D. A. Ironside₂

Reprint from CMS 1986

Integrated pest management involves the integration of available and effective management techniques including control by natural enemies and strategic pesticide application and cultural techniques. In macadamias this particularly involves recognition, conservation, and increased reliance on the many natural enemies (parasitic and predatory species) existing in nature. IPM is also interdisciplinary in its approach in those scientists who are Horticulturists, Plant Pathologists, and Entomologists work in close collaboration to assist growers in the solving of production problems.

Macadamia IPM involves the development of monitoring systems for key pests, the determination of action levels, and the application of appropriate insecticides only as necessary to prevent economic damage.

Monitoring systems need to be inexpensive, not too difficult, but reliable enough to detect the pest or its injury before its action level is reached. Monitoring involves regular inspections, usually weekly, during the times that economic damage can occur.

Action Levels: It is necessary to establish economic damage levels for individual pests, so that management techniques can be implemented to prevent economic damage. The action level needs to be low enough that economic damage does not occur and high enough that some pesticide applications can be avoided. The action level must take risks into account, e.g. the possibility of rain or high wind occurring when a pesticide application is due. Further it is necessary to review and adjust action levels in the light of accumulated knowledge and technology and the production situation at the time. Fluctuations in the on farm price paid for the commodity and management control costs, alter both economic damage and action levels.

Appropriate Pesticide: When it is necessary to apply a pesticide the chemical should be both effective and selective. That is, it should be effective against the target pest, but be minimally disruptive on non-target species including pollinators, parasites and predators. There is only a limited range of pesticides available that are both effective and selective. In the control of MNB it is still necessary to use non-selective pesticides such as carbaryl or methidathion. To minimize disruptive effects on beneficial it is important that management of the pest be achieved with as few applications as possible.

The green lacewing, shown here feeding on the egg of a grain moth, is a valued predator of pests in many crops. Improving its tolerance to pesticides may enhance its effectiveness.