Virginia Tech Entomology Extension
Insects affect virtually every aspect of our lives, our economy, and our
environment. In agriculture, insect pests reduce productivity by an average of
thirty percent and are responsible for the complete loss of many crops. In
urban areas, insect pests often promote the use of excessive amounts of
pesticides that can adversely affect humans, pets, turf, landscape plants,
other organisms and our environment. Naturally, homeowners, farmers, and
natural resource managers of all types are concerned about insect pest impacts
however, most insects are beneficial or do not directly affect humans. For
example, many fruits and vegetables cannot be produced without being pollinated
by honey bees. Insect predators and parasites are responsible for naturally
keeping many pests under control. And, insects are often a source of enjoyment
and wonder in and of themselves. The Entomology Extension programs at Virginia
Tech address these and many other aspects of pest and beneficial insects.
Below are listed examples of significant contributions that Extension
Entomologists and their programs are making.
- An alfalfa IPM program that returns an average of almost $13 per
acre.
- A soybean IPM program that in 1992 saved a remarkable $1.85 million
dollars on insect control alone.
- A biological control program for thistles that uses insects to eliminate
the need for herbicides on thousands of acres of Virginia's pasture
lands.
- An IPM program that maintains gypsy moth populations within acceptable levels
on approximately 10 million acres in Virginia's urban, forested and
recreational lands.
- Sampling procedures that will save Virginia counties thousands of
dollars every year in gypsy moth management programs.
- A new control tactic that uses natural "attractants" to disrupt mating and
control insect pests in apple orchards without insecticides.
- Computer programs such as CROPS (agriculture) that help make decisions and
reduce adverse environmental impacts associated with pest management
programs and other agricultural management activities.
- Beetles that can control scale insects on ornamentals.
Programs
- Insect Identification Laboratory
- Apiculture and Agronomic Pollination
- Corn Earworm Pest Advisory
- Small Grain Integrated Pest Management
- Tree and Small Fruit Integrated Pest Management
- Virginia Gypsy Moth Information Management System
- Urban Pest Management
- Insect Pest Management to Improve Tobacco Production Efficiency
- Alfalfa Integrated Pest Management
- Field Corn Integrated Pest Management
If you have any questions about the VT Entomology Extension page, send email to Peter Warren.
Peter Warren (peter@vt.edu) March 30, 1995