Ecological Pest

Management

Leopoldo Guilaran
 Introduction
Of the almost one million animal species,
250,000 are insects. However, of this number,
only 5-7% of the insects are harmful. Most of the
insects are predators and pollinators.
Insects were already there before the
existence of man. They are so versatile that to
attempt to eradicate them would be to invite
disaster. Therefore, instead of eradicating them,
we should only maneuver them so that their
effect or damage on our crops would be minimal.
 Plant Pests and Diseases and Their
Pesticide Control
A. Pests Pesticides for
their Control
1. Insects Insecticides

2. Vertebrate Pests
• Rodents Rodenticides
• Birds Avicides
3. Snails Molluscicides
B. Disease-causing microbes
1. Bacteria Bactericides/antibiotics
2. Fungi Fungicides
3. Virus No available pesticide
C. Nematodes Nematicide
D. Weeds Weedicides/herbicides
 What are insects?
A. Group of insect pests
1. animal insect pests
2. Household and industrial insect pests
3. Agricultural insect pests

B.Life cycle of an insect pests

1. Group 1
adult
nymph egg

pupa larva
NOTES:
• In this category, the insect has 5 stages of its life.
• The most destructive stage is in the larval stage. The only
mission in life of a larva is to eat and eat in preparation for
its pupal stage.
• The other destructive stages are the nymph stage and the
adult stage.
• However, not all stages are destructive. In the case of the
whorl maggots, they are only destructive during the larval
stage. During their adult stage they become beneficial
since they eat eggs (parasitoid) of insect pests they find on
the leaves.
• They are vulnerable to parasites and predators in all stages
of their life.
• Example of these insects are stemborers, fruit borers, and
whorl maggots.
2. Group 2
Adult

Nymph Eggs

Notes
• The destructive stages are in the nymph and the adult
stage.
• They are vulnerable to parasites and predators in all
stages of their life.
• Example of these are the grasshoppers and
planthoppers.
3. Group 3
Adult >>>> <<<< nymph

Notes
• The only example I know is the aphids. They are
all females and they reproduce without mating or
without the benefit of fertilization
• They reproduce so fast if the food supply is
adequate that they are not checked easily by
natural enemies. We call this phenomenon
biological anarchy.
 What are natural enemies?

Natural enemies are insects, microbes, or other

organisms that eat, kill, or get nourishment
from insects that feed on the plants. Their
presence help preserve the ecological balance
of the farm. They are classified into the
following categories:
1. Predators – predators are larger in size than the
pests they eat or kill. Examples are snakes
preying on rats, chicken preying on worms, and
spiders preying on smaller insects.
2. Parasites – parasites are smaller than the pests
they prey on. They may be small insects or they
maybe microorganisms. Examples are ants
attacking a much larger larvae and a wasp killing
a much bigger opponent, a cockroach.
3. Parasitoids – parasitoids are insects that eat or suck
eggs of insects stuck on the leaves of the host plant.
Examples are whorl maggots and red ants.
 What are the main causes of the high
incidence of pests and diseases?

1. Widespread mono cropping. We have large

monocrops on rice, coconuts, bananas, and
sugarcane. Mono crops diminish the habitat and
therefore the population of natural enemies. Mono
cropping does not cut the life cycle of the insect pests
and pathogens.
2. Use of a single or a few varieties of a certain crop.
This is especially true with rice. A mono variety
system of planting enhances the proliferation of a
certain pest or pathogen leading to a condition of a
biological anarchy. The pests just do as they wish.
3. Widespread use of pesticides. Pesticides have killed non-
target organisms so much so that an ecological imbalance
was created. Because of the eradication or reduced
population of natural enemies, minor pests have become
major pests. And these pests have developed resistance to
these pesticides that a new and much potent pesticide
should be continually created a phenomenon called
pesticide treadmill.
4. Use of chemical fertilizers – highly concentrated chemical
fertilizers are easily dissolved in water and therefore easily
assimilated by plants. There is a sudden increase of
carbohydrates in the plant making it sweeter and
attractive to sucking and chewing insects. The leaves and
stems become succulent and become attractive to pests.
The dominance of NPK in the plants creates a nutrient
imbalance. There are certain pests that are highly
attracted to a peculiar taste caused by this imbalance.
5. Introduction of pests – the classic example is
the importation and propagation of the golden
apple snail. This animal failed to provide
protein to the malnourished children but
became very successful as a rice pest. Another
one is the introduction of the fruit borer of
eggplants which was suspected to have come
from India during the time of the Green
Revolution.
 What are the ways of controlling pests and
diseases?
1. Cultural control measures
• Maintaining or improving soil health and fertility
• Maintaining the diversity of the farm ( ex.
Intercropping)
• Redesigning the farm
• Use of naturally resistant and locally adapted varieties
• Timing of planting
• Proper planting distance
• Farm sanitation
• Pruning
2. Natural or biological control measures
• Introduction/propagation of natural enemies
• Provision of sanctuary or refuge for beneficial
insects
• Planting of insect repellants /attractants
• Sex maneuvers
• Farm diversification
• Planting of sacrificial plants
3. Use of traps
Light traps Sticky colored traps

Mechanical traps Liquid insect

attractants/traps
4. Use of botanical pesticides
• Some botanical pesticides are recommended only
during heavy infestations as some of these
pesticides may also kill non-target organisms or
maybe just as potent as a strong chemical
pesticides.
• The advantage for this type of pesticides is that
they degrade quickly.
THANK YOU!!!