Integrated Pest Management

IPM Manual for Home and Garden Pests in British Columbia

Study Question Answers

Chapter 1. What is Integrated Pest Management

1. g, f, d, e, i, a, c, b, h
2. Identification, monitoring, action decisions, treatment, evaluation.
3. Compare specimen with pictures, recognize characteristics of damage, consult experts for assistance.
4. To find out the extent of the pest problem and whether it is increasing or decreasing.
5. The injury level is the unacceptable amount of injury or damage.
6. Prevention is important because preventive methods alone are often sufficient to keep pest populations at tolerable levels. These methods also make controls more effective and help prevent the recurrence of pest problems.
7. Biological control is the use of natural enemies to control pests. Recommended example of biological control useful in a home garden (list one): aphid midges, multi-coloured Asian lady beetle, predatory mites, insect parasitic nematodes.
8. The undesirable side effects of pesticide use include: development of pest populations that are resistant to pesticides, exposure of people, pets and other non-target organisms to potential health hazards, and environmental contamination by pesticides.
9. Preferred pesticides are the least toxic to humans, have the lowest impact on non-target organisms, and are the most specific to the target species. Examples: insecticidal soap, insect growth regulators, diatomaceous earth (silicon dioxide).
10. Dispensers should: ensure safe display and storage of pesticides at the vendor site, ensure customers know pesticides can be used only as stated on the label, and be able to advise on pest management and prevention of pest problems.

Chapter 2. Pesticide Characteristics and Legislation

1. e, c, a, f, d, b
2. Domestic pesticides must be displayed separately from food and feed. Excluded pesticides are a group of pesticides that are excluded from the regulatory requirements of the Integrated Pest Management Act Regulations. Secure pesticide containers sufficiently to prevent pesticides from spilling or escaping, and from being removed by an unauthorized person. Separate pesticides from other goods to prevent contamination of human or animal food, clothes, household furnishings, and other items.
3. Domestic pesticide products with a poison symbol on the label must be disposed of at collection depots for household hazardous waste. Other Domestic pesticides and empty containers may be put in household garbage.
4. The store does not require a certified dispenser because aerosol sprays (also insect repellents) are Excluded  pesticides.

Chapter 3. Pesticide Handling Guidelines

1. (c)
2. The area should be inspected regularly to look for damaged or leaking containers.
3. (c)
4. (b)
5. Leather gloves are not suitable and neither are dust masks. Leather will absorb pesticides and cannot be properly cleaned. Wearing contaminated gloves will result in pesticides being absorbed into the skin. A dust mask can protect the lungs only from non-toxic dust, not from insecticide dusts, liquid mists or liquid sprays that release toxic vapours.
6. (f)
7. (c)
8. Measuring spoons and cups should be used to measure pesticides, provided they are never used for cooking or eating utensils. They should be kept in the pesticide storage area.
9. (f)
10. Wind will blow the pesticide off target, giving poor results as well as risking contamination of non-target areas.
11. Food harvested before the minimum waiting period may contain unacceptably high levels of pesticide residues. The days to harvest for each type of produce are listed on the pesticide label.
12. The greatest potential for environmental damage from pesticide use lies in the risk of harming non-target, living organisms, including pets and wildlife, fish, beneficial organisms and desirable plants.
13. To reduce the risk of environmental damage when pesticides are required, the applicator should: minimize drift, prevent water contamination, prevent animal poisoning, protect beneficial insects, and protect desirable plants.
14. (c)

Chapter 4. Equipment, Application, and Pesticide Use Calculations

1. Apply spray at a constant pressure and at a regular speed.
2. Any one of the following: ensure that the spreader is not clogged, walk at a regular walking speed, some spreaders should only be opened while being pushed.
3. Equipment must be checked to ensure it is working properly (not leaking or clogged) and must be cleaned before and after use to prevent corrosion and build-up of caked or gummy pesticide residues.
4. It is hard to apply the pesticide at the correct rate.
5. Over-application of pesticides can: damage the area treated; damage or kill plants and other non-target organisms; increase hazard to the applicator; produce excess residue on harvested produce; and cost the applicator more money.
6. A "broadcast treatment" is applied evenly over an entire area. A "spot treatment" is applied to small, specific areas, such as individual plants or areas less than 15-20 cm² in size.
7. "Spray to drip" means that the spray droplets run together and start to drip off the plants. "Spray to wet surface" means enough pesticide is applied to make the surface damp to the touch, but not to cause the pesticide to run, drip, or puddle.
8. a) area - 12 ft x 18 ft = 216 ft²
   b) conversion: 216 ft² x 0.093 = 20.08 m²
9. ? L       =     0.5 L
   6 m²           4 m²
   
    56 m² x 0.5    =   7 L
        4 m²
10. 15 ml    =   ? ml
    L                7 L

    (15 ml) x (7 L) = 105 ml

11. ? ml       =    250 ml
    56 m²           100 m
    
    56 m² x 250 m    =   140 ml
        100 m²

12. ? kg        =      1.5 kg
     56 m²             100 m²
    
    56 m² x 1.5 kg
          100 m²
    
    = 840 g or .84 kg
    
    
13. a) 105 ml of spray x 2 treatments/year = 210 ml of spray
    b) 140 ml of spray x 2 treatments/year = 280 ml of spray
    c) 840 g of granules x 2 treatments/year = 1620 g of granules (1.62 kg)
    
    
14. a) 210 ml of spray = 2.63 containers (3 containers required)
        80 ml container
    b) 280 ml of spray = 1.87 containers (2 containers required)
        150 ml container
    c) 1680 g of granules = 1.68 containers (2 containers required)
        1000 g container
    
    
15. 15 ml       =      ? ml
     5 m²                100 m²
    15 ml x 100 m²
         5 m²
    = 300 ml per 100 m²
    
    

This means that the application rate is too high; the gardener can correct this for a compressed air sprayer by moving the sprayer more quickly (for example, walking faster), decreasing the air pressure, or closing the nozzle opening.

Chapter 5. Emergency Response

1. (f)
2. (c)
3. The label may contain information on how to deal with a pesticide spill, and should be consulted before going ahead with a clean-up.
4. (b)
5. The basic first aid steps are: prevent additional contamination; check that victim is breathing; get medical aid as soon as possible; and keep victim calm, warm and comfortable.
6. Pesticides can be released as vapours into the air or spread by water used to fight the fire.
7. Safety preparations for fires: install a fire extinguisher for chemical fires; post emergency numbers in the pesticide display area; and notify the fire department that the vendor site contains pesticides.

Chapter 6. Pesticide Use Reminders

1. List any two of the following common misconceptions customers have about pesticide use: Pesticides are the best way to control pests. Pesticides only kill pests. If some pesticide is good, then more is better. Old products should be used at a higher rate.
2. Using all-purpose products increases the amount of unnecessary pesticide being released into the environment.
3. RTUs are recommended over concentrates because they (list any three): are less hazardous than concentrated chemicals, do not require the user to calculate dilution rates or have special measuring utensils, avoid the risk of spills during mixing, avoid long-term storage of hazardous concentrate, and can be disposed of in the garbage, rather than having to be taken to household hazardous waste depots.
4. Using spot-sprays reduces the amount of pesticide required, which will: minimize health risks, minimize the risk of harming the environment, and save the customer money.
5. Before using pesticides indoors, remove pets (including birds) and children’s toys from the area. Remove all food, dishes and utensils before kitchen cabinets are treated. For indoor spraying, recommend a trigger pump sprayer or hand-held aerosol applicator.
6. They need to know the life cycle of the insect pest in order to know when to spray.

Chapter 7. Insecticides

1. a) Bacillus thuringiensis b) horticultural oil or insecticidal soap c) boric acid or silicon dioxide
2. (b)
3. (e)

Chapter 8. Herbicides

1. Foliar herbicides are applied to plant foliage, not to the soil as are soil sterilants. Foliar herbicides persist for 1-4 weeks; soil sterilants have a much longer persistence, from 4 weeks to 12 months or more.
2. 2,4-D, dicamba and mecoprop are specific to broadleaf plants.
3. Any 3 of the following precautions: Do not use in vegetable gardens, flower beds, around shrubs or ornamental plants, or on lawns. Mix concentrates only with clean water. AVOID DRIFT or accidental application to desirable plants. Do not apply if rainfall is forecast for the time of application.

Chapter 9. Fungicides

1. a.) Benomyl b.) Benomyl and triforine
2. Any three of the following: Do not apply when temperatures are 24°C or higher. Do not combine with oil sprays. Do not apply within 30 days of dormant or summer oil sprays. Use only on plants listed on labels as tolerant to sulphur.

Chapter 10. Other Pesticides: Rodenticides and Molluscicides

1. Do not put bait stations in areas frequented by children or pets. Do not place bait stations in food storage, preparation or eating areas. Always wear gloves when handling rodenticides as they can be absorbed through the skin.
2. Protect dogs by using pelleted bait formulations only in bait stations, and keeping dogs away from treated areas.

Chapter 11. Household Pests

1. Removing and repairing wood damaged by water and ensuring no siding or structural wood is in contact with soil.
2. Flea larvae take from 1-7 months to develop, then pupate to become adults. Pupae can remain dormant for up to one year in carpets, then hatch into adults, long after pets may have been removed.
3. Poisoned rodents may die and decompose in inaccessible places, and there is a risk of poisoning pets and wild animals.

Chapter 12. Insects and Other Plant Pests

1. Adults emerge in early June, so start looking for them then.
2. Scale insects are round or oval waxy or shell like bumps (1-5 mm long) without legs or wings.
3. Make traps by burying a shallow pan with lip flush to soil and place beer or fermenting grain in pan or use commercially available slug traps.

Chapter 13. Diseases of Plants

1. Plant resistant varieties.
2. Leaves pucker and curl, developing reddish blisters early in the season, distorted leaves eventually turn powdery grey and drop.

Chapter 14. Weeds and Vegetation

1. Mow lawns often to a height of 6-7 cm (leave quite long), fertilize with slow release fertilizers, maintain good pH, and water deep but infrequently.
2. Grow ground cover plants, apply a mulch of organic materials, or use landscape fabric covered with mulch.

Chapter 15. Pest Animals

1. Use a motion activated water sprayer.