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Integrated pest management
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- Adult Queensland fruit fly
Integrated pest management (IPM) combines several pest management strategies to provide effective, economical control of pests while minimising damage to the environment. An understanding of the lifecycle and biology of pests underpins the IPM approach.
The components of an IPM program include pest identification, pest monitoring, determination of economic injury level and pest control strategies such as:
Cultural practices
- Plants or animals selected for specific traits (for example GMO cotton, Brahman-infused breeds in tick areas)
- Watering, fertilising, pruning or mulching to maintain health and vigour of plants
- Pest and residue removal
- Crop management practices (for example crop rotations to reduce pest pressure, burning or deep ploughing stubble just before to planting)
Biological controls
- Beneficial insects
- Natural enemies (pest parasites or predators)
- Fly and insect trapping
- Pheromones
Chemical controls
- Insect growth regulators
- Pesticides - using the most appropriate product at the best time and after careful monitoring of pest levels
IPM strategies must be tailored for each crop or even for each pest. The links below provide examples of how IPM can be used.
