R2103 3.4 Explain how pests can be controlled

Question 1

Rabbit minimising effects

2 required

Answer 1

1. Using wire netting. 4-4 1\2 foot high. The bottom 30cm should be bent outwards at right angles and laid on the soil to deter burrowing. [Physical control]
2. Use of rabbit resistant plants e.g. Zinna elegans [Cultural control]
3. Animal repellents e.g. Vitax stay off [chemical control] [Alumimium ammonium sulphate)

Question 2

Cabbage white (large white) butterfly larvae minimising effects

2 required

Answer 2

1. Inspect plants and pick off pale yellow butterfly eggs and catapillars [Physical]
2. Nematode - Steinernema carpocapsae. Sprayed/watered on to foliage in evening. [biological]
3. Pyrethrum [chemical] (one day harvest interval)

Question 3

Black bean aphid minimising effects

2 required

Answer 3

1. Encourage natural predators e.g. Ladybird [Biological]
2. Pyrethrum (insecticide based on natural materials) [chemical]. Aphids protected by curled up leaves unlikely to be controlled.

Question 4

Peach potato aphid minimising effects

2 required

Answer 4

1. Quarantine infested plants [cultural]
2. Remove by hand or shake plants infested plant over a small towel [physical]
3. Introduce natural predators such as ladybirds and parasitic wasps [biological]
4. Spray infested areas plants with strong jet of water to reduce numbers [physical]
5. Pyrethrum, deltamethrin (check instructions) [chemical]

Question 5

Two spotted spider mite minimising effects

2 required

Answer 5

1. Predatory mite - Phytoseiulus persimilis. Feeds on eggs and active stages of glasshouse red spider mite (biological). Susceptible to insecticides.
2. Edible plants can be sprayed with plant oils, plant extracts or fatty acids. Repeated applications needed. (Chemical)
3. Acetamiprid (chemical)

Question 6

Glasshouse whitefly minimising effects

2 required

Answer 6

1. Parasitic wasps - Encarsia formosa. Attack whitefly nymph. [Biological]
2. Sticky yellow sheets above or among plants to trap adult whiterfly [Physical]
3. Spray with deltamethrin. Resistance can occur. [chemical]

Question 7

Vine weevil minimising effects

2 required

Answer 7

1. Mild spring or summer evenings pick off adult weevils. Shake shrubs over upturned umbrella to dislodge and collect more. [Physical]
2. Encourage natural enemies e.g. birds, frogs, toads, hedgehogs [Biological]
3. Nematode - Steinernema kraussei. Apply August / early September. [Biological]

Question 8

Slugs minimising effects

2 required

Answer 8

1. Place traps - beer, half orange, grapefruit or melon skins [Physical]
2. Barriers suchs as copper tapes around pots [Physical]
3. Metaldehyde slug pellets, keep away from children and pets (chemical)
4. Nemaslug - Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita [biological]

Question 9

Potato cyst eelworm minimising effects

2 required

Answer 9

1. No chemical controls
2. Affected plants should be removed and destroyed [physical]
3. 3 or 4 year crop rotation to keep numbers down. [cultural]
4. If established dont plant potatoes and tomotoes for at least 6 years on same ground
5. Use resistant potato varieties e.g ‘Kestrel’ [cultural]

Question 10

How does lifecycle help with the control of cabbage white (large white) butterfly?

Answer 10

1. Netting to stop adults laying eggs
2. Biological, physical controls for the larvae stage
3. There are two generations in summer

Question 11

How does lifecycle help with the control of black bean aphid?

Answer 11

1. Have known natural enemies - ladybirds, hoverfly larvae, lacewing larvae
2. Kill over wintering eggs with a plant oil winter wash
3. In March/April female will fly to summer host plants - try to break the cycle here

Question 12

How does lifecycle help with the control of glasshouse whitefly

Answer 12

1. Try to break the life cycle by killing the eggs, before the eggs turn black and harden off

Question 13

How does lifecycle help with the control of vine weevil?

Answer 13

1. Grubs fully grow between September and March. Try to kill before then, when they do the most damage.
2. Eggs laid between April to September. Treat mid to late summer to avoid damage later in the autumn.
3. Adults active at night - so best time to hunt for them.

Question 14

How does lifecycle help with the control of slugs

Answer 14

1. Active throughout year.
2. Warm weather and damp conditions greatly increases their activity
3. Slime trails indicate a slug problem
4. Destroy eggs (occur in autumn and spring) when uncovered under logs, stones and pots

Question 15

How does lifecycle help with the control of potato cyst eelworm

Answer 15

1. Be careful when removing infected plants as dead female body can be dislodged or blown by wind or carried on dirty equipment or soil
2. Female eelworm bodies, with eggs, can remain in soil for up to ten years, ready to hatch, so be wary of using the same ground for potatoes or tomatoes