PMA 6228 -- FIELD TECHNIQUES IN ITEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
Tuesday and Thursday 9:30-12:30
Bldg. 970, Natural Area Drive, room 3118
updated 12-04

Instructor and Office Hours:
Oscar Liburd
Room 2102, Entomology-Nematology Bldg.
Bldg. 970, Natural Area Drive
P.O. Box 110620
TEL 352-392-1901, ext 108
FAX 352-392-5660
oeliburd@ifas.ufl.edu

Office hours: Wednesdays and Fridays 1-3 P. M; appointments are available outside office hours

Course Description:
Class Format: This is primarily a field/laboratory oriented class. During each class the first 45 minutes will be spent discussing pest management strategies and tactics. These strategies will be demonstrated in the field and laboratory. A few videos will be shown in selected lectures to supplement class discussion.

Description: Field Techniques in IPM emphasize the practical aspects of pest management. Students will study various pest management strategies and tactics, including monitoring, sampling, decision-making, biological control, pesticide usage and learn how these techniques can be integrated to build a comprehensive pest management program. Field trips will be designed to expose students to field operations and to gain hands-on experience.

Course Goals: The overall objectives are 1) to teach students basic concepts in IPM and 2) to provide practical training on how IPM practices and concepts can be implemented into a production system.

Expectations: The successful student is expected to: 1) be familiar with IPM concepts and practices; 2) demonstrate basic practical skills such as sampling, field layout and biological control tactics; 3) use IPM knowledge to solve pest management problems.

Prerequisites: A general course in a biological science including general entomology, horticulture, weed science, agronomy and plant science.

Textbook: Textbook (Supplied) M. L. Flint and P. Gouveia. 2001. IPM in Practice: Principles and Methods of Integrated Pest Management.

Grading:
Insect Collection: (Total grade 15% + 5 bonus points)
Students will be given extra credit (max five bonus points) depending on the number of insects that are identified to genus and species. Each specimen must be identified to order and family. The date, place of collection and host (if available) should be given. On a separate paper, please list all insects according to their respective orders and family (genus and species) that are included in the collection. If species were determined by an authority eg. Dr. John Capinera, the name of the authority should be given on the separate paper. For non-obvious economic insects or beneficials, state the reason why you think the insect is of economic importance. Collection grade is based on the number of species identified correctly to family and layout of presentation.

Graduate Students. Each graduate student will be required to submit an insect collection consisting of 7 orders and 30 families. Insect collection will consist primarily of beneficial and economic insects. Students will be given extra credit (five bonus points) if insects are identified to genus and species.

Quiz (15%). Three theoretical; 5 points per quiz

Laboratory (20%). (laboratory assessment 10%, assignments 10%)

Comprehensive Examination (40%). Theoretical concepts (20%) practical exam (20%).

Mini-proposal / Term paper (15%)

Graduate students. Each graduate student must write a five-page (max) double spaced IPM mini-proposal to address a specific problem using IPM techniques. The five-page limit does not include the references and must have the following format. A) Abstract, B) Introduction, C) Methodology, D) Expected Results, E) Limitations of Study and F) References. The criteria for judging the proposal will be content, potential to accomplished task, literature review, and writing styles. An example of a project will be: Dandelion is a weed that invades homeowner’s landscape. You will need to know general information about dandelion. For instance; how does dandelion grow? What environmental conditions are conducive for dandelion growth? What are the current methods and previous attempts use to control dandelion? These are some of the essential information that must be reviewed and documented with references (Introduction). You will then develop a protocol to determine the extent of the problem in a specific area. Finally, describe a simple experiment on how you would use IMP tactics to develop a management program (Methodology). What results do you expect to find from your proposed project (Expected Results). List some reasons why you may not be able to complete the project (Limitations to study).

Evaluation, Grading scale
Insect Collection 20 + 5 bonus
Quiz 15
Laboratory Assessment 20
Comprehensive Final 30
Mini-Proposal /Term Paper 15
100 + 5 bonus TOTAL

A 90 - 100 points
B 80 - 89 points
C 70 - 79 points
D 60 - 69 points
F 59

Critical Dates for Exams or Other Work: Please see the printed syllabus for scheduled dates of exams. Students will be expected to sign the following statement on all exams: "On my honor I pledge that I have neither given nor received assistance in the completion of this test."

Make-up Policy
Exams, assignments, and demonstrations are made on a continuing basis, so absence of two consecutive classes imposes a hardship. Prolonged absences will be accommodated by mutual agreement, but all work must be completed by the date of the scheduled final examination.

Class Attendance Policy: Students are expected, but not required, to attend.

Additional General Information: The following information applies to all courses at the University of Florida.

We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standard of honesty and integrity.

Academic Honesty: As a result of completing the registration form at the University of Florida, every student has signed the following statement: "I understand that the University of Florida expects its students to be honest in all their academic work. I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the University."

Copyrighted Materials and Software Use: All students are required and expected to obey the laws and legal agreements governing copyrighted material and software use. Failure to do so can lead to monetary damages and/or criminal penalties for the individual violator. Because such violations are also against University policies and rules, disciplinary action will be taken as appropriate.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation.

University Counseling Services: Resources are available on-campus for students having personal problems or lacking clear career and academic goals which interfere with their academic performance. These resources include:

1. University Counseling Center, 301 Peabody Hall, 392-1575, personal and career counseling;
2. Student Mental Health, Student Health Care Center, 392-1171, personal counseling;
3. Sexual Assault Recovery Services (SARS), Student Health Care Center, 392-1161, sexual counseling; and
4. Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601, career development assistance and counseling.


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