Course Offerings

Per the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), licensed commercial and private pesticide applicators must realize continuing education credit requirements to maintain their workforce eligibility.
This training program will provide state licensed pesticide applicators with instruction relating to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in fulfillment of NCDA&CS continuing education mandates.

Course Objectives

After having completed this training participants will be able to:
• understand the causes of abiotic and biotic diseases, and distinguish between them
• choose methods of monitoring for common diseases and pests associated with ornamentals and turf grasses
• identify common pests and diseases associated with ornamentals and turf grasses
• determine pest management principles appropriate to a given situation.

Outline of Instruction

• Introduction - why and where pest occur • Methods of monitoring o Pit traps o Observation o Sticky traps o Sweep nets o Disclosing solutions o Pheromone traps

• Distinguishing between problems o Abiotic injury o Biotic injury o The Disease Triangle - Pathogens - Hosts - Conducive Environments

• Factors influencing abiotic and biotic injury • Signs and symptoms • Diagnosing problems in the landscape

• An introduction to common insects and mites o Turf grass pests - Armyworms - Chinch bugs - Sod webworms - Billbugs - Grubs - Mole Crickets

• Defoliating pests o Gypsy moth larva o Tent caterpillars o Bagworms

• Skeletonizer pests o Japanese Beetles o Sawfly larva

• Borers o Emerald ash borer

• Leaf miners o Moths o Wasps o Flies

• Sap sucking insects and mites o Aphids o Stink bugs o Hoppers o Scales o Mites o Thrips o Whiteflies

• Other miscellaneous pests o Box elder bugs o Cutworms

• Identification and Surveillance o Pest identification o Pest life cycles - understanding to control pests o Scouting

• Diseases of ornamental pests o Defining "disease" o Biotic disease o Abiotic disease o Causes of diseases"

• Manifestations of disease o Root nodules (plant parasitic nematodes) o Yellowing, mosaic patterns, stunted growth, necrosis, leaf curl (viral) o Rot (fungal) o Blight (bacterial) o Canker (bacterial) o Galls (bacterial, fungal and insect-related) o Wilt (bacterial, fungal) o Rust (fungal)

• Ornamental plant diseases o Root rot (Phythium, Phytopthora spp.) o Crown gall (Agrobacterium spp.) o Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) o Wilt (Verticillium spp.) o Leaf spot (Anthracnose spp.) o Powdery mildew (various fungal spp.) o "Sooty" mold"

• Turf grass diseases o What to look for - In an entire lawn - On individual plants

• Brown patch (fungal) • Sclerotinia leaf spot (fungal) • Melting out (Dreschlera spp., Bipolaris spp.) • Pink Snow Mold (Michrodochium nivale)

• Fair Ring o Type 1 o Type 2 o Type 3

• Disease Management Principles - Six Major Elements o Exclusion o Eradication o Protection o Resistance o Therapy o Avoidance

• Control Methods o Non-chemical - Cultivation practices • Irrigation practices • Nutrient management • Soil management • Proper mowing and pruning practices • Sanitation - Plant selection - Protect and encourage natural predator/pest "enemies" o Chemical control - Insect pests - Identification of pest and host - Pesticide selection - Pesticide timing - Pesticide application techniques o Chemical control - Diseases - Identification of pest and host - Fungicides - Systematic and preventative fungicides o Hazard control - Avoid pesticide drift • Pump pressure • Wind speed • Wetland considerations • Nozzle pattern selection • Car parks • Reducing phytotoxicity - wettable powders vs. emulsifiable concentrates"

Contact Hours

2.5

CEUs

No

Industry Standard, State or National Certification

Certification

None

Website

None

Certification Learning Outcomes/Requirements

CE or CU Articulation

No

Prerequisites

N/A

Learning Supplies Needed

N/A

Clinical Site/Special Facilities

N/A

Requirements for Successful Completion

attendance

Accreditation/Special Approval Requirements

N/A

Intended Audience

This program may be of use to anyone with an interest in the management of pests commonly associated with ornamental plants and turf grasses. It is intended to satisfy NCDA&CS continuing education requirements for state licensed private and commercial pesticide applicators credentialed in category L (ornamentals and turf).

Specific Industry or Business Support Needs

N/A

Wake County Need for Industry Positions

N/A

Industry or Job Titles Related to Training Outcomes for Employment

pesticide application

Related Courses

Course Contact Information

Janice Neagle
919-866-6265
[email protected]