Applied entomology Research for fruit & vegetable crops.
The Wallingford Lab studies the behavior and biology of pest insects causing economic damage to fruit and vegetable crops in New England. This information is critical to developing and evaluating IPM tools & tactics for pest management in conventional, organic, and organic-inspired operations.
What is IPM?Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a science-based, sustainable decision-making process that uses information on pest biology, environmental data, and technology to manage pest damage in a way that minimizes both economic costs and risks to people, property, and the environment.
The goals of IPM are not only to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by using a combination of chemical, biological, and cultural control methods. IPM can also help to minimize risks to the environment and reduce the evolution of pest resistance to pesticides by relying on proper pest identification, monitoring techniques and thresholds to avoid the use of unnecessary pesticides. |
CHEMICAL CONTROLSBroad-spectrum neurotoxins are important & powerful tools for IPM but these pesticides are often disruptive to natural enemies in the agroecosystem. We investigate "IPM-friendly" chemical controls that are less disruptive and help conserve naturally occurring biological control.
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BIOLOGICAL CONTROLSThere are many biological organisms that do the dirty work of pest management for us, including predators, parasitoids, and pathogenic fungi, bacteria, & viruses. Pest populations are often kept a low levels by natural enemies already living in the agroecosystem, but sometimes we need to augment biocontrol by releasing biocontrol agents or spraying biopesticides.
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CULTURAL CONTROLSHow crops are grown can influence IPM. Proper nutrition leads to healthier plants, which typically tolerate more insect feeding without yield loss. Growing practices like pruning, weed management, and changing the timing of planting or harvesting can sometimes contribute.
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BEHAVIORAL CONTROLSKnowledge of insect behavior can help to improve the efficacy of chemical & biological controls. We investigate feeding stimulants and efficacy of pesticide applications timed for a more active part of the day or a more susceptible life-stage. We also investigate attract & kill techniques and trap cropping, potential alternatives to pesticides.
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INTERESTED IN STUDYING IPM & SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AT UNH?The Wallingford Lab is a part of the University of New Hampshire's Department of Agriculture, Nutrition, & Food Systems and New Hampshire's Agricultural Experiment Station.
Reach out to [email protected] for undergraduate and graduate research opportunities in entomology and IPM. |