Pest management options can be described as falling into only three categories – biological control (predators, parasites and pathogens of the pests), cultural controls (management practices) and pesticides. Using as many of these three options in a compatible way is called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Understanding the effects of pesticides on beneficial species is a key element of any successful IPM program. The reason for this is that to be able to utilise the benefits of biological control it is important to use pesticides in the least disruptive way possible. The aim of this project was to provide vegetable growers and advisors with information on the relative toxic effects of pesticides on beneficial species that are important in vegetable crops and to present this information as a series of crop-specific guides.
Pest management options can be described as falling into only three categories – biological control (predators, parasites and pathogens of the pests), cultural controls (management practices) and pesticides. Using as many of these three options in a compatible way is called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Understanding the effects of pesticides on beneficial species is a key element of any successful IPM program. The reason for this is that to be able to utilise the benefits of biological control it is important to use pesticides in the least disruptive way possible. The aim of this project was to provide vegetable growers and advisors with information on the relative toxic effects of pesticides on beneficial species that are important in vegetable crops and to present this information as a series of crop-specific guides.
This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the research and development levies listed below and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.
