Contact
Dr. Yasmin Cardoza
Soil Arthropod Ecology
2315 Gardner Hall
NCSU Campus Box 7613
Raleigh, NC 27695-7613
Phone: (919) 513-1285
E-mail: yasmin_cardoza@ncsu.edu
Dr. David Orr
Biological Control of Insect Pests
1110D Grinnells Laboratory
NCSU Campus Box 7626
Raleigh, NC 27695-7626
Phone: (919) 515-4684
E-mail: david_orr@ncsu.edu
Dr. Wes Watson
Medical and Veterinary Entomology
1109 Grinnells Laboratory
Campus Box 7626
Raleigh, NC 27695-7626
Phone: (919) 513-2028
E-mail: wes_watson@ncsu.edu
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Photo credit: Lisa Forehand
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks. IPM research is being conducted at a variety of CEFS units, including the Pasture-based Beef, Pasture-based Dairy, Alternative Swine, Organic Research and Small Farm units.
The veterinary entomology program at N.C. State University (NCSU) is developing alternatives to traditional pest management strategies for IPM programs. Projects include the development of "push-pull" strategy of fly management that utilizes naturally occurring insect repellents to provide fly relief to cattle and swine. Additional projects have examined the role of dung beetles to improve pasture health and soil conditioning while reducing quantities of accumulated dung.
The soil arthropod ecology program at NCSU is conducting research on the effect of soil biological and chemical factors on the ability of plants to cope with pests above and below ground. Currently, we are evaluating the effect of vermicompost solid and liquid application to crop plants, and its influence on a variety of agricultural pests and the beneficial insects (natural enemies and pollinators) interacting with them.
On the Organic Research Unit, the biological control program at NCSU is conducting research on enhancement of beneficial insects (predators, parasites and native pollinators) through management of non-crop vegetation in organic crop production systems. Cooperative projects also examine the effects of non-crop vegetation management on weed seed predation (with the Organic Field Crops program at NCSU) and farmland wildlife (Fisheries and Wildlife program at NCSU). At the Small Farms Unit, the biological control program is examining the impacts of various organic insecticides on beneficial insects in vegetable production.
For more information on IPM, please visit the N.C. Pest Management Information Program Web site (link opens in new window).