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Extension Work
Urban Integrated Pest Management (IPM): managing
pests in and around structures
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 The
odorous house ant, Tapinoma sessile (Say), is the principal
ant invading structures in the mid-south region of the U.S. (Hedges
1998) and is ranked as one of the top five pest ants in the U.S.
(Hedges 2000). Laboratory research for odorous house ants centers
on the evaluation or enhancement of baits for its control. Field
research is conducted to discover more effective management strategies
that will reduce odorous house ant populations indoors and outdoors. |
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 According to the National Pest Management Association (1999) subterranean
termites are responsible for about $5 billion worth of damage to
U.S. structures. Our research program evaluates new or experimental
termite baits and nonrepellent soil termiticides for efficacy in
and around structures. |
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Pest management programs in schools, childcares and other child-serving facilities need to balance the risk of unnecessary exposure to pest control products with the health risk associated with the pests. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can help accomplish this goal. An IPM in Schools Program was initiated in the spring of 1996 as a joint venture between The University of Tennessee and The Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of R egulatory Services. Our IPM in Schools Program was expanded in 2001 to include all child-serving facilities and a new team was formed, UT YEAH (Youth, Environment and Health) to include Martha Keel from Family and Consumer Science; Mary Rogge, College of Social Work; and others. This program has been promoted to school superintendents, schools, pest management professionals, PTA members and many other stakeholders in Tennessee. |
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 In
2009, many counties in Tennessee, including fifty-six along the
state’s southern border, were infested with fire ants. These
pests can inflict a painful sting, build large mounds that can interfere
with agricultural machinery, attack ground-nesting birds, newborn
cattle and seedlings, and damage electrical power lines and other
electrical equipment. It has been speculated that the imported fire
ants’ success is due to a lack of natural enemies. Three biological
control agents, a microsporidian and two species of phorid fly,
have been released against imported fire ants. This project is conducted
in cooperation with 10 southern states and the USDA-ARS, CMAVE.Fire ants are steadily approaching the Middle Tennessee nursery production areas. Our research, conducted with Jason Oliver of Tennessee State University and Anne-Marie Calcott of the USDA-APHIS, evaluates strategies and chemicals that could become more effective and economical fire ant quarantine treatments for ball and burlap production. |
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