A new Penn State research project is helping six Pennsylvania Christmas tree growers keep invasive pests at bay while reducing pesticide use.

Under the direction of Cathy Thomas, Pennsylvania IPM coordinator, the project will focus on scale pests from Asia such as Elongate hemlock scale and Cryptomeria scale that cause a lot of damage to hemlock and fir trees. “Scale pests attack Fraser, canaan, and balsam firs, all of which are important Christmas tree varieties in Pennsylvania,”� says Thomas

The scales are difficult to control with pesticides because they have two generations each year and adults having a waxy, armored-like covering. In addition, many of the pesticides used to control scales and other insect pests are broad-spectrum and also kill natural predators of the scales. Thomas and Sarah Pickel, PA IPM program associate, are working with growers to develop better scouting and monitoring techniques, which will allow for fewer applications and substitution of safer chemicals.

Scouting, monitoring and the substitution of safer chemicals is all part of an integrated pest management (IPM) program. IPM aims to manage pests -- such as insects, diseases, weeds and animals -- by combining physical, biological and chemical tactics that are safe, profitable and environmentally compatible.

Thomas says they are working with six growers in Schuykill and York Counties. “We collaborate with Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture entomologists and plant inspectors in the field using IPM techniques such as scouting, weather monitoring and record keeping so we know what pests are in the field and at what life stage,”� says Thomas, who also provides on-site training for growers on scale lifecycles and IPM techniques.

In a previous PA IPM project targeting White Pine Weevil, Thomas helped three conifer growers in Schuylkill County reduce pesticide use by over 50 percent by using an IPM approach. As a result, growers were able to produce high quality conifer trees while substantially reducing pesticide use, which resulted in improved profitability. Thomas expects similar results with the scale project.

In addition, Thomas plans to develop a conifer pest scouting manual to help participating and non-participating growers to incorporate IPM techniques into their farm operation. “Several conifer/Christmas tree manuals exist, but none are specific to Pennsylvania. With the help of specialists at Penn State University and PDA, conifer growers will be able to directly access regionally pertinent IPM advice from experts in the industry,”� Thomas explains.

The project is being funded by a grant from PDA agricultural research funds. Educational presentations of the data collected will be available for statewide use and additional training programs. For more information on Christmas tree pests, see PA IPM's Christmas Tree Pest Problem Solver at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/259.htm. Questions about the project can be directed to Thomas by calling (717) 772-5204 or by e-mail at caththomas@state.pa.us.

The Pennsylvania IPM program is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture aimed at promoting integrated pest management in both agricultural and urban settings. For more information, contact the program at (814) 865-2839, or Web site http://www.paipm.org/. To view our archived news releases, see Web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/10.htm.

Contact Info: If you’d like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Kristie Auman-Bauer, call 814-865-2839 or e-mail kma147@psu.edu.

Website : Pennsylvania IPM program