aimed at promoting integrated pest management in both agricultural and nonagricultural situations. For more information, contact the program at (814) 865-2839, or Web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/.