Striped Cucumber Beetle
Pests & IPM
What is IPM?
Integrated pest management (IPM) combines science and common sense to reduce the environmental and economic impact of pests in agricultural settings, homes, schools, gardens and landscapes. Through a comprehensive approach, IPM provides strategies and solutions that minimize risk to humans, animals and the environment.
I = INTEGRATED
IPM is integrated because it brings together, or integrates, a range of biological, organic, cultural, mechanical, and chemical options for pest problems.
P = PEST
Although IPM used to focus on insect pests, the range now includes fungi, bacteria, viruses, weeds, wildlife, and more.
M = MANAGEMENT
And it’s about management because you can only manage pests—you can’t eliminate them, no matter what people say.
Diagnostic Services
Plant, insect, and disease identification and diagnostic services are offered at CCE-Dutchess for $20/sample. For more information: Horticulture Hotline & Diagnostic Lab.
If necessary, samples can be sent to Cornell University for identification, at a charge of $25/sample. For more information about submitting a sample, visit: The Cornell University Diagnostic Laboratory.
Biological Control (or Biocontrol for short)
Reducing pest populations (or maintaining them at a low level) using living organisms (natural enemies, biocontrol agents) or the things they produce. It is one component of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy that helps you reduce risks to yourself and the environment.
What is biocontrol? - Aphids and ladybugs are biocontrol examples you are probably familiar with. Ladybugs (natural enemies, biocontrol agents) eat the aphids (pests) that might otherwise damage plants.
Types of Biocontrol
How to use biocontrol - You can use biological control to keep pests in check. How? By leveraging the powers of natural enemies.
Biology behind biocontrol - Any time you use a pesticide, you must read and follow the label directions and comply with all applicable laws and regulations related to pesticide use. Also be sure that any pesticide used is approved for use in your country and state/province.
Biocontrol Agents- Organisms that do biocontrol
Biocontrol Tools
Getting to know your natural enemies:
Biocontrol Blog
Subscribe to Biocontrol Bytes and receive notifications when new information about using biocontrol is posted.
See biocontrol in action!
Follow Amara Dunn’s biocontrol Instagram account. @biocontrol.nysipm
Useful Links:
IPM for Homes - Cornell brochure with IPM strategies for managing insect pests in the home and garden
Insect Diagnostic Lab Factsheets - Descriptions of a variety of insects and related organisms, and control recommendations.
Produced by Cornell University’s plant pathology faculty, Cornell Cooperative Extension educators and horticulture experts across New York and the Northeast.
Branching Out - Branching Out provides timely, reliable field reports with up-to-date recommendations to help you improve your woody ornamentals pest management program.
NYSIPM News - The latest news from New York State Integrated Pest Management.
Last updated January 28, 2024
What's Bugging You? (Webinars) Not all things that buzz, crawl or slither are pests. Figuring out WHAT is bugging you is the first step.
When: Noon until 12:30 p.m. ET on the first Friday of each month.
Each month, experts will share practical information and answer questions on using integrated pest management (IPM) to avoid pest problems and promote a healthy environment where you live, work, learn and play. We’ll end with an IPM Minute, and cover a specific action you can take in the next few days to help you avoid pest problems.
Register to attend our events live on Zoom. You will receive a Zoom link the week of the event. The 2024 schedule is available below and on the registration form.
Register for 2024 Events
2024 Schedule
January 5: Winter Tree & Shrub Pruning | 2023 First Friday Recap
February 2: NYS Plant Regulations | Choosing Native Plants
March 1: Changes to Home Garden Insecticide in NY| Tick Blitz
April 5: Weed ID | Rats in Vegetable Gardens
May 3: No-Mow May | What to do with Grass Clippings
June 7: Tick & Mosquito Yard Treatments | Myth: Mosquito Repellent Plants
July 5: Japanese Beetle Management | Aphid-Eating Insects
August 2: Spotted Lanternfly Update | Box Tree Moth Update
September 6: Back to School: Bed Bugs | Head Lice
October 4: Identifying Pests in Your Home
November 1: 2024 Tick Blitz Results | No Spray Needed
December 6: Feed the Birds | Repurposing a Holiday Tree
Watch Again
If you want to rewatch one of our seminars you can find them in our youtube playlist.
What's Bugging You? YouTube Playlist
¡Conozca Su Plaga! YouTube Playlist
Insect Diagnostic Lab
For more information about an insect, or how to deal with an insect problem in or around your home or garden, contact the Insect Diagnostic Lab, a program of Cornell Cooperative Extension in the Department of Entomology. For a $25 fee, an insect or related arthropod can be shipped to the lab, or a detailed photo can be emailed, for expert identification. Diagnostician Jason Dombroskie, Ph.D. has many years of experience identifying insects and other arthropods.
More information about this service, including fact sheets on common outdoor and indoor insects, can be found at http://idl.entomology.cornell.edu/
The New York State IPM Program develops sustainable ways to manage pests and helps people to use methods that minimize environmental, health, and economic risks.
NYSIPM Events
Learn more about integrated pest management by participating in our events.
NYSIPM Academic Seminars
Join New York State Integrated Pest Management at Cornell University for our a monthly seminar series designed increase awareness of new research and techniques that advance Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and its adoption in all types of pest management settings.
NYSIPM Annual Conference
Learn how to incorporate fruit into the home garden and landscapes, while understanding how to sustainably reduce the impacts of pests. Speakers will provide insight and instruction on incorporating sustainability and trusted IPM strategies for managing common pests, pollinators, and natural enemies of tree fruit and small fruit.
Greenhouse Scout School (Online)
Cornell University is partnering with the University of Vermont and the University of Maine to offer a 6-week webinar series in scouting for disease, insect and weed pests of greenhouse ornamentals, although the principles will apply to other crops. Learn how to identify the major pests of greenhouse floriculture crops, make scouting faster and easier, communicate with growers and owners, and find resources to help.
Sessions will be led by Stephanie Barnett, Margery Daughtrey, Betsy Lamb, Elise Lobdell, John Sanderson and Cheryl Sullivan.
Register for our certificate program (2/13 - 3/26) or select individual topics from the webinar series.