MANCHIL IPM SERVICES

Integrated Pest Management

                 Why Use Integrated Pest Management?                      

Integrated Pest Management is a biological control management tactic used extensively throughout the world and is a practice that all growers need to embrace to achieve good crop yields whilst minimising costs. IPM uses cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical controls to assist growers achieve the highest of sustainable yields. 

IPM also has cost saving benefits by decreasing the amount of insecticides used. It also provides a safer environment for spray operators and staff working in crops - especially greenhouses. The reduction in spraying accounts for a significant saving in both chemical and labour costs; also reducing the chance of crop burning by chemicals in sensitive crops.

One other factor that may also appeal to certain growers is the possibility of marketing their produce with an IPM friendly logo, and thereby distinguishes their goods from others on the market. 

When biological control agents are being utilised the grower needs to realise that only a selected range of insecticides are suitable for use. This can sometimes cause a complexity of issues and requires a high level of skill and knowledge to ensure that the correct decisions are made. With the use of crop consultants a grower can be assured that the best recommendations in the use of insecticides will be made in regard to the pests that are affecting their crops 

The following are some of the crops that are currently utilising IPM methods:

Strawberries

P. persimilis:    The main pest affecting strawberries is the two-spotted mite. We release P. persimilis  in large numbers throughout the strawberry seasons in order to control the two-spotted mites. 

For greenhouse strawberries, we also use N. Cucumeris, E. Formosa, Hypoaspis, and cups containing the slow release N. Cucumeris. Beneficial nematodes (Entomopahogenic nematodes) are also used. 

Sweet Corn

Trichagramma wasps: The main pest affecting this crop is heliothis and we release Trichagramma wasps into the crop throughout the season. 

Greenhouse vegetables

P. persimilis  is used throughout greenhouse crops to combat two-spotted mite populations, also as well as N. Cucumeris  to help control thrips larvae. Cups containing slow release N. Cucumeris  cups are also introduced into the crops. Greenhouse tomatoes growers use E. Formosa to control whitefly. Beneficial nematodes are also used in most crops.

 Greenhouse rose/gerbera crops

P. persimilis  is used throughout greenhouse crops to combat two-spotted mite populations, also N. Cucumeris  is used to control thrips larvae populations. Cups containing slow release N. Cucumeris  are also used.

 Ornamental and gardens

P. persimilis   is used in gardens and nursery crops to combat two-spotted mite populations. These predatory mites are usually posted throughout W.A in canisters.