Arizona Pest Management Center (APMC)
ABOUT THE COLLECTION
The mission of the Arizona Pest Management Center (APMC) is to support College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) faculty in their efforts to develop and deliver outstanding Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs that address the needs of Arizona’s citizens. This includes IPM programs serving agriculture, urban communities and natural areas.
QUESTIONS?
For information, please contact APMC at https://acis.cals.arizona.edu/about-us/arizona-pest-management-center.
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Recent Submissions
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Corn Earworm Management on Desert ProduceCorn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) is a significant pest in desert vegetable production, particularly head lettuce. This guide outlines its biology, host range, and seasonal activity, highlighting the economic damage caused by larvae boring into lettuce heads. Management recommendations emphasize field monitoring, species-specific action thresholds, and the timely application of selective insecticides. Effective control relies on early detection, accurate species identification, and integrating cultural, biological, and chemical strategies to prevent yield loss and contamination.
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Insecticide Resistance Management for Beet Armyworm and Diamondback Moth in Desert Produce CropsThis guide provides best practices for insecticide resistance management (IRM) targeting beet armyworm and diamondback moth in desert leafy and Brassica vegetable crops. It offers insecticide efficacy rankings and crop stage recommendations based on local field data, emphasizing the importance of rotating insecticide modes of action (MOA) to prevent resistance. Specific guidance is provided for Diamide use (IRAC Group 28), including soil and foliar application timing, product rotation, and crop proximity considerations. The document supports sustainable IRM by promoting responsible application frequency, product selection, and adherence to University of Arizona action thresholds.
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Action Thresholds for Desert Produce CropsThis publication provides an overview of action threshold (AT) guidelines for managing insect pests in leafy vegetables and cole crops in the desert Southwest. Developed from over 30 years of applied field research at the Yuma Agricultural Center, these thresholds help pest control advisors (PCAs) determine when insecticide applications are justified based on pest density or damage levels. The guide distinguishes between prevention strategies, nominal action thresholds, and zero-tolerance thresholds for market contamination, with specific thresholds for pests such as beet armyworm, whiteflies, aphids, thrips, and flea beetles. Emphasis is placed on integrating cultural, physical, and biological control methods before resorting to chemical control, reinforcing the core principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
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Arizona Pest Management Center: Advancing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Agriculture and CommunitiesThis poster presents an overview of the Arizona Pest Management Center’s integrated pest management (IPM) accomplishments across agricultural, public health, and tribal sectors. Supported by USDA-NIFA and partner organizations, the APMC's collaborative model demonstrates transformative impacts over 25+ years of Extension-based pest management innovation. The poster highlights coordinated efforts from the IPM Coordinating Committee, with expertise spanning entomology, pest control, economics, tribal outreach, plant sciences, and environmental health.
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$1+ Cotton? New Thresholds?This one‐page IPM short explains current insect control thresholds for cotton in an era of high cotton prices. It reviews research on managing two key pests—Lygus and whiteflies—and confirms that the established Lygus threshold (15 total insects with at least 4 nymphs per 100 sweeps) remains economically optimal, even suggesting that thresholds could be as high as 15:8. For whiteflies, the document shows that the current threshold levels are sufficient to prevent quality reductions without affecting yield. Overall, the work supports that maintaining these thresholds maximizes revenue and crop quality while avoiding unnecessary pesticide applications, reinforcing sound integrated pest management practices.
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Cotton Insecticide Use Guide: Knowing and Balancing RisksThis two‐page guide offers a concise, practical overview for cotton growers and pest management professionals on how to select insecticides that balance effective pest control with environmental, human, and ecological safety. It presents a rating system that scores products for their efficacy against target pests (such as whiteflies and lygus bugs) and for their risks to beneficial organisms like predatory insects, pollinators, and other wildlife, as well as potential hazards to human bystanders and aquatic life. The guide emphasizes that no product is completely without risk and that informed decisions require weighing factors such as pest control performance, resistance management, cost, and broader environmental impact. Developed by experts from the University of Arizona and USDA-ARS, this IPM (Integrated Pest Management) short serves as a user-friendly reference to help growers choose insecticides that support sustainable cotton production while minimizing unintended consequences.
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Beginner’s Guide to Predator ThresholdsGuide covering all instructions and elements needed to learn use of Predator Thresholds for managing whiteflies in cotton.
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Request for Section 18 emergency use of Endigo® ZCX insecticide to control the palestriped flea beetle (Systena blanda) in guayule fields in the state of ArizonaArizona Section 18 specific exemption request to authorize the use of Endigo® ZCX insecticide (EPA Reg. No. 100-1458) to control palestriped flea beetle in guayule.
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Arizona Section 18 Request for Endigo ZCX Use in Guayule AddendumSupport for Arizona’s Section 18 request for use of Endigo ZCX for the control of palestriped flea beetle for protection of guayule, this addendum is to clarify and augment the application submitted in March 2023.
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Cotton Insecticide Use Guide: Knowing and Balancing RisksMany factors must be considered when choosing an insecticide, such as cost, efficacy, risk of resistance, and safety to non-target organisms. This Cotton Insecticide Use Guide summarizes the diverse risks of insecticides used to control three pests, helping you make well informed pest management decisions.