IPM Basics: Building Your Pest Management Toolbox with Dr. Erich Schoeller

Описание: Blooms and Beyond - Season 1, Episode 4

Episode Title:



“IPM Basics: Building Your Pest Management Toolbox with Dr. Erich Schoeller”


Episode Description



What if the secret to healthier plants isn’t reaching for the spray bottle, but building a smarter system? In this episode, Dr. Ping Yu sits down with Dr. Erich Schoeller, an entomologist and IPM specialist at the University of Georgia, to break down the fundamentals of Integrated Pest Management. From the IPM pyramid to parasitoid wasps, from banker plants to predatory mites, Erich walks us through the science-based strategies that can help growers reduce pesticide use while keeping pests in check.



Along the way, discover how a pharmacy student became an entomologist, why tephritid fruit flies are surprisingly beautiful, and the enchanting Greek mythology behind lilacs. Whether you’re a commercial grower looking to build an IPM program or a plant enthusiast curious about the tiny creatures sharing your garden, this episode delivers practical wisdom with a side of wonder.



Listen Time: ~45 minutes



Consulte las Notas del Programa (https://site.caes.uga.edu/yulab/bloom...)


In This Episode

Featured Guest



Dr. Erich Schoeller — Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia. Erich specializes in controlled environment agriculture and integrated pest management for greenhouse and nursery production. His research focuses on biological control strategies for ornamental crops.

Host



Dr. Ping Yu — Assistant Professor and Ornamental Horticulture Extension Specialist, University of Georgia


Main Topics

Getting to Know Dr. Schoeller (00:49 - 07:15)




• Career journey: pharmacy school → marine biology → forestry → entomology


• Growing up in rural Wisconsin surrounded by nature


• Running through fields with a sweep net collecting insects


• His mom’s beautiful gardens sparking a love of plants


Favorite Insect & Plant (06:16 - 09:36)




• Favorite insect: Tephritid fruit flies — brightly colored with fascinating wing patterns, remembered from childhood apple picking


• Favorite plant: Lilacs (Syringa) — his grandmother’s patio surrounded by lilacs created lasting memories of their spring fragrance


• The Greek mythology of Syringa: the nymph who escaped the god Pan by transforming into a lilac shrub


What is IPM? (10:09 - 12:07)




• IPM = Integrated Pest Management (sometimes IPPM for Integrated Pest and Pathogen Management)


• A science-based decision support system aimed at reducing plant protection products to levels that are economically sustainable and safe for environment and human health


• A combination of tactics working together as a program


Defining “Pests” (11:09 - 13:06)




• Arthropod pests: insects and mites (arachnids)


• Insects can vector plant pathogens — controlling pests often controls disease


• Weeds are pests too — they compete for resources AND harbor insects


• Simply put: anything unwanted causing economic damage to your crop


Why Adopt IPM? (13:32 - 17:15)



Pros:




• Reduces reliance on synthetic broad-spectrum insecticides


• Protects soil health and beneficial microorganisms


• Slows pesticide resistance development


• Safer for environment and human health




The Resistance Problem:




• Insects reproduce rapidly (10-12 generations per year in warm climates)


• Hundreds of thousands of individuals = rapid evolution of resistance


• Over-reliance on single active ingredients breeds resistance




Managing Resistance:




• Rotate products with different modes of action (check IRAC categories)


• Use maximum label rates to reduce surviving populations


• Don’t repeatedly use the same active ingredient


The IPM Pyramid (17:16 - 21:24)



Layer 1 — Prevention (Base):




• Crop rotation — don’t keep the same crop in the same greenhouse year-round


• Resistant varieties — plant breeders develop varieties less susceptible to pest damage


• Prevention is the best medicine — saves money by avoiding problems




Layer 2 — Detection:




• Active scouting — walking through crops, thorough inspection, taking notes


• Passive scouting — sticky traps that attract and catch flying insects


• Document where and when problems occur for predictability




Layer 3 — Control:




• Cultural/Mechanical control — sanitation, pruning, proper clothing, gloves


• Biological control — using living organisms to control pests


• Che...