Pest Management Courses

Pest Management Courses

PMA 3010	FUNDAMENTALS OF PEST MANAGEMENT		3 CREDITS
Instructor: DR. ROBERT A. DUNN
Prerequisites: None
General Description: An introduction to the study of plant pest protection on an interdisciplinary basis. Ecological, biological and economic principles will be emphasized from each of the participating disciplines: entomology, nematology, plant pathology, weed science, engineering, and economics. Reasons and principles for establishing pest management programs will be discussed. Computer-aided instruction is used in portions of the course. The objectives of the course are to: introduce the student to the principles of pest management; develop an understanding of vocabulary and basic concepts; develop an understanding of tactics associated with pest management; and create an awareness of interdisciplinary complexity and necessity of systems approach in IPM.
Grading: Class grade derived from weekly (10) quizzes (15%), two 50-point exams (35%), computer aided instruction of 50 points (15%), comprehensive final (35%).
Course Outline:
Introduction: world population and food		Economic thresholds
Energy consideration in pest management		Elements of pest management strategies/tactics
Perspective on pests: why, when, where		Cultural tactics
Integrated pest management: terms, evolution, goals		Regulatory/legislative tactics
Functions of plants		Regulatory/legislative tactics
The pests — insects		Host plant resistance
Plant pathogens		Pesticides: use and abuse
Nematodes		Pesticides: computer-aided programs
Weeds		Pesticides: formulations/application
Vertebrate pests		Biocontrol
Ecological relationships		Multiple tactics
Natural ecosystem		Bioenvironmental monitoring
Agroecosystems		Systems: online pest management systems
Plant-pest population characteristics		Computer-aided programs
Economics of pest management
Texts: None.

PMA 3931

SEMINAR IN PEST MANAGEMENT

1 CREDIT

Instructor: STAFF

Prerequisites: PMA 3010, Fundamentals of Pest Management

General Description: Student provided an opportunity to hear and participate in discussion of current research, procedures in pest management programs and developments and technology being used in the field.

Course Outline: Differs from term to term, but covers topics such as:

Developing a pest management system in soybeans, cabbage, citrus, etc. (one session on each)

Biological modeling

Insect-plant relationships

Biological control
Chemical ecology

Commercial pest management consulting
Scouting programs

Genetic manipulation Research reports

Texts: None

PMA 4570C

FIELD TECHNIQUES IN IPM

2 CREDITS

Instructor: DR. ROBERT A. DUNN

Prerequisites: PMA 3010, Fundamentals of Pest Management, and AGR 4214C, Applied Field Crop Production or permission of instructor.

General Description: Student will experience all aspects of the field scouting and pest management decision-making process. Activities will include development and use of field scouting forms, insect, disease, nematode and weed sampling, diagnosis and identification of pest problems, use of economic thresholds and general procedures for interaction of producers and pest managers. All class meetings will be in the field or trips to associated diagnostic laboratories or extension facilities.

Grading: Class grades will be obtained on the basis of 100 points: paper (50 points), oral presentation (30 points), scouting reports (10 points), and participation (10 points).

Course Outline:

All field trips to field plot site. Special trips to Nematode Diagnostic Laboratory, Plant Disease Clinic, and Insect ID Laboratory.

Texts: None; readings and recommendations distributed in class.

PMA 5205

CITRUS PEST MANAGEMENT

3 CREDITS

Instructors: DR. HAROLD W. BROWNING, DR. LARRY W. DUNCAN, DR. JAMES H. GRAHAM,
and DR. LAVERN W. TIMMER

Prerequisites: ENY 3005 or equivalent

General Description: Offered at Citrus REC - Lake Alfred. Arthropod and nematode pests of citrus. Ecological principles of host and pest community relationships. Pest identification, biology and interactions with citrus. Pest monitoring, diagnosis and management. The course will have one 3-hour lecture/laboratory per week.

Grading: Midterm and final examinations will each comprise 40% of the grade. Weekly quizzes (10-15 minutes) will constitute the remainder.

Course Outline:

Agroecology and economics, the basis of IPM

Managing key aboveground diseases

IPM decision making

Managing key aboveground pests

Managing key soilborne diseases

Managing weeds

Managing key soilborne pests

Citrus IPM

Texts: Chapters from Citrus Health Management (APS Press, in preparation).

Supplemental Reading: Pertinent research publications, review articles, DPI guidelines and circulars, Florida Citrus Pest Management Guide, bibliographies of suggested books.

PMA 3931	SEMINAR IN PEST MANAGEMENT		1 CREDIT
Instructor: STAFF
Prerequisites: PMA 3010, Fundamentals of Pest Management
General Description: Student provided an opportunity to hear and participate in discussion of current research, procedures in pest management programs and developments and technology being used in the field.
Course Outline: Differs from term to term, but covers topics such as:
Developing a pest management system in soybeans, cabbage, citrus, etc. (one session on each)		Biological modeling
		Insect-plant relationships
Biological control		Chemical ecology
Commercial pest management consulting		Scouting programs
Genetic manipulation		Research reports
Texts: None

PMA 4570C	FIELD TECHNIQUES IN IPM	2 CREDITS
Instructor: DR. ROBERT A. DUNN
Prerequisites: PMA 3010, Fundamentals of Pest Management, and AGR 4214C, Applied Field Crop Production or permission of instructor.
General Description: Student will experience all aspects of the field scouting and pest management decision-making process. Activities will include development and use of field scouting forms, insect, disease, nematode and weed sampling, diagnosis and identification of pest problems, use of economic thresholds and general procedures for interaction of producers and pest managers. All class meetings will be in the field or trips to associated diagnostic laboratories or extension facilities.
Grading: Class grades will be obtained on the basis of 100 points: paper (50 points), oral presentation (30 points), scouting reports (10 points), and participation (10 points).
Course Outline:
All field trips to field plot site. Special trips to Nematode Diagnostic Laboratory, Plant Disease Clinic, and Insect ID Laboratory.
Texts: None; readings and recommendations distributed in class.

PMA 5205	CITRUS PEST MANAGEMENT		3 CREDITS
Instructors: DR. HAROLD W. BROWNING, DR. LARRY W. DUNCAN, DR. JAMES H. GRAHAM, and DR. LAVERN W. TIMMER
Prerequisites: ENY 3005 or equivalent
General Description: Offered at Citrus REC - Lake Alfred. Arthropod and nematode pests of citrus. Ecological principles of host and pest community relationships. Pest identification, biology and interactions with citrus. Pest monitoring, diagnosis and management. The course will have one 3-hour lecture/laboratory per week.
Grading: Midterm and final examinations will each comprise 40% of the grade. Weekly quizzes (10-15 minutes) will constitute the remainder.
Course Outline:
Agroecology and economics, the basis of IPM		Managing key aboveground diseases
IPM decision making		Managing key aboveground pests
Managing key soilborne diseases		Managing weeds
Managing key soilborne pests		Citrus IPM
Texts: Chapters from Citrus Health Management (APS Press, in preparation).
Supplemental Reading: Pertinent research publications, review articles, DPI guidelines and circulars, Florida Citrus Pest Management Guide, bibliographies of suggested books.