School IPM Education Program

Project Leader: Mark Russo, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Rockland County, Thiells, NY

Summary: We developed a two-hour workshop for teachers titled "Scouting for Insects". To help teachers incorporate the concept of Integrated Pest Management into their science curriculum by making it a fun outdoor activity. A copy of the workshop outline is below. I have not included the handouts but they included the 4-H leaders guide for "Insects All Around Us" and several IPM brochures. The workshop was offered in cooperation with the Rockland Teachers Center Institute and is advertised in their catalog of courses. The workshop is intended to create an outdoor field experience for the students to get involved while actually teaching scouting techniques. Then follow with lessons on estimating populations, what constitutes a problem and methods for prevention and redemption if necessary. We expected that a field experience would capture the student's attention and make them more receptive to learning about insect and their management.

Scouting for Insects Program for Rockland Teacher’s Center:

Date: Wednesday September 12, 2001 (Rain date: September 13)

Time: 4:00 — 6:00

I. Role of Insects:

A. Insects Worldwide

1. Found everywhere- including Arctica and Antarctica
2. Exist in soil, air; in and on bodies of animals (including humans)
3. There are 1 million species of insects (possibly up to 10 million)

B. Insects are beneficial (less than 1% of insects species are pests)

1. Directly produce: honey, silk, wax
2. Important pollinators of plants
3. Natural enemies of many pests
4. They are scavengers- help breakdown plant and animal material
5. They are food for other animals

II. Scouting for Insects:

A. Collecting

1. Use of various nets in collecting
2. Sites to search for insects

B. Holding containers

C. Inspecting plants for insect pests

-The pest itself vs. the signs of damage

D. Harmful vs. beneficial

-Release beneficials without harming them

III. Integrated Pest Management:

Step one: Prevention

Step two: Monitering

Step three: Asseessment

Step four: Action

Use of pesticides is the last resort.

If it is decided to use a pesticide, use the least toxic one.

IV. Educational Resources:

A. Handouts which can be duplicated or purchased (sample attached)

1. Smart Pesticide Use
2. IPM: Learn to Live with Pests on Your Plants and Animals (Cornell)
3. Why Manage Pests? (DEC)
4. Home Pest Management and Children (DEC)
5. IPM for Homes (Cornell)
6. Insects All Around Us 4-H Leader’s Guide 147-L-23
7. Insect Coloring Sheet

B. Reference books

A Field Guide to the Insects by Donald J. Borror and Richard E. White 1970 Houghton Mifflin Co. New York

The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders by Lorus and Margery Milne. 1980 Chanticleer Press, New York (Alfred A. Knopf, New York)

C. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County Diagnostic Lab

East Kirkbride Rd. Thiells, NY 10984

845-429-7099

www.cce.cornell.edu/rockland

D. Useful Web sites

Cornell Entomology Website (Adult)

Iowa State Entomology Index k-12

NBII Education Insects, Arachnids, Annelids

Insects on the Web